diver se issue raises many questions such as: how should decisions be made,

and by whom? What should be determined as a matter of law and what left a

matter of discretion and judgment? Should those who want to die, or who

are in a "persistent vegetative state" be allowed to die voluntarily? Who

should decide: the patient, the physician, the courts, or the families?

The pro-euthanasia arguments turn on the individual case of the patient in

pain, suffering at the center of an intolerable existence. When life

becomes nbearable, quick death can be the answer. If living persons become

so ill that they cannot tolerate the pain they have a "right to die" to an

escape from torment. So long as the right to die means not prolonging the

life by undesireable treatment, it may be classified as rational suicide.

The term "euthanasia" means "good health" or "well dying"; it is

derived from the Greek "eu" and "thanatos". In its classical sense, it is

a descriptive term referring to an easy death as opposed to an agonizing or

tormented dying. In Greek literature, euthanasia connoted a "happy death,

an ideal and coveted end to a full and pleasa

directions. "The most compelling pressure is the concern for the interests

most cherished values are in conflict. People believe in the value of life

of such treatment in the absence of written evidence of the patient's

concerns and joys together. "When the illness is terminal and there is no

outside their profession. Most doctors found themselves spending more time

viewed by their patients." (Samuel Gorovitz, 10) Importantly, it also

Some topics in this essay:
Paul Simmons, York July, Samuel Gorovitz, , Supreme Court, Ann Wickett, Grecian Roman, paul simmons, terminally ill, people believe, pain suffering, John O'Connor, patient's life, human suffering, people die, 'quality life', help die, active euthanasia,