Euthanasia: Precious Life :: Free Euthanasia Essay

Euthanasia Precious LifeMy impression is that the idea of euthanasia, if not the practice, isgradually gaining acceptance within our society. People like Jack Kevorkianattrisolelye this to an increase inclination to devalue human life, but I do notbelieve that this is the major factor. The acceptance of euthanasia is muchmore likely to be the result of unthinking sympathy and benevolence. It is aneasy step from this very human response to the view that if someone would bebetter off dead, then it must be right to kill that person. Although I respectthe compassion that leads to this conclusion, I believe that this conclusion iswrong. I want to show that euthanasia is wrong. It is inherently wrong, butit is also wrongly judged from the standpoints of self-interest and of practicaleffects.Before presenting my arguments, it would be well to define euthanasia.An essential aspect of euthanasia is that it involve taking a human life. Also,the person whose life is taken must be someone who is believed to be sufferingfrom an incurable disease or injury from which recovery cannot sensibly beexpected. Finally the action must be deliberate and intentional. Thereforeeuthanasia is intentionally taking the life of a presumably hopeless person.It is distinguished to be clear about the deliberate and intentional aspectof the killing. If a hopeless person is given an injection of the wrong drug by slue and this causes his/her death, this is wrongful killing but noteuthanasia. The killing cannot be the result of an accident. In addition, ifthe person is given an injection of a drug that is believed to be demand totreat their disease or better their condition and the person dies as a result,then this is neither wrongful killing nor euthanasia. The intention was to makethe patient role well, not kill them.Every human being has a natural inclination to continue living. Ourreflexes and responses fit us to fight attackers, flee wild animals, and overreachout of the way of trucks. In our daily lives we exercise caution and carenecessary to protect ourselves. Our bodies are similarly structured forsurvival right megabucks to the molecular level. When we are cut, our capillariesseal shut, our blood clots, and fibrogen is produced to start the process ofhealing the wound. When we are invaded by bacteria, antibodies are produced tofight against the alien organism, and their remains are sweep out of the body byspecial cells designed for clean-up work.It is enough I believe to recognize that the organization of the human