Euthanasia 13

"Society's prohibition of intentional killing ...is the cornerstone of law and social relationships. It protects each of us impartially, embodying the belief that all are equal. ... ... Luke Gormally


I affirm the resolution
Resolved: Physician-assisted suicide should be legalized.

My value for this debate is Individual Rights

My criterion is Privacy

Medterms.com defines Euthanasia as a “good death”. In Greek “eu” means good and thanatos means death

Contention One- Tremendous pain and suffering of patients can be saved.

Many people that have types of cancer or AIDS end up facing a slow and painful death, but euthanasia will take away their suffering and let them have a quick and painless death. Not only does euthanasia help the patient by ending his or her physical suffering but it also helps their psychological suffering, for example the knowledge that a patient knows that he is definitely going to die and that the pain that he is felling will only get worse until the time of his death will greatly affect his mind. Would it not be morally correct to allow this patient to decide when he has suffered enough? It would be more humane to allow this person to have the choice to end all of his pain than to just let him rot and suffer until he finally dies.

Contention Two- The right to die should be a fundamental freedom of each person.

Nowhere in the constitution does it state or even imply that the government has the right to keep a person from committing suicide. This country is thought to be free so wouldn’t an indivual be free to make a choice about his or her own life, not allowing a person to make a choice that concerns his or her own life is denying a fundamental right that person is suppose to have.

Contention Three- Pain and anguish of the patient's family and friends can be lessened, and they can say their final goodbyes.

It is difficult for a mother or father to watch their child suffer and know that they can do nothing...