Euthanasia a Wrong Definition for Dying

Professor  Eric Jean

St.HSM 09875866

Euthanasia  a wrong definition for dying

« Death a business that can make you hit the jackpot, take the right social insurance, choose us ». This funny slogan could be used in a near future around hospitals  as well as hospices and other medical care center if at least the promise was technically achievable for all the parties involved. Euthanasia from the old Greek EU- meaning good and  THANATOS death (Oxford dictionary) or to sump up « the good death »  is the act of welcoming death by intention.  The operation taking place in a medicalized context were doctors, as well as nurses, provide or applies the ending of life.  As a very sensitive topic euthanasia struggled through years in term of legalization in most countries meanwhile dying patients might have been subject either to dependence or abandon in hospitals having their suffering not be taken into consideration for some in nonissue critic states. Euthanasia could offer a good relieve in term of grant for human dignity. Hopefully , as some will say, in more and more of wealthy and medically advanced countries we  are witnessing a strong dynamic in favor of the euthanasia legalization. Democracy and its understanding of freedom oblige us to consider that a Man is only responsible for his body and soul. Considering the  will of a person at a particular moment as well as respecting his basic individual opinion and choice is the starting point to this process. Unfortunately, the issue of Euthanasia can not be deliberate only through considerations about freedom of life or without being sarcastic freedom of death. Rather ,  concerns about its delicate application and implement shakes noxiously the equilibrium of legislation as well as the consensus and conception of existence modern societies, had defined until now.

Firstly, very simple practical aspects affect the exercise of euthanasia. Thus the fact that this very delicate task occurs in the field of medicine might appear paradoxical. Whether we are talking about active euthanasia, meaning the dynamic demand of the patient also referred as assisted suicide or passive euthanasia where the  patient is in a deep vegetative condition with no interaction with the material world(Keown). The nurses and doctors might feel being put in the position of executioner in spite of themselves. As mentioned in their study Snijdewind et AL ‘’Physicians frequently mentioned feeling pressured by the patient or the relatives to perform EAS. The latter most often happened when the patient was no longer able to express his/her request. This frequently also stemmed from a difference in expectations: patients and relatives did not understand why EAS was not or not yet an option’’. One must always remember that doctors previous to their activity take a strong engagement referred as Hippocrates oath, in which classically  performing an act of death should be strongly avoided (Guides). Moreover facilitating euthanasia in the framework of medical care lower the science of palliative care undermining the encouragement for normal good care and illness assistance. Research and progress for new cures simply couldn’t be effective if euthanasia was considered as a common option. Not to mention the cases of vulnerable people for whom thanks to greedy family pressure as well as it contrary   abandonment can end perceiving or finally  considering  euthanasia as the only viable solution.