Commonly known as mercy killing or assisted suicide, Euthanasia has come to mean a variety of things to a variety of people. One of such meanings is “the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the one who dies.” Euthanasia was originally a Greek word: “Eu” means good, and “thanasia” means death. It can actually be traced as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, where it was sometimes allowed to help others die. As time passed, and the influence of religion increased, life came to be viewed as sacred, and the subject of euthanasia took on a controversial nature.

And controversial it has remained, and has caused a great controversy in many countries down through the years. Currently it is illegal in North America, except in the U.S. state of Oregon. Other countries where Euthanasia is legal, either totally or to some extent, include Japan, Australia and Colombia. In Holland though illegal, doctors who practise euthanasia are protected from prosecution.

Those in support of euthanasia feel that if an individual is terminally ill, why make him suffer any further? Just put him out of his misery. They base their stance on the patient’s right to life and freedom. But is freedom truly defined in ending a life or aiding such a death? Really I don’t see the controversy. On the part of the patient, Someone gave him that life, so that he can be a part of this world. And it is only that Someone that should decide when to take the life that He gave. On the physician’s part, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, clearly stated that no individual in the medical profession should give a substance that will terminate life. According to the oath which we as doctors must take, and I quote “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.” Many arguments have been in favour of Euthanasia, and the general attitude is, “It’s my life, I can do what I want with it.” But if it truly was your life, then you should have determined the time, place and other circumstances of your birth. Life is precious and no one has a right to take or aid in taking any life. Euthanasia stands against everything medicine stands for, as it is the conscious deprivation of another’s life. It is abnormal and unnatural.

Tags: Euthanasia, Hippocrates, Mercy Killing

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