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COMM133 Research Essay

Professor Ferry
Marissa Collee
November 17, 2014

The Euthanasia Debate

Good death, two words not normally associated with one another, except when translated into
one Euthanasia. Euthanasia is the ending of a patients life with proper consent by a physician. The
act is conducted to serve the individuals best interests and can have a number of benefits, including the
depletion of medical costs, a gain of control by the patient, and ultimately the ending of a persons
suffering. Physical, mental and emotional suffering should all be in thought when debating euthanasia.
Considering the advantages of Euthanasia, it should be legalized to serve the best interests of terminal
and agonizing patients in Canada.
Legalized euthanasia in Canada would not only be a benefit for the patients, but also the
taxpayers and government when considering medical costs. The continued treatment of a terminal
patient is costly to the patient and/or their family, as well as their medical institution. While health
insurance is an aid to these costs for the patient, the money still comes from outside sources. Studies
state a persons highest medical bills are in the final stages of their lives. And so, as our population
ages their health care and costs increase, there will be fewer people in the workforce supplying tax
revenue necessary for the cost of delivery [1]. If limited funds will be of use in the future, legalizing
euthanasia would cut costs by allowing a suffering patient the choice to continue his or her life by
ending costly treatments. The right to this choice would save more money and permit the patient a
sense of control.
As frightening as death may appear to a healthy, happy, carefree Canadian, death is a much
more realistic option to a terminally ill patient. These patients may still fear death and the unknown,

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but would be allowed the control of one last thing in their life, the way it ends. As the individual grows
sicker they may lose control of things such as their bowels, their limbs, or even the ability to eat or
breathe on their own. If able to participate in euthanasia, they have regained some sort of control in
their lives. The value of ones life should be determined by the individual, and if a physician agrees to
perform a euthanasia, if legalized, no wrong would be done as it was the patients decision [2]. The
medical rights of a patient must also be considered. A critique in the New England Journal of Medicine
states, Proponents assert that the well-recognized right of patients to control their medical treatment
includes the right to request and receive euthanasia [3]. With these rights considered, as well as the
comparison of an average Canadian to the life of a dying patient, it should be recognized that the
control of ones medical treatment allows a patient to refuse treatment. If pushed further, Canadian
government should also be able to allow a patient the legal control of his or her own death as well. If
not just to contain the fear of death or regain control, a patient should be legally allowed to determine
whether he or she has suffered enough.
The physical trauma a person must face to request euthanasia would likely be extreme and
severe. However, the emotional and mental instability of a patient must also play a substantial role [2].
The ending of such brutal suffering should be looked upon by the Canadian government with sympathy.
These patients endure unimaginable bodily pain. On top of such trauma, in some cases, patients are
diagnosed and re-diagnosed and in and out of the hospital and given false hope [4, p. 184]. This hope
could most definitely take a toll on their emotional strength. The patients right to medical control
should include their right to alleviate all suffering if it becomes too hard to bear. A patients quality of
life is for them to determine, but could not be considered nearly a well if constantly in pain or in fear of
death. Eliminating this fear could also relieve some of the emotional suffering they are forced to
endure. Sympathy to these suffering individuals is just one out of many beneficial reasons to legalize
euthanasia.

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To conclude, although controversial, and unimaginable to the average Canadian, euthanasia
would serve as a benefit to many people. Whether it be from cost depletion, the patients and their
regain of control, or the sympathetic notion to end their suffering, the legalization of euthanasia in
Canadian health care facilities should be seriously considered. Euthanasia should be legalized in Canada
and addressed in a more positive light to eliminate its taboo and become a reality.

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References
[1]

T Seitz, The Euthanasia Debate, The Canadian Nurse [Online] Available:

http://proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca:8080/login?url=http://proquest.com/docview/232050948?accountid=39576

[2]

H Draper and A Slowther, Euthanasia Clinical Ethics [Online] Available:

DOI: 10.1258/ce.2008.008024

[3]

P A Singer and M Siegler, Euthanasia A Critique The New England Journal of Medicine [Online]
Available:
http://proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca:8080/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/223968196?accountid=39476

[4]

McDougall, M. Gorman and C. Roberts, Euthanasia. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2008.