Introduction
In most cases, individuals suffer from a terminal illness that causes them constant pain throughout their lives. Such a disease does not have a cure, thus, the patient depends only on the painkillers to reduce the agony they are experiencing. Under such circumstances, the patient’s relative, doctor, and the sick individual may evaluate the possibility of surviving the chronic condition. Supposing chances are limited, the involved parties may decide to subject the patient to assisted death. The practice has been adopted in most countries; however, there is active criticism associated with the act making some nations term it an illegal approach. Euthanasia is essential in enabling the patient and relatives to reduce the financial burden and emotional torture associated with the situation.
Why Euthanasia Should Be Allowed
When a patient is experiencing severe pain, they might be tempted to kill themselves using some techniques that can cause them intense agony. However, after realizing the condition is untreatable and having the consent of both the sick person and the relatives, undertaking assisted suicide will enable the patient to evade extreme suffering (Clarke et al., 2021). Through euthanasia, appropriate medical practices are used to facilitate easy and quick death that does not increase the pain to the victim. Furthermore, by having laws that guarantee the application of euthanasia, patients will have reduced suicidal thoughts that can affect their well-being and increase their mental problems. The practice will allow the sick person to be at ease, knowing that if they make a request, it will be permitted as per their will.
The pain and suffering associated with terminal diseases are unbearable. The fact that patients after diagnosis are made aware of the situation increases the stress and agony that drains their lives. Moreover, understanding that irrespective of any significant effort applied, the end result will be death in the future. When such thought accumulates in the minds of sick individuals, their physical and emotional health declines. In such conditions, instead of allowing the patient to undergo extreme pain and pressure, doctors should be allowed after an agreement with family members to help end the overwhelming situation through induced death.
Sometimes the resources such as finances required to protect the sick person might be so massive to the extent of draining the family. Instead of utilizing all the capital to manage a condition that will result in death, saving the cash for other uses is better. The practice will enable relatives and other concerned friends to reduce the unnecessary expenditure trying to improve the situation. Based on the cost involved in managing chronic diseases, the likelihood of exhausting the limited resources is high, which leaves other family members with insufficient properties to support them. When assisted suicide is performed, such related issues are curbed before causing financial pressure on the loved ones.
In addition, euthanasia plays a significant role in reducing stress and depression in loved ones. When an individual is experiencing pain, people closely related to them are also affected emotionally, making them depressed. Such conditions can have severe impacts on the overall well-being of couples and children of the patient. For instance, people may develop high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illness because of the tension they receive from seeing one of them undergoing unbearable moments in life. In order to free the kin from extreme and intense suffering, patients should be allowed to opt for euthanasia to reduce trauma.
Generally, sick individuals should be allowed to have the capacity to make decisions concerning their conditions. It is essential to protect human rights; therefore, such patients should be permitted to opt for euthanasia to facilitate quick and easy death to end the prolonged pain they have been through (Simmons, 2018). Embracing autonomy is vital, and its practice guarantees patients the courage to make such bold choices. It is important for individuals suffering from terminal illness to have their wishes met.
Even though assisted suicide practice has significant advantages for both the patient and close relatives, many people are against the act having different opinions about it. Some individuals view it from the perspective of religion, while others evaluate the exercise based on an ethical viewpoint. The contracting arguments have made euthanasia remain prohibited in some regions; however, the practice is taken as a voluntary agreement between the sick person, family members, and the doctor in charge.
In some cases, people having mental health may opt for assisted suicide. When euthanasia is allowed, people suffering from other treatable diseases might take advantage of the situation in order to die (Calati et al., 2021). Illnesses such as emotional conditions are manageable and do not have intense physical pain; thus, applying medically assisted is inappropriate. If a similar circumstance occurs, the patient should be denied the right to euthanasia.
Based on the context of religion, subjecting a patient to medically assisted death is considered murder. It, therefore, implies practicing euthanasia is perceived as violating the patient’s right, which should not be allowed. For example, the Islamic faith is against the act, and countries such as Iran prohibit the practice. Moreover, other convictions do not support the act since they believe that it is the creator who can end someone’s life.
Furthermore, based on the ethical conduct point of view, some physicians may choose to resist assisted suicide but instead offer other reliable practices to enable the sick individual to overcome the intense pain. Since patients are prompted by the fear of agony, doctors tend to provide other viable alternatives, such as the application of palliative care to help the individuals. Whether the patient requests a medically assisted death, the providers would not grant the permission in such scenarios.
Moreover, family members may use the practice as an excuse to acquire the properties owned by the patient. Sometimes relatives may choose to bribe doctors to provide fake diagnosis results to prompt loved ones and patients to choose assisted suicide. The act is common in situations where the sick individual has significant wealth, and the people intentionally want to inherit them. After the termination of the patient’s life, the person will then have the freedom to access the resources.
Conclusion
In summary, euthanasia should be allowed, and its practice should be adopted in healthcare facilities. The act enables patients suffering from terminal diseases to peacefully end their lives, thus evading the pain. It also allows family members to overcome the depression and trauma of seeing their kin undergoing unbearable conditions. In addition, it saves relatives from spending a large amount of resources trying to manage the disorder that will result in death finally. Even though assisted suicide has some limitations, its advantages are significant and more conspicuous than the associated disadvantages. Therefore, it should be legalized to reduce suicidal thoughts and enhance the patients’ autonomy.
References
Calati, R., Olié, E., Dassa, D., Gramaglia, C., Guillaume, S., Madeddu, F., & Courtet, P. (2021). Euthanasia and assisted suicide in psychiatric patients: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 135, 153-173. Web.
Clarke, C., Cannon, M., Skokauskas, N., & Twomey, P. (2021). The debate about physician assisted suicide and euthanasia in Ireland – Implications for psychiatry. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 79(5), 387-394. Web.
Simmons, K. M. (2018). Suicide and death with dignity. Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 5(2), 436-439. Web.