P a g e | 1

Perennial Pertinent Problem :

Too Few Main Points How to
Proceed
(q) Should we allow for euthanasia ?
As people in developed societies all over the world live longer, the
issue of individual mortality becomes a social or national concern. One
question that comes to mind is whether we should allow people to have
greater autonomy over the ending of their lives, just as we give them
freedom to decide many other aspects of their lives. iberals cite how
science now offers the option of euthanasia that can come in different
forms and can be practised with different conditions. !owever promising
this may sound, many complications as well as the argument of valuing
human life mean that euthanasia should be a decision that is greatly
limited, if it is ever justified.
"hose who support euthanasia argue that there can be many
conditions put in place so that euthanasia facilitates a dignified end rather
than suicide. To begin, it can be applied only to terminally ill patients
whose hope for survival is slim, recovery is certainly impossible, and pain
is unbearable. "his would eliminate rash decision#ma$ing by those who
having greater chances of survival or those who more emotionally
traumatised than they are actually medically ill. Next, another condition
that can be implemented is for the patient to be of conscious and of sound
mind to communicate his desire for euthanasia. "his would prevent ne%t#
of#$in from resorting to &mercy $illing' simply to avoid the inconvenience of
caring for the terminally#patient. On a social level, granting the freedom
to choose euthanasia can result in some relief on medical resources such
as bed space and medical staff. (hen we consider all these benefits, it
would appear that euthanasia should be encouraged.
!owever, the arguments against euthanasia are compelling too.
"here are problems of implementation that have already appeared. One
of them is that even though we can try to ma%imise freedom and
minimise abuse by leaving the decision to a patient who is conscious and
P a g e | )
of sound mind, there is still a chance that his own decision could be
coloured by other factors that ma$e his final choice an emotional unsound
one. Another practice, the living will, which allows a person to permit
euthanasia on himself if he is incapacitated later in life, is also
problematic. (ould one's younger self $now what one's older self would
prefer* As a person grows, his view of life changes. +o declaring a desire
for euthanasia is a premature decision. ,et, in the absence of the living
will, his fate could be sealed by those around him. -n such situations, the
safest option may be to not even have the choice of euthanasia allowed
for anyone, be it the person, or ne%t#of#$in.
et another big concern is that permitting euthanasia # meaning
ma$ing it legal in a state or country . sets the tone for society and shapes
the view of the ne%t generation. -t may ta$e one or two generations, but
just li$e other social transformations, what begins as choices made by the
minority then evolves to become more prevalent. And this is alright if the
social transformation is positive. /nfortunately, euthanasia is not a clear#
cut positive thing because it challenges some of our most human
attributes. The first is hope. "he undermining of hope is often equated
with the undermining of faith because mortal humans turn to the 0ivine in
hope. The second is struggle. (hile this struggle is apparent for the
terminally#ill who are still conscious, for patients who are no longer
conscious, the struggle is one that is most felt by their loved ones. +ome
may argue that this is an act of futility, but in both the forms of struggle,
these attributes emerge1 selflessness, patience and love. "hese qualities
are e%alted precisely because they bloom when a person is truly wea$est.
"he subtle erosion of any of this, nurtures a society that is less $ind and
more utilitarian in its choices. (ith every new generation, a less human
society is built.
"o conclude, can there be a middle ground in a life#and#death
decision li$e euthanasia* +ome may say, 2"o each his own.3 4ut their
personal decision has repercussions too. -f people aspire to goodness for
others in their living, then they should want to leave a good legacy in their
dying. On this note, euthanasia should not be allowed.
511 words