Euthanasia

Dr Cohn
Reason & Argument
Euthanasia
December 15th 2009

Argumentative Essay

Topic Question:

Should Euthanasia be legalized as a human right?

Baptiste Corre
« My name is Vincent Humbert, I had 22 years February 3, 2003. I’m the young Norman quadriplegic who wrote the president and begged him to help him.  »
« I want to die because this life I live since my accident is shit,I’m exhausted, I do not want it.  »
Here are the words of the young Vincent, 19, victim of a traffic accident in 2000. Since then Vincent is alive but: quadriplegic, mute, nearly blind and dependent on artificial feeding. The only possible communication is the pressure of his thumb. By this means he will then write a letter in which he requests to Jacques Chirac the right to die. The head of statesaid that he had no right to respond to this request. With the help of a journalist, then he will tell his story and his claim in a book. Vincent manages to convince his mother to help:
– Injection by his mother with a large dose of barbiturates which plunges into a deep coma:
– Resuscitation by the doctor, then after further consultation of the file it decides to disconnect the respirator andperform an injection of potassium chloride
– Accusation of the mother and Dr. Chaussoy for « premeditated poisoning »
– Finally a decision to not proceed with the Attorney General of Boulogne Sur Mer This place is not made January 2, 2006. legal terms this means that there is no matter to continue, the file is empty because the law can not find the grip to incriminate anyone. This case has theeffect to revive the political and media debate on the issue of euthanasia and its possible legalization.
Meanwhile, in December 2003, 88% of French said they were favorable to euthanasia. In addition to caring for the Humbert family, he hides behind these figures certainly a lack of information.
What is euthanasia? Originally, the act of euthanasia means ending the life of another personto prevent him dying. The word is formed from the Greek « eu » meaning good and « thanos », death. Euthanasia literally means good death then or gentle death. But beyond the etymological sense, we must distinguish several types of euthanasia whose first difference is the desire of the patient: in some cases it is more conscious decision of his death comes to medical and his family, in others itis aware and calls himself the death, knowing that his illness is incurable or not having the will to live due to a heavy handicap.
This gradation of euthanasia does not completely solve the definitional problems it poses, in fact, begins where euthanasia and stop aggressive treatment? A doctor should he do anything to prolong the life of a patient incurable since its code of ethics gives aduty to do everything possible so that the patient has not died, or rather, should we consider that a dying man, is condemned because whatever happens, at least has the right not to suffer? In regard to assisted suicide, may be denied the right to die a free person to dispose of his body and intellectually conscious on behalf of an ethical principle that suggests that death is never desired bythose who meeting, or should we assume that each person responsible has the right to euthanasia, it only being able to express his perception of life? Should we legalize euthanasia?
If the legalization of euthanasia poses legal and moral that make it difficult, it is nevertheless necessary in a society that routinely practice.

I. The legalization of euthanasia poses legal and moral thatmake it difficult

A) The legalization of euthanasia raises legal issues

As defined in the introduction, there are several types of euthanasia: on one hand, we may combine active euthanasia, passive euthanasia and indirect euthanasia (where the patient does not itself the decision die), and other assisted suicide (which is always active euthanasia). All these practices come…