Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a person who is suffering from an incurable illness. It is commonly called mercy killing or painless death. It is an issue causing heated debates. While opponents advocate religious concerns and errors of medical systems, proponents refuse with humanitarian views.

Opponents argue that, according to the Bible, human life is decided by God. Suffering, including sickness, is a blessing and tests. And thus suicide is against religious belief and immoral. Wrong diagnosis comes second. In 2009, the misdiagnosis rate of rectal cancer in Taiwan is 41.5%. With wrong diagnosis so high, if we practice euthanasia, can you imagine how many patients will die with regrets? In addition, there is always the odd that a new cure is just around the corner. For example, appendicitis was fatal and incurable in the past but is curable now.

However, there is the other side of the issue. A large number of people support euthanasia. One common argument for euthanasia is that patients with incurable diseases should not be forced to continue living if they are in great pain like 9th degree in the pain index and cannot bear this constant pain. A second reason is that staying in a hospital for a long time often causes a financial and emotional burden on the family. Incurable ill patients often worry about the hardship and misery that will fall upon their families. Moreover, incurable patients often find their lives meaningless. Even if they are alive, they can only lie in bed. The story of Xiao-Min Wang who had been in a PVS (persistent vegetative state) for 47 years is full of sorrow. For many, this is living death, and they choose to die with dignity. Finally, proponents believe that keeping dying patients alive on life-supporting systems is cruel and senseless because it causes great suffering to both the patients and their families.

In conclusion, supports believe that doctors should have the right to end the life of a terminally ill patient with the permission of the patient while conscious or the members of the family.