Euthanasia and Allowing to Die*
نویسنده
چکیده
The views of people concerning euthanasia are influenced by their fears of enduring intolerable pain, of being trapped by machines beyond their control and of losing bodily integrity and personal dignity in the final stages of their lives. A multitude of achievements in modern medicine and information provided by the mass media serve to reinforce and even provoke a person’s fear of being kept biologically alive in the terminal phase of his or her illness, without any hope for recovery. Needlessly and senselessly prolonged pain and suffering understandably contributes to a patient’s fears, as does the patient’s loss of autonomy while being subjected to artificial life support against his or her will. For these reasons people are earnestly considering the aspects and ramifications of accepting help to die. An important question should be asked: does the progress of medical knowledge and technology influence attitudes as to whether or not euthanasia should be accepted as part of medical practice?
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