Euthanasia

Assisted Suicide

Debate continues over the issue of euthanasia. Euthanasia does take place and is selected voluntarily by patients who are in great pain due to an incurable illness like cancer. Usually, the decision is made to pull the plugs of machines which prolong life or to end treatment. Because patients select to die, their deaths end suffering, and there is no intention to cause harm, physician assisted euthanasia cannot be considered murder.

Murder can be defined as an act of violence which is perpetrated against a victim. For example, a man stuffed into a car after being shot five times is a murder victim. The individual dies at a time which is forced by the killer who has intent to harm him or her. For instance, when the Boston strangler killed the women, he first terrorized them. Frequently murder is painful and the person who is dying has not voluntarily decided to participate in his or her death. By its nature, murder is death by violence at a time of the killer's rather than nature's choosing. Additionally, doctor assisted euthanasia is performed with the full consent of the patient. Murder steals life, while euthanasia gives the patient release. A patient with a degenerative neurological condition has, in one case, begged for help to die. The patients who have been helped have all been victims who had daily bouts with pain. The patients have requested their delivery from life. Murder on the other hand, usually takes the victim by surprise. Another person has, for the most part, decided when the murdered individual will die and by what method, but the slain person has not given permission to be killed. Murders are committed with malice or harmful intent. People are killed to keep secrets, steal power or money, and for other reasons, usually criminal in nature.

Part of the doctor's oath is to offer ease, and those patients, who desire to prevent artificial prolongation of life on machines or stop pain caused by cancer or other...