Euthanasia: The Right Choice for America Essay -- Argumentative Persua

Euthanasia: The Right Choice for America The ethical debate of euthanasia continues while Oregon remains the only state in which it is legalized in. Based on the success of the Oregon euthanasia law, this law should serve as a model to the rest of the nation and it should be implemented all across the U.S. The success and effectiveness of this law can be seen through many case studies and statistics. Of course, there is a line that is often crossed with doctors who euthanize under unlawful conditions; however, under the right circumstances euthanasia can work. Should the United States of America continue to overlook a patent’s wishes and desires and instead primarily focus on doing everything possible to keep a person alive when there is no need? Where is the rationality in letting a person who is suffering die a slow painful death? Granted physicians are obliged to preserve life at all costs, under many circumstances, there is no need for this effort. If a patient requests death, his wish should be respected and approved. Why must the right to die be taken away? If there is no justifiable reason to preserve someone’s life, there should be no need to do it. One example reflects the experiences of a man named David Miller’s grandmother. He shares a story of her after she was diagnosed with emphysema. The disease contributed to her inability to use her neck muscles, to breath, and to speak. Many question such a doctors’ judgment in keeping such a person, who’s both suffering and serving no purpose to the world, alive. (Miller, 27) Sometimes, doctors need to focus on the quality of life of a patient, especially if the patient is suffering. Terms such as passive euthanasia and active euthanasia are often tos... ...ide Largely Shunned.† The Christian Century Dec 2000: 1267 Buckley, William F. â€Å"Killer Doc.† National Review Dec 1998: 70 Kavanaugh, John F. â€Å"Euthanizing Life† America May 2001: 28 MacQueen, Ken. â€Å"Choosing Suicide† Maclean’s v. 115 no31 (August 5 2002) p. 40-1 Miller, David. â€Å"From Life in Death in a Peaceful Instant.† The Humanist (May/ June 2000) 27 Nichols, Mark. â€Å"Offering a Helping Hand to Those Who Long to Die.† Maclean’s March 1998: 52 Rayner, Clair. â€Å"You Say Murder, I Say Euthanasia.† New Statesman June 2000: 31 Richardson, Andrea E. â€Å"Death with Dignity: The Ultimate Human Right?† The Humanist (July/ Aug 2002) p. 42-43 Sarasohn, David. â€Å"No Last Rights† The Nation v.273 no19 (December 10 2001) p. 8 Welie, Jos V. M. â€Å"Why Physicians? Reflections on the Netherlands’ New Euthanasia Law.† The Hastings Center Report Jan/Feb 2002: 42-44