i did not pick the topic or point of view so please do not write comments about how you agree or disagree with what I am saying. i only want opinion on content and writing style. the essay is for a grade 11 law class
Where the Line Lies, an Essay on Euthanasia
Euthanasia, according to the oxford dictionary is “Gentle and easy death; bringing about of this, in the case of incurable and painful disease.” In other words, euthanasia is assisted suicide for a person who is painfully suffering, brain damaged or unconscious for an extended period of time. A person cannot be euthanized under any circumstance apart from the reasons above. There are four types of euthanasia: direct and voluntary, indirect and voluntary, direct and involuntary, and indirect and involuntary. Voluntary and direct euthanasia is selected and approved by the conscious yet pain ridden patient. This essentially means that the patient has made the decision on their own to be mercifully killed by another being, usually but not limited to a doctor. Voluntary and indirect euthanasia is chosen and discussed in advance. This means that the person has stated ahead of time that if they are ever put on life support, are in a coma, brain damaged… that they give their permission to be put to death. Direct and involuntary euthanasia is executed on the patient without his or her blessing. This type of euthanasia is usually carried out when the patient is in a state where they cannot make decisions for themselves. It is decided for them (usually by a family member) that they should be euthanized. The last form of euthanasia is indirect and involuntary. This form of euthanasia occurs when a hospital feels that there is no hope left for a life support, coma ridden or brain damaged patient, and is in the best interest for the person and the hospital that they are put to death. Euthanasia in any form is a very controversial legal issue. In Canada direct and voluntary and direct and involuntary forms of euthanasia are illegal and constitute criminal acts. All categories of euthanasia except direct and voluntary and direct and involuntary, are preformed when a patient is on life support, has no brain activity and little to absolutely no chance of recovery. The focus of this paper is on direct and voluntary euthanasia. In my opinion I believe that Canada should change their law and allow direct and voluntary euthanasia to be legal, so long that it is performed by a doctor. I agree that direct and voluntary euthanasia should be legal. I believe this because 1. It will lower health costs and 2. We live in a democratic, free society in which lives belong not to the government but rather the patients themselves. Finally I believe that direct and voluntary euthanasia should be legal due to the reality that it may ease the friends and family members of sick patients, knowing their loved one is no longer suffering.
If direct and voluntary euthanasia was legal it would lower health costs and or provide more financial support to those who actually wish to live. In Canada we have universal health care. This means that through our taxes, we pay for every person in Canada to receive basic health care. Essentially it is Canadians taking care of other Canadians medically. Every time a Canadian earns a pay cheque, money from the cheque is automatically removed as part of universal health care. The average person loses approximately $500 every pay day in order to support the medical expenses of other people. If direct and voluntary euthanasia was legal, there would be fewer patients to care for, less medicine to buy, and more money in the average Canadian’s pocket. I myself have no issue paying for someone who wants to lives’ health care. In fact I would be honoured and proud to know my tax dollars are helping someone to keep holding on. My only problem is when I think of the people who do not want to live. I think of my hard earned dollars and how they are being wasted on someone who does not want the help my money is providing them. Why I ask, should we be paying for someone to live who wishes more than anything to be dead? It is a waste of money that could be better spent saving someone who truly has a thirst for existence.
Canada is a democratic society. Because our government is a democracy we are entitled to certain rights under section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Being Canadian we have freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of peaceful assembly, and lastly freedom of association. Freedom according to the oxford dictionary is the power to determine action without restraint. This essentially means that we are free to do as we please (so long that it is not criminal) without being held back or restrained. A teacher of mine once told me that freedom goes as far as other people’s freedom. The meaning behind this quote is that you can
do as you please just as long as it does not disrupt the freedom of others. If this is true then why may I ask do we not have the freedom or rights to our own lives. If we have the freedom to say what we like, have the religion we like, write what we like then why do we not have the freedom to choose life or death. If a person is in a severe amount of pain they should have the right to choose peaceful death as an option. Freedom goes as far as other people’s freedom. If we are not hurting anyone then why shouldn’t we have the choice to be euthanized? Just to breathe is not to live; to truly live you must be happy. If a person is in so much pain and so sick that they cannot enjoy the happiness of life then they cannot be categorized as TRULY living. It is hard for people to come to terms with, but sometimes forcing someone to live is worse than forcing someone to die. In death there is no pain… there is nothing. On earth if you are sick you must live with your pain every single day. F
First of all, the definition at the beginning is completely unnecessary. You have to assume that the reader of your paper knows what it is you are talking about. Besides, I don’t know any intelligent human being who doesn’t know what Euthenasia is. I would take it out.
"A person cannot be euthanized under any circumstance apart from the reasons above."
Why not? Explain this point. You can include something like "…apart from the reasons above, lest it be considered murder."
Rather than listing all the types of euthenasia and THEN explaining them, skip one step and explain as you list them.
"I agree that direct and voluntary euthanasia should be legal"
You already stated that. This sentence is redundant.
Do not use numbers in your paper. Write simply:
I believe this because ________, and ______.
"The average person loses approximately $500 every pay day in order to support the medical expenses of other people"
This needs a citation. Where did you get that number from?
I am not disagreeing with your points, but simply showing you possible counter-arguments so you can strengthen those points. For the first point:
What if someone only wants to die because they are depressed? Shouldn’t there be some sort of mental health check in place to determine whether the request is a reasonable one? What kind of things should be set in place to prevent unwarranted death? What about those miracle cases where comatose patients suddenly come out of their coma and are perfectly healthy? However rare it is, it still happens, and killing them is depriving them of that.
Second point:
Where do you draw the line between okay to die and not okay to die? What about the doctors who have to live with the "what ifs" of the person they killed? What about the vow doctors make to cause no harm? Should a doctor be able to choose for a person, even over the choice of the family? What about vice-versa — should the family be able to choose over the doctor?
I suggest using examples of places which have legal euthenasia already. Several US states allow assisted suicide: Oregon, Washington, Montanna. Some countries allow active euthenasia: The Netherlands, Belgium. etc. and list the results these places have had with having it in place.