PERSUASIVE ESSAY

TOPIC: Euthanasia should be for everyone?

PROS
1. Each person has the right to make
decisions regarding aspects of his or
her life, including his or her death.
2. Preserves their human dignity
3. Save cost and expenses on
medication
CONS
1. The sacramentality of life undermined
2. A decision taken by someone who is
probably not in full use of his or her
faculties.
3. Palliative care eliminates the pain of
patients and prevents death
4. Euthanasia harms the medical
profession

CHECK PAGE 180 ACT 1

THESIS STATEMENT: A person should be able to decide whether he or she wishes to
continue his or her life even in death
STATE YOUR POSITION: I’m in favor

Euthanasia should be for everyone?

Tony Nicklinson, a British nurse denied the right to die to a patient who had "locked-in"
syndrome, that is, he cannot move any muscles. Medical care provides us with help and
security to preserve our life, doing everything possible to achieve that goal. However, there are
diseases that doctors cannot cure, which causes pain and suffering in patients. Although, many
people oppose euthanasia, for the simple fact that it shortens human life and they do not care
about the pain someone may suffer from an illness. A person should be able to decide whether
he or she wishes to continue his or her life even in death.

First of all, the human dignity of each person must be preserved. While it is true that many
Catholics or people of faith say that the sacramentality of life is undermined by euthanasia,
which is tragic! Some religious leaders say that a human being should not end his or her life
arbitrarily because it is a divine gift. Like the example of a Muslim woman, who had her
euthanasia cancelled simply because her religion opposed it and let her suffer all her illness,
which is worse for a human being. Therefore, every person can decide about his or her life, and
act freely as he or she wants, to free himself or herself from the physical and moral pain that the
patient must be suffering.

Secondly, it saves costs and expenses in medication. Having a sick person is very expensive
and also with a terminal illness is frankly cruel. As I mentioned, most diseases are usually
accompanied by pain, but at the same time there are no cures to make the disease "hurt" less.
It is disgraceful that though it is said that this is fixed with palliative care and not killing, it is
totally wrong, you have to let the person make the decision of his life, either by committing
suicide or not suffering with drugs that will not cure him.

Finally, the law protects under the argument of the right to life. In our Constitution and in the
Magna Carta of human rights, life is essential. It is concerning that many people say no to
euthanasia, simply because they think that the right to life is to live, but it is not so. Although
some politicians are in favor of euthanasia, because the right to life is to live with dignity,
therefore if someone requests euthanasia, it should not be denied.

In conclusion, there is no question that a person can decide about his or her death. This is
because dying is part of life, even more so if you are a sick person with no chance of getting
well. Therefore, religious convictions should respect these decisions and not precipitous to the
extreme, being cruel to a human life. It is time to let them make a decision and stop making a
person suffer who has no chance of life.