The Corrupt Practice of Physician-Assisted Suicide Essay -- Euthanasia

     Ã‚     Ã‚   Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), cancer, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease are just some of the illnesses millions of people are diagnosed with every day.   These diseases and many other afflictions have the potential to cause extreme pain and suffering to individuals.   Each person who has a terminal illness knows that death is inevitable.   Knowing this fact, the afflicted are torn between the decision of letting the disease take its course or opting for euthanasia.   Derek Humphrey, a founder of the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, gives an accurate definition of the word euthanasia, "The word 'euthanasia' comes from the Greek-eu, "good," and thanatos, "death.   Literally, "good death" (18).   Euthanasia, also called "mercy killing," is the act or practice of putting people to death who are suffering from painful, incurable diseases or incapacitating physical disorders.   Euthanasia is an extremely di fficult and moral decision, one that a patient must make along with their family and doctors.   Euthanasia involves tampering with the gift and privilege of life, many people stand on opposing sides of this issue.   A specific kind called physician-assisted suicide is much debated because it poses two questions: is it morally justified? and, should it be legalized?   Physician-assisted suicide is immoral and unacceptable for a number of reasons and, therefore, it should not be legalized.   Assisting in suicide is killing someone with their consent.   No doctor should help a patient die because it is their duty as a physician to preserve and prolong life, not take it away.   If this were to be legalized, some doctors would abuse this law and people would get killed without the... ....   17-23. Jefferson, Thomas.   "The Declaration of Independence."   A World of Ideas: Essential readings for college writers.   Ed. Lee A. Jacobs.   Boston, Bedford:   1998: 76-79. Loconte, Joe.   "Hospice Care Can Make Assisted Suicide Unnecessary."   Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints.   Ed.   James D. Torr.   San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000.   96-104. Mappes, Thomas A., and David DeGrazia.   Biomedical Ethics.   New York: McGraw-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hill, 1996. Misbin, Robert I.   Euthanasia: The Good of the Patient, the Good of Society.   Frederick: University Publishing Group, 1992. Smith, Wesley J.   "Legalizing Physician-Assisted Suicide Would Harm Society." Physician-Assisted Suicide.   Ed.   Daniel A. Leone. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1998.   84-97. Weir, Robert F, ed. Physician-Assisted Suicide.   Medical Ethics Ser.   Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1997.