The Right To Live

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             Staley 2.
             All of these types of euthanasia can have advantages and disadvantages when looked upon case by case, which leads to the great differences of opinion on euthanasia in our society today. Death is a highly emotional subject and affects us all. Many of us have different feelings on the subject because of our religious, medical, or political backgrounds. The causes leading up to the death of a person suffering from a terminal disease can often times be horrific and require the patient to endure incredible pain. Many people would rather put an end to the ceaseless pain and kill themselves before going through it day after day until they finally die. Thus we have this difficult decision on whether we should assist these people in killing themselves, or do we force them to endure the pain until death?.
             The previous scenario, an example of active voluntary euthanasia, is believed by pro-euthanasia supporters to be a decision that is to be left up to the patient and that we are to carry out the request, even if it will cause death. Apart from the state of Oregon, which legalized assisted suicide, and the Netherlands, which legalized both assisted suicide and euthanasia, these acts are illegal everywhere else in the world. The Northern Territory passed a law permitting very strictly controlled active euthanasia in May, 1995. The law, called AThe Rights of the Terminally Ill Act,@ was only effective when certain prerequisites are met, but was eventually overturned by the Australian Parliament in 1997. In 1993 the Netherlands passed their law legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide, and public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of continuing the present system. .
             Advocates for euthanasia believe that it is the medical profession=s obligation to relieve suffering. If animals are suffering they are always put to sleep so they don=t have to continue in suffering.