Issue: Euthanasia

Position: Euthanasia is wrong

No one should be entitled to kill another person, even with his or her permission

Position: Everyone should have the right to die

All people should be entitled to assisted suicide

Position: Passive euthanasia should be legal, but active should not

Witholding medical treatment that will lead to death (passive euthanasia) should be legal, but actively killing the patient should not.

Summary

Euthanasia is assisted suicide, usually aided by a physician. The patient must consent to dying, or, if the patient is not capable of making that decision, a guardian/family may consent on the patient's behalf. Euthanasia is generally passive; the physician witholds treatment, such as a respirator or medication, and the patient dies naturally. In active euthanasia, the patient is given lethal drugs that cause his or her death.

Position: Euthanasia by consent should be legal, but by proxy should not

If a person specifically consents to death, then s/he should have that right. However, his or her guardian or family member should not be allowed to make that decision on the patient's behalf.

What do you think?

Euthanasia is wrong
Everyone should have the right to die
Passive euthanasia should be legal, but active should not
Euthanasia by consent should be legal, but by proxy should not
None of these? Click here to add a position.

Top Arguments

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Arguments in favor of Euthanasia is wrong

Life is important.
Rating: 1

None of us are perfect. We find things that make us sad, feel hurt or have some physical pain. We can all find a reason that something about life isn't just right and some people want to murder themselves because of this. How much pain is enough? Who decides? Can a person say a little mental pain? ... (more)

Written by BlindSight

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Arguments in favor of Everyone should have the right to die

Life should not be forced upon someone
Rating: 1

Some people arguing the killing is cruel, but it is much cruel to force life on a person who is suffering. We cannot understand what it is like to be in great pain and to have lost the ability to lead a normal life. Moreover, we should not be investing so much money in sustaining the lives of ... (more)

Written by Laura

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Arguments in favor of Passive euthanasia should be legal, but active should not

There are no arguments in favor of Passive euthanasia should be legal, but active should not. Click here to add one.

Arguments in favor of Euthanasia by consent should be legal, but by proxy should not

There are no arguments in favor of Euthanasia by consent should be legal, but by proxy should not. Click here to add one.