Brucal, Kim Nicole L.

JD2

“I don't think you should die until you're ready. Until you've
wrung out every last bit of living you can.”― Libba Bray, Going
Bovine

Life is the state of being which begins with generation,

birth, or germination, and ends with death or the state of an
animal or plant in which all or any of its organs are capable of
performing all or any of their functions. The right to life is
embodied in our Constitution particularly in Articles II and III
(Bill of Rights). It is well settled that our country is protecting
and promoting everyone’s right to health and life by enacting
laws. Likewise, it is evident in the suspension of the death
penalty.

Would it be fine and legal to end a dying patient’s life just

because he consented the same? Isn’t deprivation of life for
mercy reasons a crime of giving assistance to suicide under the
Revised Penal Code? Are these questions being considered by
those who want to make Euthanasia legal? I don’t think so.

“Euthanasia is a deliberate intervention or omission with

the express intention of hastening or ending and individual’s life,
to relieve intractable pain or suffering” (Sanders & Chaloner,
2007, p. 41). Thus the meaning of euthanasia is having the right
to die if you are terminally ill, suffering and/or suffering a great
amount of pain. The issue about Euthanasia had become one of
most controversial issues not just in the Philippines but all over
the world.

Euthanasia should not be legalized for it will run counter to

the legal and moral principles in our country. First, it would
diminish the goal of protecting and promoting the lives of the
people when by the latter’s consent, life could be easily taken
away. Second, the person that would be authorized to perform
such act would be held criminally liable under the Article 253 of
the Revised Penal Code. Third, the legalization of Euthanasia can
easily be taken advantage by the doctors, relatives of the patient,
even the government. And lastly, the killing of another human
being is morally wrong and unacceptable. No one has the right to
take away another person’s life, whether it be through hatred
and disgust, or compassion and love. Murder is murder. Hence,
Euthanasia should not be legalized for it is legally and morally
incorrect.

Ending the dying patient’s life does not end the suffering.
Suicide is not the solution, nor an option. Man has only a right to
life, but not a right to die.