Introduction
Life is a divine gift from God. The Creator gave a life that needs to be taken care and one day, God will take it away. He is the only one, the Almighty, has the right to end one’s life and no other human being has the right to end it. This statement has been the spark of controversy concerning euthanasia, as people know, the law has been passed in the UK to legalise euthanasia, however, it will always be a hot topic of debate whether to legalise it or not. Some people believe that setting an end to a terminally ill individual who is in agony or a great deal of suffering can undergo to euthanasia so they can die with dignity, but others think that only God has the privilege in deciding when to end their lives.
Background Introduction
Euthanasia comes from a Greek word Euthanatos which means easy death. It is the deliberate act of ending a person’s life or allowing the death of a critically ill individual to alleviate themselves from suffering, pain, and agony. It is also known as Mercy Killing in lay man’s term, wherein, terminating one’s life or other’s life is beneficial to maintain dignity, relieve pain and deemed to be the best interest of a dying person. For example, a doctor can administer overdosed medications, not to provide comfort, but for the main purpose of ending the life of a dying patient. There are two types of euthanasia, voluntary and non-voluntary: The first one is voluntary euthanasia, wherein, the dying person can consent to end their life or ask another individual to help them out. The second type of euthanasia is non-voluntary euthanasia, at which point, where a person is unable to make a consent for any treatment, such as in vegetative state or in a coma, and another person, could be a doctor or family member chooses on their behalf to end their life which was previously expressed while they were in their conscious well being. Euthanasia is also categorized into two, active and passive euthanasia: active euthanasia is intentionally terminating life by administering large dosage of medication, on the other hand, passive euthanasia is referred to holding any treatment or therapy that is essentially needed in maintaining life which can lead to death.
Discussion
Several reasons need to be considered when legalising euthanasia. Some believe that they should allow people to die in a dignified manner, without any pain or suffering. When a person is seriously ill, they are experiencing a great amount of discomfort and wish their lives ends soon. In this way, euthanasia can help them ease and relieve their pain, therefore, as a result, it is a death under painless circumstances, maintaining their dignity and allowing them to die without suffering. Others feel that they have the right with their own body, they have the capability of deciding when or how to die. Since they have full control and autonomy over their body, they can consent and choose whether or not to end their lives.
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[bookmark: _8nnqhkahwryr]Patients with debilitating conditions and in their vegetative state rely heavily upon the healthcare team, with their families and relatives, it can be with their activities of daily living, such as washing, dressing, or their basic needs like drinking and eating which can be traumatic to them and degrading in every aspect. Utilising euathanasia, they can prevent being fully dependent on the people around them. Financial aspect should be considered as well when they are in their final days, inadequate financial funding and support for palliative care or nursing homes can be a major factor to think about euthanasia. Most of the patients depend on their savings, their families and on the government for the end of their life care, it can be national funded or a private nursing institution.
There is always an arguement in legalising euthanasia, the other side of the story. Deliberately ending your life or another’s life is considered illegal and a crime. Under the law, killing another human being, could be assisted, supported or intentionally categorised as manslaughter or murder, and is punishable under the jurisdiction. Legalising euthanasia provides authority for the doctors to pratice their right to perform euthanasia in full extent, and they have overwhelming power which can be abused. The life of someone dying can be under the hands of the unethical doctors, and they could misuse their right, playing with the lives of a human being unscrupulously. For example, doctors assume that conducting euthanasia to a dying patient is the best choice for the individual without even thinking the morality of euthanasia.
When a person is suffering from a terminal illness, or is in a coma, he/she is not in the right state of mind to permit to withhold the treatment, the legality of the consent is eventually questioned. They feel that they are pressured because of the situation itself, hence, it contradicts their will to live.
Everyone wants to live a healthy life, every human being does not desire to depart, however, under a constraint situation, patients turn to euthanasia as their last resort. The Almighty gave us life as a gift from above, it is a divine gift, a gift that no mortal has any right to give away, but only God alone.
Opinion
Ending a person’s life intentionally, to end one’s suffering and agony is the most humane and dignified way on how to depart, nonetheless, euthanasia is still considered a taboo in this society. It is still considered illegal and immoral. As human beings, people do not have the right to terminate lives or other’s, it is only the Creator who has a right to take lives in due course.
Conclusion
Amidst controversy in the issue of legalisation of Euthanasia in the UK, there will be always two sides of the story, the story of never-ending debate if euthanasia should be legalised in this country. It will be a long journey for everyone to eventually accept euthanasia, legally and morally in its anticipated path. Though there are several reasons to consider legalising Euthanasia, there are also reasons to argue about killing their own life. The question is, which side are to take.
References
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