The word "euthanasia" comes from the Greek language, and it means "good death." In English the word refers to purposely ending a person's life in order to stop the unbearable pain caused by an illness. The patients are usually terminally ill, meaning that they have no chance of recovery.
When someone, such as a doctor helps the patient to die by a lethal drug or by administering some kind of deadly gas, it is called "assisted suicide." In these cases, the doctor doesn't actually administer the drug or gas; he just gives the drug or gas to the patient, and he or she then administers the deadly dose by themselves.
One doctor in the USA, Dr. Jack Kavorkian, has become well-known for his assisted suicides. Since euthanasia is against the law in the USA, the doctor has been arrested and tried in court several times. But every time his home state of Michigan has brought him to court, the jury has acquitted him. The jury always sided with the doctor, seeing him as providing a service of kindness rather than as committing a crime.
Most people sympathize with a person who wants to end the reasons, governments hesitate to make euthanasia legal. The Netherlands tolerates it, but the only place in the world where active euthanasia' is totally legal is one state in Australia.
Although it seems simple enough to say that people who are suffering and who have no chance to recover would be better off by being allowed to die, many people oppose making euthanasia legal for several reasons. A few of them are
Difficulty in determining who is terminally ill. Some people who are expected to die sometimes get well.
Religious beliefs. "God gives life; only God can take it away."
It could lead to 'Suicide on demand. "Maybe someday anyone who is unsatisfied with his or her life might be able to receive help in dying.
Period of depression. The person requesting to die might just be going through a temporary phase and might later change his or her mind.
Whether or not to legalize euthanasia is a thorny issue for most people. It is clear that a lot of people will have to change their ways of thinking about death before it will become legal. Perhaps euthanasia is an idea whose time has not yet come.
Words and Phrases
terminally ill: They are going to die; they cannot recover.
lethal: deadly, causes death
administer: give, provide
jury: a panel of 12 average: citizens men and women, who listen at the trial then decide the case.
acquitted: decided he was not guilty
sided with: agreed with...
sympathize with: feel sadness for, feel pity
tolerates: doesn't arrest the people who do it, even though there is no law that permits it
one ...Australia: Australia's Northern Territory
would ...off: Maybe it would be better For them if... [they could die.]
depression: a people of time, usually only temporary, when a person feels very unhappy or lonely
thorny issue: difficult to decide or solve
an ...come: Maybe it's too soon to think about making it legal, because people are still not ready to Fully accept it.
Questions for Discussion
How do you stand on the issue of active euthanasia! Explain your opinion.
People should have the right to decide if they want to die when they are in terrible pain.
People should NOT be allowed to end their own lives legally, even if they are in pain.
What is your opinion of what Dr. Kevorkian does in helping people to die! Explain why you think so.
He is providing a useful service to people who are suffering.
He should NOT be allowed to help people to die.
What do you think of suicide, in general?
People should be able to do whatever they want with their own bodies. People who commit suicide are very brave.
Committing suicide is taking the easy way out of a problem. People who do it are very weak.
What should be done to Dr. Kevorkian or others who perform assisted suicides?
Nothing should be done to them.
They should be arrested or fined.
Since assisted suicide is to help people end their suffering, why is it illegal in almost the entire world? Why don't more countries besides The Netherlands and Australia's Northern Territories permit it?
Do you think most people's don't like euthanasia because they are afraid of dying? If death were not considered to be a terrible thing, don't you think that euthanasia would be more accepted?