The Essence of Euthanasia: Critical Research

What is Euthanasia? I know that it is a drug used by terminal patients who want to do not want to live anymore and take their life. I know people that have debated this option because they knew their time in this life was over soon. I wanted to know whether it could be administered legally or not. Also, if there had to be a certain evaluation made before the procedure. Personally I wondered whether this would violate the law that doctors and nurses took when they received their license. I speculated whether this practice would require family notification of the procedure. I assumed that it would not be legal in the United States because this practice is basically suicide and I wanted to know because I have considered the option of going into the medical field.

I began my search on google and searched for the definition or meaning of euthanasia. I found a source from Verywellhealth.com. It seemed to be a reliable source because it had been updated the same day I accessed it. I found out that there are two different categories of euthanasia. They are voluntary and involuntary. I did not know that there could ever be an involuntary classification because I assumed it had to be with the patients consent. Then I thought would that not be considered murder because the patient did not know that the physician would their life? I found sites that were similar to my first search, but I looked for academic articles that were peer-reviewed and they said that euthanasia was not only for the terminal ill, but also for the mental ill and mood disorders. I found that there is a non-voluntary category as well. Non-voluntary is when the patient is not able to consent but others make the decision for them. In three states it is legal only with one written form and two verbal applications to consent to the procedure. One article that I found on quod.lib.umich.edu is written by a doctor named Howard Brody. He says that whether the family is notified or not is up to the physician. The physician decides whether or not depression or other factors are involved and if they contribute to the patient’s application for euthanasia. In some instances it is not a violation of Hippocratic Law because it is legalized in three states of the United States of America. The academic articles were very helpful especially because they are peer-reviewed and have many sources to corroborate their information.

I learned so much from the sources that I used. The academic did not confirm my suspicions of whether the United States legalized euthanasia, and in fact I found out that it is legal in three different states. When I found out that there was a non-voluntary classification I was upset because this meant that someone would make the decision for the patient. I believe that sometimes this certain procedure would be necessary. This procedure could be a good option for some but it not for everybody. It is for those who truly are in pain there is nothing more that they can do and no treatment can help them. Those who have mood disorders I believe should not have that option because that is not an illness that should require euthanasia. The government in the United States and in many other countries believe that there are more options than this type of suicide. Also, doctors and nurses took an oath that says they would do everything in their power to help and assist patients to live and care for them. I think that it is a good idea that the physician should make the decision of whether or not to involve the family in the patient’s decision. This can allow emotional and mental assistance if the situation involves depression or some other illness that can be treated. It hard to choose a side because euthanasia can be a blessing and a curse, but only depending on how it is applied.

Works Cited

1. Australian Medical Student Journal. 2012, Vol. 3 Issue 1, p73-75. 3p.
2. Benatar, D. “Should There Be a Legal Right to Die?” Current Oncology. Oct 2010.
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2949364/. 14 Nov 2019.
4. Bioethics. Nov 2010, Vol. 24 Issue 9, p453-460. 8p.
5. Brody, Howard. “Physician-Assisted Suicide: Family Issues.” Michigan Family Review, Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library, 1 Jan. 1995, quod.lib.umich.edu/m/mfr/4919087.0001.103/–physician-assisted-suicide-family issues?rgn=main%3Bview. 14 Nov 2019.
6. “Euthanasia Grief Less Severe.” BBC News, BBC. 24 July 2003. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3092905.stm. 14 Nov 2019.
7. Morrow, Angela. “What Is Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide?” Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 14 Nov. 2019, www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-euthanasia-1132209. 14 Nov. 2019.