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Is Euthanasia Justified in Certain Patients?

Its 1998, Thomas Youk, 52, is in his final stages of Lou Gehrig’s disease. He is in constant pain because of his illness. He is administered a lethal injection, which he consents to by Dr. Jack Kevorkian to end his life. Dr. Kevorkian is later charged and convicted of second-degree murder for Youk’s death and is sentenced to prison (“Kevorkian Charged With Murder”, 1998). Was the act performed by Dr. Kevorkian really considered murder or was it an act of mercy? The practice of intentionally ending the life of a patient in an effort to relieve their pain and suffering is known as euthanasia (also referred to as assisted death or physician-assisted suicide). The topic of its use is controversial worldwide. Some say euthanasia is the matter of choice, even when it comes to choosing death. Others claim that doctors should not be empowered to suggest death as an option to patients who may not realize the decision they are making. Every country where euthanasia is legal has its own specific provisions on how it is used. Nevertheless, it is an ethical dilemma faced by many health care professionals. In the United States, several states have introduced the Death with Dignity Act. This Act “allows qualified terminally-ill adults to voluntarily request and receive a prescription medication to hasten their death.” Currently, there are only a few states that enacted the Death with Dignity statutes: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, and Hawaii. Before the end of 2019 Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington will also legalize assisted death in their states (“How Death with Dignity”, 2019). Regardless if state legislations permits it, I believe euthanasia should not be legal. Again, this raises the question of whether assisted death is murder or mercy.

Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide violates the Hippocratic Oath- an oath taken by physicians to “do no harm.” It would require physicians to breach their general duties and to act in the patient’s best interest. It fundamentally goes against the role physicians have as healers. The Oath clearly states, “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; ...” (Smith, 2002). Oftentimes, patients who express their wanting to die by euthanasia is actually a cry for help. First, there is the rising cost of health care.

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