The Right to Live

Most of the world can agree that killing is wrong. There is even a special word for it; murder. If someone was to be labeled a murderer he or she would be judged harshly by society and receive swift and severe punishment. That is why I do not understand this new right to die movement. Euthanasia, physicians assisted suicide especially, is very clearly defined as wrong by our society and by our laws. A doctor who provided a patient with the way to kill themselves or one who administers a lethal drug is in effect a murderer. Besides murder just being considered wrong, there are many other reasons why euthanasia should not be allowed to be ratified as a policy.

Every doctor takes the Hippocratic Oath and among other things they promise to, “first do no harm.” I believe that most people would agree that when a person has been murdered they have been harmed. A murderer still gets convicted if they kill an elderly person who is near death. We still consider them as having done harm. So why would it be any different for a doctor?

In addition, there is an alternative option to physicians assisted suicide. There is no need for a person’s suffering to be so unbearable that they should die prematurely. Palliative care is the solution for this suffering. Many people have heard of hospice and many have said that it has greatly relieved the suffering of the patient and of the family that is with the patient through their illness. If a person can live a mostly peaceful life in palliative care, why would anyone think it right to rob them of this final peace in life? With palliative care, people can even leave the hospital and go home to be surrounded with their friends and family as they say their goodbyes. Nurses will be there and can work with their families to give the patient the best care possible.

Frequently, it is cited that the cost of treatment for the ill is astronomical and places a huge burden on a family once a person passes. Because of this, many think that although palliative care is nice it is just too expensive. Unfortunately, this expense makes euthanasia even more immoral than it would be if all treatment cost the same. Palliative care is cheaper than a patient staying in the hospital for the duration of their illness but euthanasia is much cheaper than palliative care. If euthanasia were to become legal a person would be presented with their options and could choose to give up solely for the purpose of saving their loved ones money. A person having to choose between their life and the financial stability of their family while they are on their death bed would, without a doubt, cause some, who would fight otherwise, to give up.

In conclusion, the right to die movement and its celebration of euthanasia are quite immoral based on our laws and on our social stigmas. It should not be allowed and right to die believers should be ashamed of themselves and give up this fight.