Cheung,+Chin+Hang

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And here is my individual research about euthanasia issue~
 * Euthanasia**

Euthanasia is the action of giving an irremediable patient the right to die using medical treatment in painless way, it is also known as mercy killing to some people ("Euthanasia", 2002). The term Euthanasia originated from Greek, where “Eu” means good and “thanatos” means death ("Euthanasia", 2009). There are 2 different types of euthanasia - active euthanasia and passive euthanasia ("Euthanasia", 2009). The difference between active euthanasia and passive euthanasia is that the former uses specific medical treatment while the latter discontinue the life-support system ("Euthanasia", 2002). Both passive and active euthanasia have always been a controversy in society. Therefore, till the present time, there is still a lot of debate regarding accepting euthanasia or not. Today, there are some countries that had already concluded the debate and choose to legalize euthanasia - The Netherlands is the first place legalizes euthanasia ("Dutch legalise euthanasia"). And the rest of the countries are Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, Thailand, Oregon and Washing ("Euthanasia", 2009). However, there are a lot more countries that are against the idea of euthanasia.

The topic of euthanasia was debated since 400 B.C. On the scientific side, the Father of Medicine - Hippocratic Oath stated that he was strongly against the idea of euthanasia because it would be like killing an innocent person. He mentioned, “I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest an such counsel” ("History of Euthanasia"). He proclaimed that the doctor’s job is to cure people’s illness but not to cut short a persons’ life. He believes that doctors would give up on patient’s life easier if euthanasia is legalized ("History of Euthanasia"). With that, he sees that euthanasia is an unethical treatment since it does not respect our precious life.

Despite lots of controversy regarding euthanasia in the world, Alfred Hoche and Karl Binding were the first two people who publicize the idea of accepting euthanasia. They published a book called “Permitting the Destruction of Life not Worthy of Life” and proclaimed that patient who asked for death assistance will be people who necessary need the euthanasia since it is a matter of live and death ("History of Euthanasia"). They believe that patients would not asked for the assistant if they do not necessary need it. This book opened people’s eyes to euthanasia anyways.

However, the book got into the wrong hands - Adolf Hitler. In 1939, Hitler ordered to practice euthanasia in Germany through the code named “Aktion T4” ("History of Euthanasia"; "Hitler Signs an Order Authorizing Involuntary Euthanasia in Germany"). He targeted to use Euthanasia on handicapped adult, symptoms newborn or young children ("History of Euthanasia"; "Nazi Euthanasia", 1997). He sees that they are useless and a waste to society so it is better for them to be dead ("Nazi Euthanasia", 1997). Due to Hitler’s strong coercive power, the practice expanded quickly in Germany. The Nazi Doctors and government took more than a thousand of innocent life’s away. When Robert J. Lifton’s documented the facts, it shocked many people in the society ("Nazi Euthanasia", 1997). It also caused government to be more cautious when deciding on the legalization of euthanasia.

In the 14th century, the American Common Law disapproved euthanasia because they see it as suicide and assisting suicide ("History of Euthanasia"). Five century later, Laws of Connecticut enforces the law in a very strict manner stating that if one counsels another to commit suicide, and the other by reason of the advice kills him, the advisor is guilty of murder as principal. During that period, no countries accept to legalize euthanasia ("History of Euthanasia"). This act forced euthanasia to become crime, but many people still doing it underground.

In 1999, U.S was strongly against the idea of euthanasia. To warn the public about the seriousness of issue, they charged Jack Kevorkian as second-degree murder and sentenced him to 10-25 years in prison ("Jack Kevorkian", 2008). Jack Kevorkian, also known as Dr. Death is a pathologist in U.S. He had assisted more than 100 people to death since he started his career. He started by testing the procedure to inmates in prison ("Thomas Youk"). When he felt that it was good enough, he euthanized Thomas Youk who had Lou Gehrig's Disease ("Jack Kevorkian", 2008). He videotaped the procedure and publicizes it through the television. That caused him to be arrested by the government ("Thomas Youk"). However, his famous saying “dying is not a crime” elicited many people to re-concern about euthanasia.

In 20th Century, due to technology, medication and infrastructure, life expectancy of American citizen increased. As a result of that, many people grow into the age where they had to suffer from diseases and weakness. With that, there are nearly 10,000 requests for euthanasia by the senior citizens per year ("Thomas Youk"). Due to the large amount of people requesting for it, America government decided to re-examine and reconsider the legislation of euthanasia ("Thomas Youk"). The government decided to let each state government decide for them. Therefore, there are some states that are now permitting the law of “Living wills”.

However, the case in Canada is different. Canadian government still have the law stating that euthanasia is illegal. However, that does not mean that Euthanasia have never been practiced in Canada. Euthanasia is being practice in the informal economy or black-market. Since euthanasia is illegal in Canada, there are no drugs or chemical available for it. With that, the informal economy uses murdering suicide to kill the patient. Out of the 40 cases found regarding murdering suicide, only 3 cases were found guilty (Eckstein, 2007). Besides, most of the suicide assistance is relative to the patient. The relatives explained that the patients were suffering badly and it breaks their heart to see their love to suffer (Eckstein, 2007). So, they decide to kill them under the willingness of the patient. There was a case in 1993 where Robert Latimer put his 12 years old daughter, Tracy who is suffering from cerebral palsy’s daughter in the truck while he pipe the exhaust fumes into the car (Eckstein, 2007). It caused the death of his own child but he said it is worth it since it is better than seeing his daughter suffer alive (Eckstein, 2007). Mr. Latimer was charged first-murder degree where he had to be in jail for a year and be quarantine in his own farm for a year (Eckstein, 2007). It stated that the law is still struggling between supporting it or against it.

In fact, if the government legalize euthanasia, it must elicit many others ethnical social problem like abortion, suicide or abuse of euthanasia. For Christian, they see that life is precious because it is a creation from the upper being. In the bible, Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” and Exodus 21:22 “You shall not murder” ("Genesis 1:27"; "Exodus 21:22"). Since euthanasia is defined as murder, it is totally against what the Christian believe. Many religions believe on living and dying naturally. They believe that life and death is in the hands of god. With that, doctors should not act as god and take one’s life away.

From the point of view of very sick people, they believe that euthanasia should be legalized. Piergiogio Welby, 60 years old paralyzed man had requested euthanasia for 88 days finally got his wish came true (Castelfranco, 2006). He said that there is no point for him to live in the world since he cannot go to work, can not move their body and have to suffer everyday (Castelfranco, 2006). He also stated that not only did he loose his ability to do things, he also lost his dignity. Moreover, he is also being aware of himself being a burden to his family and society. There are many cases where really sick people wants to be dead, but then they have no choice but to sleep on they’re bed for years feeling hopeless before they die naturally. Is this ethical?

In conclusion, there is still no definitely answer to support euthanasia or not. Some government see it as helping the patient granting their wish while some patient see it as killing an innocent life. Religion sees it as doing things against god will’s but sick patient see it as releasing them from suffering in the world. After all this is said, is euthanasia ethical or unethical? Should it be legal or should it be illegal? It has been a debate since 400B.C. and I am sure it will be a debate in the far future until we can find the definition of life.

Bibliography

Castelfranco, S. “Paralyzed Man Who Requested Euthanasia Dies In Italy. VOA news. 21 Dec 2006. 2 Feb 2009 

“Dutch legalise euthanasia”. BBC News. 1April 2002. 2 Feb 2009.  “Euthanasia”. Dictionary.com. 2002. 1 Feb.2009. < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/euthanasia>

“Euthanasia”. Wikipedia. 28 Jan 2009. 1 Feb 2009 

“Exodus 20:13”. Bible Gateway. 2 Feb 2009 

Eckstein, C. “History of euthanasia in Canada”. INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ANTI - EUTHANASIA ORGANIZATION. 1 Dec 2007. 2 Feb 2009 

“Genesis 1:27”. Bible Gateway. 2 Feb 2009 

“History of Euthanasia”. Euthanasia.com. 1 Feb 2009 

“Hitler Signs an Order Authorizing Involuntary Euthanasia in Germany”. H-net. 2 Feb 2009 <[|http://www.h-net.org/~german/gtext/nazi/euthanasia-eng.html]>

“Jack Kevorkian”. NNDB 2008. 1 Feb 2009 

“Nazi Euthanasia”. History Place. 1997. 2 Feb 2009 

“Thomas Youk”. Focus on ALS. 1 Feb 2009 