Euthanasia. Pro or Contra?

Ildiko Zoldos

University of Szeged (Hungary)

According to a British ethologist and evolutionary psychologist, Richard Dawkins “ we are born selfish”. We usually just care about things which are in some way connected to us. Things that happened to us or our family; things we remember and things that could change our life. Unfortunately, this is the truth. We cannot deny it. This is what we are. Being aware of this reality can help us to strive for being more selfless and sympathetic towards others.
Some of us might say at this point that we are not selfish and bad, but we are good. We  should think about how many times we say “sorry” or “how are you” in a day. Are we really sorry when we say this word or do we just say it without emotions. We ask how the other person is because we look for the next question, which is supposedly going to be about us. Everything that we do is based on ourselves, our needs and wants. We just try to cover it in polite sentences and deeds.
There are always many emerging issues that split our society into two groups such as abortion, drugs, alcohol, tobacco or homosexuality.
In the last century an other disputable topic came up, euthanasia. It is becoming more and more relevant because of the many people who suffer from fatal diseases like cancer and other agonizing illnesses. In case of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes the decision-making is pretty simple. All of them causes addiction, therefore people should avoid them and then they can stay healthier and free from any addiction. On the other hand there is abortion and euthanasia. They are complex and very complicated issues. There are many different opinions about euthanasia. Every year numerous groups of people become in favor the government making euthanasia legal except in specific circumstances and cases. Everyone has his/her right to have individual opinion about everything and choose on which side of the issue they want to be.
Euthanasia literally means “good death” in ancient Greek and comes from the compound of two words: ‘eu’ meaning good and ‘thanatos’ meaning death. One significant thing is that before we take a position on an issue we have to be aware of the meaning of the word and all of the pros and cons of the issue. Then we can make up our mind. According to the definition euthanasia is the act or practice of  killing individuals [ people or domestic animals] that are hopelessly sick or injured for reasons of mercy, in a painless manner (Webster).Sometimes they also call it mercy killing. We would not think that euthanasia has a long history with  beginning in the ancient eras.
The next biggest step in euthanasia’s history was  in Germany prior to and during the second  World War.  The Nazis carried out an involuntary euthanasia program code-named ‘Action T4′. Their plan was to kill all the children under 3 who had mental retardation, a physical deformity or other debilitating problems. They considered this to give the disabled child a “life unworthy of life”.Later  they extended it to older kids and finally to concentration camp prisoners. It put a really bad light on euthanasia’s real conception.  The Nazis used it in an incorrect, cruel and racist way (Aktion T4). In the 1940’s and 50’s there was a little public support for any euthanasia due to the Nazis program.  Many churches also started to rebel against mercy killing.
When talking about euthanasia many people think about suicide and murder. There is a difference between suicide, murder and euthanasia.
There are different types of euthanasia. It is generally classified as “active”,  “passive”, and as either “voluntary” or  “involuntary”.”Passive euthanasia” is usually defined as withdrawing medical treatment with the deliberate intention of causing the patient’s death. A  classic example of this  is a “do not resuscitate order”. “Active euthanasia” is taking specific steps to cause the patient’s death, such as injecting the patient with poison. In practice, this is usually an overdose of pain-killers or sleeping pills. In other words, the difference between “active” and “passive” is that in active euthanasia, something is done to end the patient’s life; in passive euthanasia, something is not done that would have preserved the patient’s life. An important idea behind this distinction is that in “passive euthanasia” the doctors are not actively killing anyone, they are simply not saving him.”Voluntary euthanasia” is when the patient requests that action be taken to end his life, or that life-saving treatment be stopped, with full knowledge that this will lead to his death. “Involuntary euthanasia” is when a patient’s life is ended without the patient’s knowledge and consent. In voluntary passive euthanasia, a person decides for himself that medical treatment that he is receiving is making his life more unpleasant than the disease, and that he would rather end the treatment and go home. Presumably he concludes that a shorter but more comfortable life is preferable. Or perhaps he is simply tired of fighting, and wants to just give up and die. In involuntary active euthanasia, one person decides that another person’s life is no longer worth living or no longer of value, and has him killed (Types of Euthanasia).
The theological and moral  views also add to this issue. Christians in general say that euthanasia should be prohibited because we are God’s possession and that God is the only one who can give and take someones life(Vatican declaration). However, other religions say that we are responsible for our own life, for our decisions and deeds, which means that we have the right to decide if we want to suffer or not, and how long. Government makes the last decision in these questions and in some countries euthanasia is already legal. In  1984 the Dutch Supreme Court declared that ‘voluntary euthanasia’ was ‘acceptable’. In 2002 the Netherlands became the first EU country to legalize adult euthanasia. In 2008 some forms of euthanasia are legal in: Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Thailand, and the U.S. State of Oregon(BBC News)
Euthanasia has a long history and our generation is now responsible for it’s  future. For  people who believe in Charles Darwin’s philosophy it should be very though-provoking. It states everything in nature is important and has its own role. Nature is a cycle, a chain, and we should emphasize the significance of the natural selection. Only those animals and plants stay alive which are good and strong  enough for life. The weak ones die. This way they don’t pass their weak genes on to the next generations(Early Theory  of Evolution).
Enter human society in the picture. A society which tries to find a solution for everything, tries to keep everyone alive  by  progressive equipment and inventions. Today there are many ill people.  The number of people with cancer increases every year. Would saving everyone’s life be the best solution for the world? Obviously not. Just as the weak animal dies, the ill people will also die.  Saving a weak person’s life could lead to a weaker population. Our practice of trying to save every person’s life is against the laws of nature.
Euthanasia is just one form of relieving pain and suffering. People who have never  seen an agonizing relative longing for death and peace can never really comprehend the purpose of  euthanasia. Seeing the pain and sorrow that comes from the helpless situation is worse than letting  our loved person die. Living in pain is miserable and not worth living.
There are many pros and cons to euthanasia. There are becoming fewer people who want to suffer from excruciating pain.  An increasing number would choose to die if their government and religion allowed them.

References:

-Everything.  Aktion T4  (http://everything2.com/e2node/Aktion%20T4)
-BBC News. Euthanasia and the law. Available at: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2600923.stm) by Ursula  Smartt
- Early Theories of evolution  (http://anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_2.htm)
-Sacred Congregation for the doctrine of the faith :Declaration on euthanasia( Vatican). Available at: (http://www.vatican.va  /roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19800505_euthanasia_en.html)
-The history of euthanasia. Available at:  (http://www.euthanasia.com/oathtext.html)
-Types of Euthanasia. Available at: (http://www.pregnantpause.org/euth/types.htm)
- Webster Collegiate Dictionary.  Available at: (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia)

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