by Wendy Pettit

Created on: October 28, 2007

Euthanasia: Mercy or Murder

In society, there has always been a great deal of controversy regarding any issue relating to moral standards. Euthanasia is unquestionably one of those issues that raise moral questions and arguments, whether someone is for or against it. Euthanasia is a Greek term meaning "good death" or "dying well". People believe very strongly in their religious beliefs and principles; which is why society is very passionate about this method of death. Many citizens believe any type of assistance in one's death is murder regardless of circumstances.

Euthanasia has many classifications, which describe different ways to accomplish this act. There are many types and definitions associated with the assistance of one's death. Voluntary passive euthanasia is quite different from involuntary active euthanasia. Involuntary active euthanasia is deliberate murder and is punishable as such.

In addition to assisting someone in death or allowing one to die to stop the pain and suffering, there are also financial motives involved in some types of euthanasia. HMO's have an interest in this type of conduct because it obviously saves the insurance companies a lot of money.

The following pages will explain in more detail the involuntary active and voluntary passive methods of euthanasia, as well as the human and financial aspects of euthanasia.
As stated earlier, the Greek terminology of euthanasia is "a good death" or "dying well." To understand the definition a little clearer, the word can be broken down. The prefix eu means good and the suffix thanatos means death, in Greek terms. A "good death" in most cases means dying a peaceful and painless death. To have family members gathered around is important to many people who know they are dying. A "good death" is a matter of interpretation, depending on one's view of the end of life. Eighty five percent of Americans die in some type of medical facility, and of that eighty five percent, seventy percent choose to withhold life-sustaining treatment. With this fact known, it is safe to say most people do not want to suffer unnecessarily by medically postponing death.

In the 1940's medical care for the terminally ill was primarily comfort care to include alleviating the pain as much as possible. Throughout the last sixty years, medicine has become capable of postponing death. Increasing, people must to choose how they want to die. If someone does not make it clear by legal means, than medical professionals must use whatever

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