Euthanasia

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Terri Schiavo was another case in the end of life controversy. Terri Schiavo was a woman who suffered cardiac arrest and was left in a vegetative state. Schiavo was inserted a feeding tube, her husband felt that Mrs. Schiavo would not want such measures if there was no chance for her to recover so he asked the doctors to remove the feeding tube and just let Terri go in peace. Her parents had other ideas and contested the husband’s decision. After a 15 year legal battle the courts finally ruled in favor of Terri’s husband and the tube was removed. Terri died 13 days later. Terri’s case was highly publicized, it led to challenges of guardianship as well as pro-life movements throughout the country. There was a massive spike in advanced directives after the Terri Schiavo case as many people feared that they would end up like Terri if they didn’t have a clear advanced directive written.[8]

Jack Kevorkian was a pathologist as well as a euthanasia activist amongst other things. Jack Kevorkian became known as “Dr. Death” by the media as it was discovered that Dr. Kevorkian had assisted at least 130 patients to end their lives. It is important to note that Dr. Kevorkian never killed anyone, he advised patients on how to do it. Many activists of the right to die movement consider Dr. Kevorkian a pioneer and a legend who paid the ultimate price for people’s rights.[9]

George and Betty Coumbias of Canada, are a couple who in 2007 petitioned the Swiss government if they could die together. One might ask themselves why this is odd. Well George had heart disease and was dying on the other hand Betty was in excellent health but couldn’t bear to be without her husband of 50 years. They hired a lawyer who petitioned the Swiss government to administer lethal drugs to healthy people. Of course the petition was turned down. I thought this was interesting since it’s hard for terminally ill people to die on their own terms, you now have healthy people asking governments to die.[10]

In conclusion, as a person that’s about to enter the medical field I feel that life is precious. Even though I believe people should have the right to make decisions on their care. If a person reached the point that they want to die a person’s decision making ability should be taken away. If a person is in a vegetative state the medical professionals should check to see if there is any sort of advanced directive and follow what it says. I am also opposed to any doctor having anything to do with euthanasia. A medical professional goes to school for a very long time and swear an oath at the end of their studies. If a doctor has the right to kill people we would have anarchy on our hands. Medical professionals no matter how smart they are not above anyone else.

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