What are the causes and effects of euthanasia?

Answer 1

Besides the termination of life, there stands numerous ethical and religious questions among societies.

One of the most difficult societal challenges is the concern that people close to the individual receiving euthanasia are doing so with the façade of compassionately caring, where the reality is that they are attempting to access the assets of the euthanised. There have also been suspicions presented to courts that the choice to euthanise someone is being done for the purpose of terminating a marriage so as to obtain access to an estate, at a point where the euthanised was in process of divorcing the claimant, thus excluding them from any assets.

Another, possibly more palpable consideration, is whether euthanasia is painful, cruel and even torture. It is known that the chemicals used in the United States to terminate the life of a convicted prisoner, is the same medication that is banned in the United Kingdom for use on animals, because it causes extreme agony. (tantamount to torture).

If it's an individual seeking euthanasia on their own accord, this raises questions regarding the mental stability of the individual, and whether society has an ethical and moral mandate to examine this possibility, and guide the individual towards social and chemical therapies. These good intentions can often conflict with the very real fact that the individual wishing to be euthanised is truly suffering, or at a point in their medical condition, where the idea of extended palliative care becomes repugnant. There are many times when families visit loved ones in hospital and vocally urge the individual to 'hold on, use mental and spiritual power to fight the idea of surrendering to death, etc,' where all the person wants is to protect their dignity and relieve their pain.

Palliative care can present numerous challenges for an individual - the pain medications cause acute constipation, the aggressive medications to combat the constipation causes acute diarrhoea, and the individual spends the last days or hours of their life in both emotional distress, gastrointestinal distress, and dependent upon others to clean them.

Also to be considered is the influence of religious and cultural mores. Suicide or self-regulated death is claimed to be murder - a serious sin against God. However, there is equally compelling verse that speaks otherwise.

In Islam, Muslims are strongly opposed to euthanasia. Muslims believe that all human life is sacred because it is given by Allah, (God) and that Allah chooses how long each person will live. Human beings have no right to interfere in this divine right.

Judaism states that suicide is forbidden by Jewish law and is a serious sin. Assisting in suicide and requesting such assistance (thereby creating an accomplice to a sinful act) is also forbidden, a violation of the Talmud. The Rabbis of the Talmud (Old Testament), strongly prohibit suicide and speak of it as me'aved atzmo l'da'at - "one who destroys him or herself knowingly." The conditions of life and death were not of our will; it is not according to our will that we were born and it is not according to our will that we shall die. (Avot 4:29). Committing suicide is a direct denial of the precious gift of life. Most importantly, suicide denies us the opportunity to repent for our misdeed.

In Buddhism it is always that one should refrain from the destruction of life, including your own. Buddhism sees suicide as a negative form of action. It suggests that the individual may be reborn in a sorrowful realm due to negative final thoughts. However, unlike Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, Buddhism does not condemn the act of suicide or euthanasia, but sees it as an impediment in one's path to enlightenment.

In Christianity God's word is considered as absolute, as written in Deuteronomy 32:39 (NIV): "See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand." Nowhere in the Scriptures is there an authority to take our own, or another's life.

From a secular, societal point, the act of Euthanasia has some practicalities: Organisations participating in a clinical 'assisted suicide' have a strict policy time-line, or 'check sheet' to follow. It ensures that the individual who is making this irreversible decision has finalised all of their affairs, wills, codicils, financial affairs, funeral instruction, private notes for family and/or friends, disposition and protection of pets, personal mementos, and preparation of their funeral requests and cemetery, etc., Also included is a series of medical consults with physicians, psychiatrists, and if desired, clergy. This is where the individual may face their greatest turmoil: the clergy may state unequivocally their opposition to suicide. The physician may claim there are other options available to extend life, although the quality of life will be altered. And the solicitor/attorney may have to mention the number of people coming out of the woodwork, as they queue up to stake their claim on the estate. These are all essential considerations to apply when making decisions towards such an irreversible act.

Answer 2

Besides the termination of life, there stands numerous ethical and religious questions among societies.

One of the most difficult societal challenges is the concern that people close to the individual receiving euthanasia are doing so with the façade of compassionately caring, where the reality is that they are attempting to access the assets of the euthanised. There have also been suspicions presented to courts that the choice to euthanise someone is being done for the purpose of terminating a marriage so as to obtain access to an estate, at a point where the euthanised was in process of divorcing the claimant, thus excluding them from any assets.

Another, possibly more palpable consideration, is whether euthanasia is painful, cruel and even torture. It is known that the chemicals used in the United States to terminate the life of a convicted prisoner, is the same medication that is banned in the United Kingdom for use on animals, because it causes extreme agony. (tantamount to torture).

If it's an individual seeking euthanasia on their own accord, this raises questions regarding the mental stability of the individual, and whether society has an ethical and moral mandate to examine this possibility, and guide the individual towards social and chemical therapies. These good intentions can often conflict with the very real fact that the individual wishing to be euthanised is truly suffering, or at a point in their medical condition, where the idea of extended palliative care becomes repugnant. There are many times when families visit loved ones in hospital and vocally urge the individual to 'hold on, use mental and spiritual power to fight the idea of surrendering to death, etc,' where all the person wants is to protect their dignity and relieve their pain.

Palliative care can present numerous challenges for an individual - the pain medications cause acute constipation, the aggressive medications to combat the constipation causes acute diarrhoea, and the individual spends the last days or hours of their life in both emotional distress, gastrointestinal distress, and dependent upon others to clean them.

Also to be considered is the influence of religious and cultural mores. Suicide or self-regulated death is claimed to be murder - a serious sin against God. However, there is equally compelling verse that speaks otherwise.

In Islam, Muslims are strongly opposed to euthanasia. Muslims believe that all human life is sacred because it is given by Allah, (God) and that Allah chooses how long each person will live. Human beings have no right to interfere in this divine right.

Judaism states that suicide is forbidden by Jewish law and is a serious sin. Assisting in suicide and requesting such assistance (thereby creating an accomplice to a sinful act) is also forbidden, a violation of the Talmud. The Rabbis of the Talmud (Old Testament), strongly prohibit suicide and speak of it as me'aved atzmo l'da'at - "one who destroys him or herself knowingly." The conditions of life and death were not of our will; it is not according to our will that we were born and it is not according to our will that we shall die. (Avot 4:29). Committing suicide is a direct denial of the precious gift of life. Most importantly, suicide denies us the opportunity to repent for our misdeed.

In Buddhism it is always that one should refrain from the destruction of life, including your own. Buddhism sees suicide as a negative form of action. It suggests that the individual may be reborn in a sorrowful realm due to negative final thoughts. However, unlike Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, Buddhism does not condemn the act of suicide or euthanasia, but sees it as an impediment in one's path to enlightenment.

In Christianity God's word is considered as absolute, as written in Deuteronomy 32:39 (NIV): "See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand." Nowhere in the Scriptures is there an authority to take our own, or another's life.

From a secular, societal point, the act of Euthanasia has some practicalities: Organisations participating in a clinical 'assisted suicide' have a strict policy time-line, or 'check sheet' to follow. It ensures that the individual who is making this irreversible decision has finalised all of their affairs, wills, codicils, financial affairs, funeral instruction, private notes for family and/or friends, disposition and protection of pets, personal mementos, and preparation of their funeral requests and cemetery, etc., Also included is a series of medical consults with physicians, psychiatrists, and if desired, clergy. This is where the individual may face their greatest turmoil: the clergy may state unequivocally their opposition to suicide. The physician may claim there are other options available to extend life, although the quality of life will be altered. And the solicitor/attorney may have to mention the number of people coming out of the woodwork, as they queue up to stake their claim on the estate. These are all essential considerations to apply when making decisions towards such an irreversible act.

Answer 3

Euthanasia can sometimes be seen as a way out for terminally ill patients, obviously. Euthanasia is usually requested by the patient because they are in too much pain, or because the medical bills would be so high that their family cannot support them. Some psychological effects of euthanasia, would obviously be grief, as with every death that occurs. But, a sense of guilt could also be felt as you helped kill a loved one.

Answer 4

No matter how you look at it, in the end, the effect of euthanasia is one less life on our planet euthanasia allows an individual to die w/dignity & w/o suffering physical/emotional pain.

Answer 5

With early eusthanasia, a cure might be found. I was diagnosed with MS and had terrible pain for years and was ready to go, but then it burned itself out, became what is called benign MS.

Answer 6

Death.