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GRA

Editorial Euthanasia

Euthanasia can be either active or passive. Active euthanasia involves injecting lethal doses of a substance into a living human being. Pas- sive euthanasia involves turning off life — support devices such as respirators. Should humans have the right to choose death by euthanasia if they are suffering? Can this be considered murder if the living person’s consent is given in writing?

Euthanasia is the act of painlessly putting to death certain indi-

viduals, by lethal doses of a substance. Euthanasia is used for in- dividuals who are terminally ill, or suffering greatly.

Euthanasia is illegal in all countries of the world except for some specific cases in the Netherlands. However, Euthanasia is being practiced in Holland. Many people, perhaps thousands, are killed this way each year in Holland. Some of the doctors who have per- formed this act have bee taken to court but all known cases have been aquitted.

In order for a doctor to perform euthanasia, there must be a liv- ing will. In other words, the patient must have written dow his or her desire to be put to death in a give situation, such as after a seri- ous accident. The will must have been made when the patient was of sound mind, and each case must pass in frot of a selected board.

May people call euthanasia “mercy killing” but others call it murder. It is difficult to say who, if anyone, has the right to ac- tively and perposefully put an end to a huma life. Whenever an an- imal is suffering or dying, it is permissible to ask your veternarian to “Put it to sleep”. However, when people are being tormented by

pain and disease doctors must do what they can tokeep them alive.

Should people be given teh same right to death as we give our an- imals? Many argue that they should not.

Many people believe that passive euthanasia is ot euthanasia at all, but rather it is simply let- ting nature run its course.

According to “Life Span Development” by John W. Santroch, there are two forms of euthanasia: one which is active (as described above), and the other passive. Passive euthanasia involves the tak- ing away of life sustaining devices so that a patient will eventually die. One common example of this, is the turning off of respirators. Many people argue that theis is ot euthanasia at all, but rather it is letting nature take its course.

The act of letting nature take its course is going on in Canada in what is commonly own as the “hospice”. Individuals who have been diagnosed as being terminally ill by a doctor, may enter into

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a hospice. The hospice offers a patient a pain — free death, and the opportunity to be surroinded by family members and loved ones. There is absolutely no intervention with the disease, it is simply allowed to run its course. However, the hospice does stress to the patiet, that they will be kept completily pai free. Whether you de- cide this is a form of euthanasia or not is a personal decision.

In “The Nature of Things” with Dr. David Suzuchi, a doc- tor from Holland described oe case where euthanasia was used. A woman he had been treating was diagnosed as having tongue can- cer. She knew that eventually a tumor would form ad it would block off her widpipe. Therefore the woma would die by suffocatio. The woman asked for euthanasia to be performed at a opportune moment. She asked that right before she would choke to death the doctor would perform euthanasia. Therefore the doctor would ot be killing the woman, the tumor was. He would oly be prebentig her suffering. The day came, when the woman had to fight and gasp for breath. She signalled the doctor to give her euthanasia and died peacefully. The doctor said he felt completely justified in killing the woman and he could not believe that other doctors would just let the woman die of chocking.

Some people feel that euthanasia allows a person to die a dig- nified death. Instead of lying in a coma for months and months, or dying slowly and painfully from a disease, a person ca die very quicly and pailessly by eutanasia. Those in opposition believe ther is no such thing as a dignified death, and therefore this cannot be used as a reason for euthanasia.

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If euthanasia was legalized it could be used to kill those who are a drain on society. If euthana-

sia is not murder, it certainly has the potential to become so.

Should people be allowed to make a choice for themselves whether or not they want euthanasia? If they are allowed, who

should help them make such a desision, and under what circum-

stances should it be performed? Is one of our rights as a human being the choice to die quickly and without long, drawn — out suf- fering, or is this advocating murder? These questions and many more make up the heated debate surrounding euthanasia.

those opposed to euthanasia are afraid that if it were legalizedit would get out of control. They feel it would, in the future, be used to kill those idividuals who no longer are able to contribute to soci- ety, whether it be because of age, or physical or mental disablities.

Euthanasia is activily killing another human being. However, under certain situation can it be accepted as mercy killing or is it outright murder?

Decide for yourself.

By Terri Lyn Hall

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Attention!

Regarding the article entitled “The Unreality Postulate” which appeared in last week’s Gem. If anyone has any information on how this article was printed, please contact the Gem immedi- ately. This article was not mailed to the Gem account through VAX mail, nor was it submit- ted in written form. Actually, it did not appear until the pa- per was returned from the print- ers. Upon questioning our print- ers, they claimed that they only p. ‘ated what was sent to them, as usual. At first, we thought this was a prank, but due to circum- stances surrounding the night’s layout, and because we always check all the flats before they ar sent off, it would not have been possible for anyone to have done it. If anyone can enlighten us as to how this happened, please let us know. There have been sto- ries about strange things happen- ing in Main building, but I’m sure there must be some logical ex- plaination....I hope.

look for Letter to the

Editor in this issue

hursday, October 19th, 1989=>

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