Paper
When does the government have the right to tell a person how they can live their life. More and more this issue has come in to the public eye. Everything from freedom of speech to abortion has been brought up in this debate. I myself am a bit confused when it comes to where my rights stop and the government s starts, but I do know that everyone should have the right to decide when and how they die.
One of the biggest controversies of this decade is euthanasia. Euthanasia is inducing the painless death of a person for reasons assumed to be merciful. Euthanasia itself has been around since the early Greek and Roman civilizations. Over the years though, mainly because religion increased and life was viewed as sacred, euthanasia has come to be look at as a bad thing. But
that was not the case for all. Organizations supporting the legalization of voluntary euthanasia were established in Great Britain in 1935 and in the United States in 1938. They have gained some public support, but so far they have been unable to achieve their goal in either nation. In the
last few decades, Western laws against passive and voluntary euthanasia have slowly been eased,although serious moral and legal questions still exist.1
There are for types of euthanasia: voluntary and direct, voluntary but indirect, direct but involuntary, and indirect and involuntary. Voluntary but direct euthanasia is chosen in advance. Direct but involuntary is done for the patient without his or her request. Indirect and involuntary is when the hospital decides to pull the plug on life support. And Voluntary and direct is chosen and carried out by the patient. Patients are allowed to choose passive euthanasia but can not choose active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is when nothing is done to prevent death. Active euthanasia is when one deliberately causes death. The last form or euthanasia is the one that has
come under the most fire.
In recent year Dr. Jack Kervorckian has made news by helping over forty patients end their lives. He was first charged with murder in December of 1990. He connected Janet Adkins to his suicide machine which allowed her to inject lethal drugs into her body at any time. To many he is a saint for ending the suffering of his patient, but to others he is nothing more than a cold
blooded killer.
What most people do not know is that the state has the right to become very involved with euthanasia cases. The state can specify the number of individuals that must agree for euthanasia to be performed. The state can specify how frequently someone can sign an euthanasia authorization. They can also that only the individual can decide. All in all the government has
taken almost all of the right to die on their own terms away from many dying and terminally ill people. Part of the reason this has happened is because some opponents of euthanasia have feared that the increasing success that doctors have had in transplanting human organs might lead to abuse of the practice of euthanasia. It is now generally understood, however, that physicians will
not violate the rights of the dying donor in order to help preserve the life of the organ recipient. Though this is an extreme it is not a likely thing that would happen.
Living wills are the loopholes in the governments fight against euthanasia. It can express a patients thoughts towards his or her future medical treatment. They allow anyone capable of making decisions to tell a doctor before hand that they do not wish to be put on life support. Though for some the option of living wills is not know to them.
I do not agree with the government s involvement in this aspect of American life. For someone to tell me that I do not have the right to have my doctor or family assist me in my death is wrong. The government is here to serve the needs of its people not take away their rights. On a poll taken by CNN/USA Today in 1997 it was found that 57% of the people polled were in favor
of euthanasia in the US while 35% were opposed. With facts like that I do not understand why the government if afraid to give us the right to decide for ourselves.
Everyday people in this country celebrate the right to choose but for some the right to choose has been taken away from them. As they lie in bed slowly and painfully dying , they are forced to endure it because if laws enacted by state governments to keep people from getting the assistance they need to kill themselves. If they were healthy individuals this would not be the case for they would be able to do it on their own. In their present situations many are too weak to end their lives on their own. I belive to many seeking the help of a doctor is the last feasible option that they see.
Другие работы по теме:
Civil Liberties Essay Research Paper Civil LibertiesThe
Civil Liberties Essay, Research Paper Civil Liberties The term civil liberties refers to the “freedoms that individuals enjoy and that governments cannot invade”. These rights include a persons freedom of speech and religion.
Langston Hughes And His Significance As A
Black American And As A Poet. Essay, Research Paper Langston Hughes was famous for his poetry, which helped to fuel the civil rights movement. His poetry also earned him fame but he still seemed to remain financially disabled. He didn’t get much recognition for his poetry until after he died.
Fighting For Civil Rights During The 60
’S Essay, Research Paper The struggle began with non-violent protests. Backed by students, the civil rights movement trudged onward. African Americans staged mass protests to show their support. Despite all this, many racial barriers still remained in the South. Black objectives were redefined in the 60’s when militant black consciousness developed.
The Revolutionary Trend Essay Research Paper In
The Revolutionary Trend Essay, Research Paper In every revolution, there seems to be a few guidelines that it must follow. It seems that almost all revolutions, in their radical phases, tend to have the characteristics of excessive cruelty, extreme violence, and denials of the rights of freedom. But the question that befuddles many is why they always become this way.
Deaf President Now Essay Research Paper ASL
Deaf President Now Essay, Research Paper ASL 1 4 October 2000 Deaf President Now Protest #2 First of all?I had no clue of how large of an issue The Deaf President Now Protest was. It surprised me that it had not been talked about in my past history classes. The Deaf President Now Protest was so symbolic to that of the Woman?s Rights Movement and Civil Rights Movement.
Locke And Equality Essay Research Paper First
Locke And Equality Essay, Research Paper First of all,the basis for understanding Locke is that he sees all people as having natural God given rights. As God’s creations, this denotes a certain equality.
Black Civil Rights Essay Research Paper More
Black Civil Rights Essay, Research Paper More than a hundred years ago the Europeans brought slaves to North America. The blacks found themselves in the midst of prejudice whites with no way out.
Descrimination Essay Research Paper discrimination1 The
Descrimination Essay, Research Paper discrimination 1. The federal government attempted to use many laws to protect the rights of the newly freed slaves, such as the Civil rights Act of 1866, which gave African Americans the right
Freedom Bound Essay Research Paper In his
Freedom Bound Essay, Research Paper In his book, Freedom Bound, Robert Weisbrot argues that the civil rights movement is interwoven with American political reform of the time, and furthermore, that “the black quest for justice and the national crusade for a ‘Great Society’ are best understood in relation to each other” (Weisbrot xiv).
Emperor Haile Selassie Essay Research Paper Booker
Emperor Haile Selassie Essay, Research Paper Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois each fought for African American civil rights in America, but they each approached the matter of Jim Crow a little different from the other. W.E.B Dubois was big on the idea of integration, whereas Booker T. Washington wanted to keep segregation alive.
Locke Essay Research Paper In the Second
Locke Essay, Research Paper In the Second Treatise of Government, Locke explains different ways in which human beings can live together. He suggests there are two ways and he describes them as “the state of nature” and “civil (or political) society.” “Civil Society” can exist in many forms although there is only one “state of nature.” The determination of the best form of government is dependent on the recognition of these two types of societies.
Civil Rights Essay Research Paper The Constitution
Civil Rights Essay, Research Paper The Constitution Protects the Civil Rights of Americans but again the Constitution does protect the civil rights of Americans. Even though some laws are passed that violate the civil rights of people in the United States, the Supreme Court corrects these errors. The cases reviewed here ask if it is okay to compose and mandate prayer in schools, whether the death penalty is Constitutional, and how much privacy is given to the American people.
Citizenship Essay Research Paper 1 What is
Citizenship Essay, Research Paper 1. What is citizenship? According to The Citizenship debates, by the term citizenship, we must understand not only a bundle of formal rights, but the entire mode of incorporation of individuals and groups into the society (251). Citizenship is important because it has become a legal status carrying with it rights to certain things?perhaps immunities, perhaps possessions, perhaps expectations?available or available to many kinds of person for many kinds of reasons (37).
Nixon Essay Research Paper NixonI Civil
Nixon Essay, Research Paper Nixon I. Civil Rights A. Some people, mostly blacks, did not get equal rights. B. Nixon believed fundamentaly in responsible civil rights policy on
Nazi Essay Research Paper John Mendes 83000Critical
Nazi Essay, Research Paper John Mendes 8/30/00 Critical Thinking Philosophy 100 Singer?s Final solution Singer and the Nazis both took away the rights of other human beings. Both men took away rights because of physical ability, self-awareness, or intelligence.
Federalist Papers Essay Research Paper 1 The
Federalist Papers Essay, Research Paper 1. The Federalist #10, Madison’s problems with factions. According to Madison, a faction is a number of citizens, whether a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
Prejudice Essay Research Paper As I walk
Prejudice Essay, Research Paper As I walk down the aisle, the sales clerk glares at me with contemptible eyes, watching every move I make, unquestionably thinking if she turns her head for the slightest moment that I will slip everything of value into my purse. Prejudging people for their appearance is a common practice that humans perform.
Enlightenment Essay Research Paper PhilosophersIdeas of enlightenment
Enlightenment Essay, Research Paper Philosophers Ideas of enlightenment have been seen across the world for centuries now, but the first real movements started around 1669. With the majority of its great thinkers in Europe, particularly England and France, enlightenment became a great philosophic movement marked by a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political ideas.
Eisenhower Administration Essay Research Paper What role
Eisenhower Administration Essay, Research Paper What role did the Eisenhower administration play in Civil Rights? During the 1950 s race relations in the United States began to explode and the domestic tranquility caused years of injustice for African Americans. Eisenhower, the current president, entered office committed to Civil Rights in principle, and he pushed the issue in areas of federal authority.
Liberalism Essay Research Paper Liberalism stressed individual
Liberalism Essay, Research Paper Liberalism stressed individual freedom, equality under law, and freedom of thought and religion. Both the Declaration of the Rights of man and the American Bill of Rights stressed these ideals. Liberals were mainly members of the rising middle class. They were bankers, merchants, lawyers, journalists, university students, and intellectuals.
Utopian Society Essay Research Paper The utopian
Utopian Society Essay, Research Paper The utopian society in The Handmaid?s Tale by Margaret Atwood is very different from what most people would consider a utopian society. The power of this society rests upon a small percentage of the population. In this society, men are superior to the women. Women have virtually no rights or say in what goes on in their lives and women with rights are only a few.
Untitled Essay Research Paper As John Stuart
Untitled Essay, Research Paper As John Stuart Mills, I believe that my philosophy on government will satisfy the needs of the society. Throughout the 1880?s people have revolted under the circumstances that the government is focused on the society and the individual. My system focuses on liberty, meaning the rights and principles of the individual of a society.
Civil Disobedience Essay Research Paper Thoreau was
Civil Disobedience Essay, Research Paper Thoreau was once sent to jail for refusing to pay his taxes and I support this episode of civil disobedience as justified. Thoreau did not pay his taxes because he objected the use of the revenue to finance the Mexican War and enforcement of slavery laws. He did not request for his money to be used for the enforcement of slavery laws, therefore felt he had the right to protest and act out civil disobedience.
Antigone Civil Disobedience Essay Research Paper The
Antigone: Civil Disobedience Essay, Research Paper The short play, Antigone, was written in 441 B.C. by the Greek playwrightSophocles. It deals with some of the most basic problems that affect a society.One of them is Civil Disobedience. Civil Disobedience both a right andresponsibility of a person to fight an unjust law.
Reconstruction Essay Research Paper Before the Civil
Reconstruction Essay, Research Paper Before the Civil war most blacks were considered slaves. As slaves they had no personal rights. After the war, a lot of things changed for the blacks. The process, which helped these blacks to gain rights, was called Reconstruction.
The Civil Rights In The 1950
’s And 60’s Essay, Research Paper (1) Trumans civil rights committee: In 1947 Trumans Civil Rights Committee recommended laws protecting the right of African Americans to vote and banning segregation on railroads and buses. It also called for a federal law punishing lynching. He issued executive orders ending segregation in the armed forces and prohibiting job discrimination in all government agencies.(2) Brown V. the Board of Education (1954): In 1954 the Supreme Court made one of the most important decisions in its long history.
Black Civil Rights Essay Research Paper The
Black Civil Rights Essay, Research Paper The quest for equality by black Americans played a central role in the struggle for civil rights in the 1960s. Stemming from an effort dating back to the Civil War and Reconstruction, the black movement had gained more momentum by the mid-twentieth century. African Americans continued to press forward for more equality through peaceful demonstrations and protests.
John Locke Philosophy Essay Research Paper The
John Locke Philosophy Essay, Research Paper The basic elements in John Locke’s political theory are natural rights, social contract, and government by consent, and right of revolution. Locke was very concerned with the “property right” and derived property right from higher law. He also declared that natural law remained valuable in civil society as the fundamental measure of men’s rights.
Should Canada And The Us Trade Essay
, Research Paper Should Canada and the US trade with China? With all the civil rights abused in China, should the Canada and the US be trading with them? In the view of one side, we should not trade with China because of these abused rights. It is thought that if we stop all trade with them, we will have an impact on their economy and they will at least cut down on their civil rights abuses in order to regain our trade and economy.
Transforming America With The Civil Rights Movement
Essay, Research Paper Transforming America with the Civil Rights Movement The civil rights movement transformed American society in to a color conscience society and started the anti-free speech political correct movement that we are seeing today. The civil rights movement gave African Americans the right to be treated as regular citizens but it was the urban riots of the mid-1960s and the voiced black rage that changed the tone of the civil rights movement.
Civil Rights Movement Essay Research Paper The
Civil Rights Movement Essay, Research Paper The civil rights movement was a time when a people who where opressed for many years, rose up against the odds and achieved their freedom. An admirable aspect of the civil rights movement was the unachieveable victory that the african americans sought after and made.
Black Power Essay Research Paper BLACK POWER
Black Power Essay, Research Paper BLACK POWER The book “Black Power” was one of the most clearest manifestations of the movement s change of direction in the late 1960 s. Black Power was a change set out by one man to give rights back to black people and to put an end to prejudice and imperialism. One of the goals set out by Kwame Ture and Charles Hamilton, the authors of Black Power was to make black people stronger and overcome the subjection of a white society.