Why should euthanasia be legalized?

Why should euthanasia be legalized?

1. Definition

   • Euthanasia
     • mercy killing (humans or animals)
       • act of killing those who are hopelessly sick or injured individuals
   • Legalization
     • make something that was previously illegal permissible by law

2. Factors

   • Economic aspects
     • decrease in medical cost due to the increase of beds,medicines etc
     • Benefit the poor as they don't need to pay long-term high medical fees
   • Psychological aspects
     • Family members
       • Less grief and less post-trauma stress
     • Personal
       • Increase in comfort and less suffering
   • religious aspects
     • life is given by God and should be end by God

3. Impacts of legalizing euthanasia

   • Long term effects
     • Political aspect
       • Absolute freedom on death may cause unfair treatment or legalization or other injustice law
     • Economical aspect
       • Reduce government's medical cost
     • Social aspect
       • Some may use this as an excuse to end their lives
       • Neglect and abuse may be more common
       • People may feel more obligated to end their lives once they are contacted with diseases
   • Short term effects
     • Short term emotional effects
       • The family may face depression when they have to choose whether to carry out euthanasia

4. Countries that have legalized euthanasia

   • The United Kingdom
     • In 2005: reconsider the viability as a legitimate medical practise
   • Belgium
     • In 2002 : consider the "bureaucracy of death"
   • Netherlands
     • In 2002: legalize it under special circumstances by professional doctors

5. Solutions to euthanasia( ways other than euthanasia)

   • positive solutions
     • Pain management of patients
       • help patient deal with their illness
     • Familial support
       • love promotes living desire of the patients

6. Current Phenonmenons

   • More countries are considering the legalization euthanasia
     • the public are becoming more open-minded
     • governments recognize the merit of euthanasia under special cirrcumstances

7. People's attitudes

   • Support
     • Hyppocratic oath
       • Don't artificially keep people alive when death is preferable
     • Analysis of data
       • It won't open the floodgates(slippery slope)
     • Social aspects
       • The alternatives are horrifying ,e.g. incapable to move
     • Personal aspect
       • Improve quality of life as to die peacefully, no pain and suffering
     • Moral aspect
       • It doesn't shorten lives, thus not murdering
   • Against
     • Social Worries
       • Slippery Slope
       • Create unwarranted pressure for the ill
       • Promotes suicide
     • Medical aspect
       • Undermine the integrity of medicine
       • Harm patient-physician relationship
     • Social Aspect
       • Always a way out

8. Reasons to legalize euthanasia

   • Judicial aspect
     • Human rights imply the right to die
     • It does not create harm to society
   • Ethical aspect
     • Euthanasia satisfies the criterion that moral rules must be universabile
   • Practical aspect
     • It is possible to regulate euthanasia
     • Free scarce health resources

9. Ways of Euthanasia (Classification)

   • Active and Passive euthanaisa
     • Passive euthanasia
       • Medical professional do not do anything and cause the patient to die
     • Active euthanasia
       • Medical professionals do something that cause the patient to die
   • Involuntary euthanasia
   • Vountary euthanasia
   • Non-voluntary euthanasia
     • against the patient's will

10. Reasons not to legalize euthanasia

    • Historical aspect
      • Slippery Slope effect
        • Voluntary euthanasia leads to non-voluntary euthanasia
    • Ethical aspect
      • Not a person's best interest
    • Practical aspect
      • Palliative care make euthanasia unnecessary
      • Gives too much power to doctors
      • Expose vulnerable people to pressure to end their lives
    • Religious aspect
      • Against the word and will of God
      • Suffering has values
      • Respect for sanctity of life