Euthanasia:
Not Murder, But Mercy
Thousands of people every year are diagnosed with terminal
illnesses such as ALS, Cancer and AIDS. Advancements in medical
technology are responsible for keeping many of them alive longer-
some for far longer than they would like. A recent study of the end-
of-life experience of 3,357 older and seriously ill patients reported
that 40 percent were in severe pain prior to their death, and 25
percent experienced moderate to severe anxiety or depression before
they died.[1] In the United States, assisted suicide (euthanasia) is
illegal in all but one state, forcing many patients to suffer
needlessly despite the fact that there is a comfortable, respectable,
dignified alternative.
Living life to the fullest, then dying peacefully as we sleep is
the ideal. Few people (if any) want to die in constant pain after an
illness that has extended for weeks, months or even years- in many
cases long enough to drain the financial and emotional recourses of
the people who care about them the most. Unfortunately, for the
nearly 24 million Americans who are terminally ill[2], that is
exactly what happens. The high cost of prescription drugs, as well
as the gas needed to get to weekly doctor’s visits, paired with an
inability to work long hours and overtime due to the added
responsibilities at home, pose a real problem for the spouses and
adult children of the terminally ill. It is not unusual for family
members to have to sell some of their assets, take out a loan or
mortgage, or obtain another job to pay for a dying relative's medical
care.[3] The emotional burden of watching a loved one die slowly,
coupled with taking on the added responsibilities involved in caring
for them can be even greater. Family caregivers who provide care 36
or more hours weekly are more...