Euthanasia, or
mercy killing, has been a controversial issue for many years. Although many
people are strongly against such a practice, there is a growing demand to have
it legalised. How far do you agree with euthanasia being made legal?
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| Ielts Essay - Euthanasia |
Permitting intentionally ending life of terminally ill or in
vegetative state patients has always raised concerns among human rights
activists. Even though some term this practice as justified, others express
strong reservations. But, as per me, this issue needs a deep analysis, before
being termed as justified, or unwarranted.
Allowing practice of euthanasia seems to be quite prudent,
as per certain human rights proponents: sustaining people, who have been in a
vegetative state since long, and stand little chance of recovering, means unnecessarily imposing an
extra financial burden on kith and kin of such individuals. Once the fact has
been established that it would be
impossible to sustain such sick without expensive life support equipment, there
is hardly any rationale behind keeping them alive. It would be merciful enough
to let such patients perish and be relieved of their suffering.
A similar view is presented in support of this practice, for
the extreme cases of the terminally ill – suffering from lethal and
insurmountable medical condition. Keeping such sick people alive means
subjecting them to excruciating pain and agony and extending their sufferings,
and also making their close ones desperate
and hopeless. Legalizing clinically assisted death would help a great deal, in
letting such people pass away in peace and without pain.
However, a school of thought vociferously ridicules such a
proposal: they feel that declaring such a procedure legal is vulnerable to
abuse and might result in gross misuse by certain next of kin, who are bound to
benefit from such a practice, as in case of legal heirs, or spouses trying to
be rid of their counterparts.
To conclude, this is an extremely emotional issue that needs
to be addressed carefully since it involves life of humans, and such a practice
is prone to misuse.
