Writing 2

EUTHANASIA

     Have you ever imagined yourself in a situation in which you should decide or participate in a sick person’s life fate? If you knew that the person has a terminal illness, or even worst, he will not wake up from a prolonged unconsciousness, will you practice euthanasia? It is a really hard decision; that is why practicing it is controversial. Poland and Belgium are the only countries in which euthanasia is legal, and in 1997, the Obregon State of the U.S., approved it. China, Japan, Germany and India will legalize it as soon as well.

     If you notice, in the majority of countries, including Peru, euthanasia is prohibited; if someone practices it, he should go to prison. That is because there are many people who sustain that euthanasia is not moral. However, I think there are cases in which helping a person to die is not a crime, so I am in favor of euthanasia.

     Of course, many people can judge my position and do not agree with me. They consider euthanasia as an act of assassination or suicide, depending on the case. Reverend Agustin Rozada says that it is a crime since any point of view. If the patient’s family decides to disconnect him or stop the medication, it is an assassination; and if the patient asks to his relatives to let him die and to no try any other surgery, it is a suicide (Euthanasia). Also, opponents believe that just God should decide if someone lives or dies. Well, it is hard to refuse those arguments, but I do not consider euthanasia as a crime. People do not kill the patient; they help him to die peaceful if there is no other alternative. The patient does not commit suicide, he decides to rest because he knows that he is so sick that he will die in any moment. I know that is God who decides our future, but I am sure he does not want that someone lives with so much pain; maybe, he uses some people to help the patient to die.

     Although there are persons who can make us think that we should not practice euthanasia, I want to mention some reasons that are in favor of it. That is because this action helps people to allow someone to die with dignity and peace. Imagine a person who has terminal cancer and doctors make him all kind of treatments that are destroying his body. In this case, if the patient wants that they let him die, it is understandable. Furthermore, euthanasia can stop a lot of suffering. When a person is really sick, he suffers a lot, not only physically, but also psychologically. That is because the fact that he knows that he will not recover and for that reason his familiars also suffer, makes the patient fell impotent, angry and sad. Minister Marcela Lopez, director of the Humanities Department in Mexico, sustains that euthanasia can be practiced only after evaluating in which conditions the patient is. For example, there would be a case in which a patient wants to die because he is depressed, so he should receive other kind of treatment (Euthanasia). That is why I do not think euthanasia is a crime; in addition, it is helpful in situations in which the patient has no remedy.

    Because euthanasia is a very controversial issue, it should be carefully analyzed. I think people should see it as a way to help a terminal illness patient to die, only if there is no other possibility. Moreover, it is just an advance of what is going to happen without doubt. I am in favor of it, but everybody has a different opinion and we should respect them.

1) "Euthanasia". Documental about euthanasia. Aug.2009.