Ethics and Medicine: Euthanasia

As I was reading this weeks blog assignment, “ethics and medicine”, I immediately knew I wanted to focus my blog on euthanasia.  Over this summer I saw a movie called “You don’t know Jack”.  This movie was about the unethical practice and usage of euthanasia performed Dr. Jack Kevorkian, also known as “Doctor Death”.  He assisted nearly 130 people to commit suicide.  This form of euthanasia was considered the most extreme example in recent history.   Dr. Jack Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree homicide in Michigan in 1998 after demonstrating active euthanasia on the TV news show, 60 Minutes to try to prove his point on live television to America.  His point was that by performing these euthanasia cases it is helping the patients be at peace after long suffering throughout their lives.  As for euthanasia, this is the 'putting to sleep' or the withdrawal of medical care to a dying patient by someone else, much in the same way an animal is put down by a vet. According to the Issues Against Euthanasia  this  is always wrong, as it removes the decision from the patient, and places the unenviable decision onto the doctor who then has to 'play God'.   It also revealed it is really unfair to both parties in the matter.  In my opinion, this article presented the most compelling arguments on the matter of euthanasia.  In some countries euthanasia is accepted as standard medical practice. Legal regulations assign this to the medical profession. In such nations, the aim of euthanasia is to alleviate the suffering of patients from diseases known to be incurable by the methods known in that culture.  According to this specific article on Euthanasia, it defined as the act and ability to painlessly kill someone who is suffering.  These arguments both present good points.  Overall I would say that i would be more on the against side of euthanasia, agreeing with the article of Issues Against Euthanasia because i think death is a natural thing and should not be forced.  I think i would have a different opinions varying from different situations of euthanasia.