As a citizen of the human race, a person is granted the right to life. Regardless of the location or income of a person, it is a person’s decision as to how his or her life will be lived. In some places, a person has the “right to die.” This means that the person has the right, if he or she should choose to do so, to take his or her life with the assistance of a professional. The issue of has been discussed for a number of years now. Euthanasia is defined as the intentional killing, by act or omission, of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. The key word is intentional. If death is not intended, then it is not an act of euthanasia. There are different types of euthanasia: Voluntary euthanasia, non-voluntary euthanasia, and involuntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia is when the person who is killed has requested to be killed; non-voluntary euthanasia is when the person who is killed gave neither a request nor consent; involuntary euthanasia is when the person killed requested the contrary. The law has stated that the service of euthanasia cannot be given to those who request it but are deemed incompetent. One can, however, draw up a “living will,” if he or she is still competent, and request the service be performed should he or she be deemed incompetent. As a citizen of humanity, the ethics of euthanasia should be given much consideration.

The most derogative, yet most common, term for euthanasia is “mercy killing.” The supporters of euthanasia have coined the term “right to die” in place of “mercy killing,” as “right to die” is more socially acceptable. Those in favor of euthanasia claim that the decision is the patient’s. The argument is that, just as it’s a “woman’s right” in the abortion argument, it’s the “patient’s right” to die, therefore, it should be left to the discretion of the patient whether he or she should have to suffer pain because he or she is not dead, and can still feel the pain. Statistics show that every year, two million people die in America. It’s estimated that 70% of these people die after deciding to forego life-sustaining treatment (http://www.euthanasia.com/historyeuthanasia.html). This shows that 70% of the acts of voluntary euthanasia are due to the patient requesting that he or she does not receive treatment to keep them alive. This is a decision of the patient, not the doctor, and not the family. The support lies in the fact that the patient requests the death, and the doctors are only available to administer the proceedings. Another argument presented is that a person, who wishes to die, usually sits in a hospital for months at a time, clinging to life. This is not only a financial burden to the family, but it is also an emotional burden for the family to see a loved one in such a state. When deciding the ethics of euthanasia, one should always consider the burdens that will be placed on the family of the patient by keeping the patient alive.

However, many people are against euthanasia. One website gave twelve reasons why euthanasia should not be legalized. Some of the reasons being that euthanasia is unnecessary because there are medications to alleviate the pain caused by disease, it undermines medical research, it changes the public conscience, it gives too much power to doctors, and it violates historically acceptable codes of medical ethics (http://www.cmf.org.uk/index.htm?ethics/twelve.htm). The case that many against euthanasia present is that euthanasia is murder. Regardless of the state the person is in, it’s still taking a human life. If someone is living, if living is defined as having a heartbeat and a pulse, then they should not have to die, regardless of the state of mind. Also, when a doctor takes the Hippocratic oath, which all doctors must, he or she claims that he or she “will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel.” When a doctor assists anyone in any way to commit suicide, or if a doctor performs the act of euthanasia, he or she is violating the Hippocratic oath, which is one of the most valued sentiments doctors ever express.

The evidence shows that there is a case to be made either way. As a citizen of humanity, I am required to make a decision as to the ethics of this action. In any case, I am against murder, in any form. I agree that one does have the right to choose if he or she should have to suffer, but I disagree that doctors should be the ones to prescribe the overdose of medication, or inject the fluid into the IV. Therefore, my opinion on euthanasia is that it is unethical for a doctor to perform the act of euthanasia on any patient, competent or not, due to the fact that it is murder.

Submitted By: Nannytonks

Most of the time when someone is quoting the Bible, they are taking a quote out of context. In order to understand what the quote is saying, you should read the entire passage, not just the verse. While each line of the Bible is important, it is also equally important not to dissect it and refute it line for line.

Source: http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=20777

"Authorities have a medical explanation for this, but provincial inmates believe supernatural beings are causing the deaths and illnesses inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC)" reports Jeanette P. Malinao of the Sun Star, a Philippino newspaper. Apparently inmates are getting terribly sick or even dying after seeing a black cat or black dog. One inmate reportedly woke up disfigured but medically checked out normal. Many took part in mass when Fr. John Llacuno came and performed an exorcist to get rid of the bad spirits.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph

"A fireball created in a US particle accelerator has the characteristics of a black hole" according to BBC News. The event occured at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in New York. RHIC is a research facility which "smashes beams of gold nuclei together at near light speeds." Horatiu Nastase, a Brown University Professor, says that his calculations reveil that the fireball is similar to a black hole. It was absorbing ten times as many jets as it was suppose to absorb according to calculations.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4357613.stm

Latin Name: Laurus nobilis
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated Deities: Adonis, Apollo, Aesculapius, Ceres, Cerridwen, Cupid, Daphne, Eros, Faunus, Ra, & Vishnu
Magical Uses: Clairvoyance, Protection, Purification, to induce Prophetic Dreams, Inspiration, & Wishes (write a wish on the leaf then burn it)
Medical Uses: High Blood Sugar, Migraine Headaches, Bacterial and Fungal Infections, and Gastric Ulcers
Other Uses: Spice
Chemical Constituents: Long-chain esters

The information presented here is for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.