Preview

Euthanasia In Australia Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
964 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Euthanasia In Australia Essay
In this presentation I’ll explain why voluntary euthanasia should be legalised in Australia when a person is suffering from a terminal illness or are already in the late stages of an illness that cannot be cured.
Euthanasia is known as the practice of deliberately ending a life which releases an individual from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering. This mercy killing is often referred as an easy and painless death. This can be done from the request of a dying patient or that person’s legal representative.
Euthanasia has more advantages than disadvantages and actually helps patients and families in numerous ways: it stops the patient from suffering from horrible, chronic diseases and puts an end to their horrific pain. Euthanasia
…show more content…
Around 3 quarters are in favour of doctors giving or practicing euthanasia if requested by a terminally ill patient who is experiencing unbearable pain. This is backed by a survey which took place in an Australian tabloid, where around 74% of Australians believed it should be legalised, and a further 8% were undecided. From this survey it’s stated by the public that voluntary euthanasia is supported and should be legalised for practise. The facts are literally in front of us, and is therefore hard to understand why euthanasia is frowned upon and criticised.

After researching this topic, I came across across the questions of ‘How do you tell if the sufferer is of sound mind and lucid enough to make such a decision?’ and ‘What if they’re insane?’
My answer to that is an example of when euthanasia was legalised in Darwin in 1996, when a man named Bob Dent had become terminally ill from prostate cancer, and had decided to seek help of a physician in order to participate in voluntary euthanasia. Before he could continue, Bob had to get signatures from: His doctor, a cancer specialist and a psychiatrist to ensure that he was in a correct state of mind. Within minutes of his lethal injection he was asleep, and soon-after, he died peacefully. These three basic checks are all that is necessary to ensure the correct state of mind for someone wishing to volunteer for euthanasia. This shows that if it is monitored

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Research Paper on Euthanasia

    • 2719 Words
    • 11 Pages

    One of the most hotly debated ethical issue of our time is one of Euthanasia. Euthanasia comes from the Greek words “Eu”, meaning well or easy, and “Thanatos”, meaning death. In modern terms it is the intentional premature termination of another’s life by direct intervention or by withholding care.[1] Within that it can be either voluntary (expressed or implied consent), or involuntary. The two sides of this debate are the rights of an individual to decide when he or she is to die, or the sanctity of life and the states responsibility to protect people.…

    • 2719 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first person to be legally voluntarily euthanised in Australia was Bob Dent in the Northern Territory, in the year of 1996. This controversial issue has raised many dilemmas throughout society, and so far it seems there is no clear solution. The implications of euthanasia will be discussed herein. Defining the issue and exploring both sides of the controversy has proven to be a difficult task.…

    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    People in Canada are diagnosed with terminal illness’ every day. They know when they are going to die and often suffer until then. Why can’t patients diagnosed with a terminal illness be given the option to be euthanized? It would allow such patients to die painlessly and peacefully instead of having to suffer. While currently illegal in all but five areas of the world, assisted suicide and euthanasia are quickly becoming a more prevalent topic globally with more and more countries looking at making the move to legalize the acts. It has been legalized nationally in countries such as the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium while also being legalized in the states of Oregon and Washington in the United States of America. The article from the New England Journal of Medicine, Redefining Physicians` Role in Assisted Dying by Lisa Lehmann, uses the state of Oregon as a basis for much of her research and probing into both sides of the argument behind euthanasia. Margaret Somerville, a world renown ethicist and academic known for some of her controversial views, also gives her own insight into the topic in the article Legalized Euthanasia Only a Breath Away, published by the Globe and Mail. Somerville bases much of her argument around personal opinions and strong beliefs. I will examine the merits and proposals brought forth by each author and compare them to each other.…

    • 1182 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Euthanasia In Australia

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Euthanasia is often a controversial topic around all areas of the world. The idea of ‘assisted suicide’ has sparked debates and many countries, including Australia, are still hesitant or reluctant in allowing legislation for legalising Euthanasia to pass. This inquiry will aim to provide sufficient evidence as to why and how Euthanasia should become legalised while also evaluating and examining other cases and laws in other states regarding this topic.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Euthanasia Ethical Dilemma

    • 2102 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Euthanasia is a social issue in today’s world because not only does it affect the lives of those who are terminally ill and/or comatose, and the physicians who have been entrusted with their care, but it also affects the patient’s ability to have control over their own life, whether they are aware of this decision or not, which is one of the reasons why euthanasia has become such a controversial issue around the globe. Caddell and Newton (1995) define euthanasia as “any treatment initiated by a physician with the intent of hastening the death of another human being who is terminally ill and in severe pain or distress with the motive of relieving that person from great suffering” (p. 1,672). Even though the concept of great…

    • 2102 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A hotly debated issue regarding the quality of life for terminally ill patients revolves around the morality and legal implications of euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide which is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease, or in an irreversible coma. There are already a multitude of laws in place regulating physician assisted suicide in some states and countries, as well as laws preventing the practice. But despite these preventative laws physician assisted suicide remains an underground practice to relieve patient suffering. In lieu of the supposed moral issues associated with physician assisted suicide,…

    • 3211 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Euthanasia, comes from the Greek word meaning “good death”, and is the practice of assisted suicide with the purpose of relieving pain and agony. The people who opt for euthanasia suffer from an incurable and painful disease or are in an irreversible coma. Euthanasia has been the subject of much moral, religious, philosophical, legal and human rights debate in Australia. At the core of this debate is how to…

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Good morning the members of Australian Medical Association. My name is Isabella Lucas and I am the director of pro-euthanasia group in Australia. I have been asked along here today by Dr Steve Hamilton, the president of the Medical Association to look at the issue of “Should euthanasia be legalized in Australia?” In my case I think euthanasia should be legalized, because individuals have the number one priority in a decision dealing with their own personal health and care. Secondly, what’s the point of being alive if a person is in a vegetative state? Finally, it stops the person from having bad quality of life.…

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Euthanasia

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Euthanasia should be legalized to allow terminally ill patients the opportunity to prepare for their deaths, avoid unnecessary pain and die with dignity. Euthanasia is “the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.” (Am. Heritage) The literal meaning of the word euthanasia, "‘an easy or happy death,’ from the Greek word eu- ‘good’, and thanatos ‘death’"(Harper), is proof in itself that the whole idea is to help people and not to belittle the value of life. The fact that suffering animals can be put out of their misery, but suffering people are forced to stay alive and endure the pain, is inhumane. Legalizing euthanasia would be no more than an act of mercy allowing medical personnel to bring slow, painful deaths to a halt.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The topic of Euthanasia has been the subject of moral, religious, philosophical, legal and human rights debate in Australia for many years. According to the Australian Medical Association, Euthanasia is defined as ‘The act of deliberately ending the life of a patient for the purpose of ending intolerable pain and/or suffering. The great debates stems from two contradicting notions held within society: the right for individuals to choose to die with dignity when suffering and the need to uphold the moral right to life for every person. Currently, in Australia Euthanasia is illegal, however, there have been many countries that have recognised the need to allow an individual to…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Euthanasia not only gives the patient the opportunity to stop their suffering, it also gives them autonomy. According to Thomas Preston, professor of medicine, a retired cardiologist and a former board member of Compassion in Dying “society must protect the right of terminally ill patients to choose euthanasia.” (Euthanasia 53) By euthanasia being legal, we have been unconsciously giving the patient the autonomy of whether they want to continue living or not. We as human beings can only perceive the outside of a person, however, we could never really know what they may be going through or suffering. Sometimes, individuals are so self-centered that would prefer to have their loved ones alive and in pain than giving them the freedom to choose between life and death. After all, each person is the owner of his or her life and should be able to decide what is best for them.…

    • 1203 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Antigone

    • 1169 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Euthanasia is a topic that is rarely covered in the news. The moral ramifications of killing someone, even for the sake of mercy, seems too heavy of a topic for in depth discussion. No one wants to think about the day they will die, however when someone becomes terminally ill it can soon become their only thought. When pain and suffering enter this scenario, the option of ending a life more quickly may also enter the thought process. According to Life and Hope Network “9% of all deaths in America are caused by Euthanasia” 1 We are given the gift of life at birth. I believe Euthanasia is a violation of the most precious gift we are given… life…

    • 1169 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    There are currently only a few countries in the world have recognized the fundamental human right to bodily control by legalizing assisted suicide, however it is practiced almost everywhere, whether legal or not. The word “euthanasia” is translated from Greek and literally means “good death” or “easy death” (Smith, 2002). Euthanasia, also referred to as “assisted suicide”, is the act of a person (most often a physician) intentionally taking someone else’s life in order to eliminate or prevent severe pain (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, 2008). There are three types of euthanasia; voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary (this essay only encourages voluntary) (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, 2008). Euthanasia is frowned upon in most societies around the world for moral, ethical and religious reasons - but this issue could be seen in a different light. There are many remarkably ill people around the world who suffer needlessly. Legalizing euthanasia would give people the ultimate rights over their own fate, save money for governments and hospitals, and end the unnecessary suffering of terminally ill patients.…

    • 1357 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Euthanasia is the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit.” People all over the world, suffer from painful diseases and illnesses and become desperate for assisted suicide. There are two types of euthanasia. The first is voluntary euthanasia, is when the person who is killed has requested to be killed. The second type is involuntary euthanasia. This occurs when “euthanasia is performed on a person who is able to provide informed consent, but does not, either because they do not choose to die or because they were not asked.” It is our decision whether we want to live or die, or how long we want to live or die, therefore voluntary euthanasia is appropriate, for somebody who is suffering…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Voluntary euthanasia should be legalized in Australia. For years, there has been much global debate on this topic. Euthanasia is the hastening of death for a suffering, terminally ill person. Indeed, the term euthanasia quite literally means ‘good death’ in Greek. As Australians and as human beings, we should have the freedom of choice to decide a quiet death when we have no chance of life. Euthanasia is a dignified way to end the suffering of terminally ill patients.…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays