situation?Over the past few decades, ageing populations and advances in medical technology have put a growing number of people attached to a machine but wanting to die. Even for those who escape this fate, medical treatment hasoften made death more prolonged and more painful. These developments have sparked complex and emotive debates about how to handle the final stages of life.In 1997 the American Supreme Court found that there is no constitutional right to assisted suicide [Economist, Oct 16,'99]. However, the court's ruling did not bar states from passing laws explicitly creating such a right if they chose to do so. For example, the state of Oregon passed a bill that allows limited physician-assisted suicides depending on the ethical and moral issues of the case [Economist, Oct 16,'99]. However, recently other nations and even states have passed laws on the practice of euthanasia. The Dutch parliament is currently considering a bill that would make permanent a 15-year experiment in allowing doctor-assisted suicide by writing into law, regulations which have governed such practices. Assisted suicides should be openly discussed and regulated to make sure that both the patients and the doctors are protected.When it comes to euthanasia, many moral and ethical questions arise. For instance, what if the practice of physician-assisted suicide gets out of control and abused? What if it being used carelessly or for all the wrong reasons? What about the religious aspects? What if euthanasia causes those who are disabled or old fear that their life may be taken against their will? This is where the law would step in and set limits to decide under what circumstances assisted suicide would be acceptable. There are many arguments offered against euthanasia. Many religions contend, and advise against, a person seeking suicide of any kind. In religious views life is a gift from God, and one not to thrown away or wasted. It is viewed that by...
