The Morally Correct Act of Euthanasia
Colombia makes part of the only 10 countries in the world that have legalized Euthanasia. The rising question about the morality of Euthanasia is a very controversial issue that was introduced into society recently. Euthanasia is the act of ending someone’s life when it becomes unbearable. There are two types of Euthanasia consisting of passive and active death. Passive meaning that there is nothing done to stop death and active is when there is something being done to speed up the patient’s death.The act of Euthanasia is morally correct because it allows people to have their human rights, ends suffering and there is a difference between being alive and being able to live.
When Euthanasia is denied to patients, two of the most important values in a society, freedom and individual rights, are also being denied. In his 85th birthday, Desmond Tutu, a South African cleric and theologian recognized by his work as a Human Rights activist, wrote an article in the Washington Post saying: “I have prepared for my death and have made it clear that I do not wish to be kept alive at all costs. I hope I am treated with compassion and allowed to pass onto the next phase of life’s journey in the manner of my choice.” Denying this decision to someone is indeed denying them the freedom and the rights patients have as individuals of choosing what to do with their lives and their bodies.These countries who have legalised Euthanasia are taking the right decisions if front of their society,
Euthanasia is a way to help patients because when pain becomes unbearable it ends their suffering, not only for the patient but for their families too. There are medical treatments in which the medicine becomes incapable for doing any better without putting the patient through worse. According to American physician and Politician, John Kitzhaber, “I believe an individual should have control, should be able to make choices about the end of their life. . . . As a physician, I can tell you that there’s a clear difference between prolonging someone’s life and prolonging their death.” There is no reason as to why someone should be denied the decision to suffer longer or to die. Euthanasia gives the moral choice to a person that can think clearly and do the right thing.
Being alive and being able to live are two very different things. Being alive means that you heart and that you head work, but being able to live is doing what you love and what makes you happy. According to statistics from the Public Health Division of Oregon, patients that asked for Euthanasia said reasons were, 93.5% said loss of autonomy, 92.5% said that activities were no longer enjoyable, and 77.9% because of loss of dignity. Some diseases take away patient’s autonomy, dignity and happiness and this is no way of living they are alive. “Doctors are not here to keep us living and keep our hearts beating, they are here to help us be alive,” Juan Felipe Gaviria, TCS student, said. Many patients that are suffering are not only suffering physically, the worst part is the mental suffering and Euthanasia being passive or being active can let a human being leave this world with dignity.
Euthanasia should be legalised all around the world as it gives everyone in a society the freedom to make a decision about themselves and their bodies knowing that this path is not only better for himself but it is also better for all of his relatives and loved ones. Colombia should be an inspiration for the rest of the world as they already legalized Euthanasia. Euthanasia is a way of saying that the doctors are not only there to heal a patient physically but there are also there to help them emotionally.
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