Euthanasia Is Not Murder

Euthanasia is Not Murder


     Debate continues over the issue of euthanasia because of the recent court

decision over Dr. Death.  Kevorkian has been aquitted of murder in his assisted

suicide cases and the court has created precedent for the legalization of

selecting death.  Euthanasia does take place and is selected voluntarily by

patients who are in great pain due to an incurable illness like cancer.  Usually,

the decision is made to pull the plugs of machines which prolong life or to end

treatment.  Because patients select to die, their deaths end suffering, and

there is no intention to cause harm, physician assisted euthanasia cannot be

considered murder.

     Murder can be defined as an act of violence which is perpetrated against a

victim.  For example, a man stuffed into a car after being shot five times is a

murder victim.  The individual dies at a time which is forced by the killer who

has intent to harm him or her.  For instance, when the Boston strangler killed

the women, he first terrorized them.  Frequently murder is painfuland the person

who is dying has not voluntarily decided to participate in his or her death.  By

its nature, murder is death by violence at a time of the killer's rather than

nature's choosing.

     Unlike murder, euthanasia is not an act of violence.  In an editorial in

the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Dr. Eric Chevlen argues that patients, who are worn

down by pain, extensive testing, and depression, will be easily persuaded to

seek assisted suicide (11B).  Furthermore, Chevlen mentions that the courts have

decided that the right to die should be made available to everyone (11B).

Modern medical technology has allowed doctors to prolong life past the point of

a patient's natural death.  In the case of euthanasia, the doctor needs to end

suffering from cancer or AIDS and assist the patient to die comfortably.

Patients are beginning to assert their right to die rather than being kept alive

forcibly.  For example, a Texan who suffered burns in a gas explosion, Dan

Cowart wanted to die even though he survived the accident.  He believes that his

rights were violated by the doctors who prevented his death through life-

sustaining treatment.  When a patient like Cowart is in constant pain, death

becomes a peaceful reward.

     Additionally, doctor assisted euthanasia is performed with the full consent

of the patient.  Murder steals life, while euthanasia gives the patient release.

A patient with a degenerative neurological condition has, in one case, begged

ofr help to die.  The patients who have been helped by Dr. Kevorkian have all

been cancer victims whose daily bouts with pain.....,........  The patients have

requested their delivery from life.  Muder on the other hand, usually takes the

victim by surprise.  Another person has, for the most part, decided when the

murdered individual will die and by what method, but the slain person has not

given permission to be killed.

     Finally, murders are committed with malice or harmful intent.  People are

killed to keep secrets, steal power or money, and for other reasons
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