If doctors and society would realize euthanasia is not an immoral way of ending a persons life, many patients could end their pain and suffering at their own free will.
According to the World Book Encyclopedia, euthanasia is the practice of painlessly putting to death people who have incurable, painful, or distressing diseases. It is also commonly called "mercy killing." Usually the incurably ill people ask their physician or relative to put them to death. Unfortunately, euthanasia is illegal in the United States with the exception of Oregon, which allows people who are terminally ill and in pain to get a lethal prescription from their physician.
Ultimately, euthanasia is a question of choice: empowering people to have control over their own bodies. Therefore, euthanasia should be made legal in the United States.
Although, euthanasia sounds like a wonderful thing, many people are opposed to the idea of taking another persons life. According to the American Psychiatric Association, "the main opposition comes from some religious groups, medical associations, and groups concerned with disabilities." But most of their oppositions can easily be argued away.
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First, many religious groups are opposed to the idea of euthanasia stating it is and immoral act. The Salvation Army states, "people do not have the right to death by their own decision." But if it's not their decision, who's is it? No one else knows and can comprehend the pain that the incurable face. Sue Rodrigues, who was pro-euthanasia, argues saying, "whose life is it, anyway?" when many people argued with her decision to use euthanasia with the help of a physician in violation of the law. Many religious groups also consider it an act of suicide or murder, which is looked down upon in the eyes of God. But murder is the act of taking a persons life against their will; on the other hand, euthanasia only takes the lives of those who are terminally ill or living with intractable pain.
