ice is only to be given to an elite group of terminally ill patients. Advocates of voluntary euthanasia contend that a person should be allowed or assisted in their death, if a person is: Suffering from a terminal illness Unlikely to benefit from the discovery of a cure Suffering from intolerable pain as a result of the illness Has an enduring and rational wish to die Unable to commit suicide without assistance(Overberg) Modern technological advances, such as respirators and kidney machines, have made it possible to sustain a patient’s life for long periods of time. Proponents of euthanasia agree that prolonging life in this manner may cause great suffering to the patient and their family. As a result, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1985 completed the Uniform Rights of the Terminally Ill Act. This act entitles patients the choice to refuse life support (Baird 167-171). It is a subtle form of euthanasia. The pro euthanasia movement has received considerable encouragement by the passing of laws in 47 states that allow legally competent individuals to make living wills. These living wills empower and instruct doctors to withhold life support. This is another subtle form of euthanasia (Baird 142-145). In America, where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are some of our basic freedoms, it would seem that euthanasia would not be an issue. The main argument of those in favor of euthanasia insists that people should have the right to die with dignity. They should be able to die with all their senses intact, and be able to die free of insufferable pain. Others also argue that the costs incurred for the care of comatose patients on life support, prolongs death and becomes quite expensive. Opponents of euthanasia argue that verification of the patient’s true wishes is difficult in most cases. They believe that physicians and patients sh...
