Euthanasia, by the medical news network, is defined as the intentional putting to death of a person with an incurable and or painful disease intended as an act of mercy, also referred to as mercy killing. Just by the definition of euthanasia, you can already tell that this topic is definitely highly controversial. Many people consider euthanasia to be killing, and while it may be just that, who’s to say that “pulling the plug” for someone who is on a ventilator and is still by law, alive, isn’t a similar decision?
Brittney Maynard was a twenty-nine-year-old woman living in California with her husband, that is until she was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma; this meant that she had a malignant brain tumor and was given six months to live. …show more content…
They were to have the crucial once-over meal with her parents on August 23, 1968. But when the unthinkable happened, he told Aurita that he didn’t want her living with him because, “she would turn into a tetraplegic, too,” and that she should go away and find happiness. (Davidson, 1994) Sampedro took his case to the court system using his mouth to write with a pen, but time after time his case had been rejected and he saw no success. Sampedro’s argument was based on that of the constitutional right, equal rights for all, “Look at me. I’m not equal to anybody.” Sampedro stated. “The constitution defends the individual’s dignity and his right to life. But it doesn’t say it’s obligatory to live. It also says no one should be submitted to torture. Making it obligatory to live is torture for me.” (Davidson, 1994)
Sampedro was anything but happy and he finally put a straw to his mouth and as he sipped a cup full of water mixed with cyanide, given to him by an unknown person he said these last words, “When I drink this, I will have renounced the most humiliating of slaveries: being a live head stuck to a dead body.” Then, at the age of fifty-five, Sampedro was granted his single wish and he died …show more content…
According to the “Death with Dignity” Law in Oregon there are many obstacles that you must work through before being allowed to preform these acts. First and foremost, you must be eighteen years of age or older, you must be a resident of Oregon, you must have an incurable terminal illness that will, with out a doubt, kill you within six months or less, and lastly you must be able to make and communicate a clearheaded decision with your doctor. After these qualifications, you still have a lot of work to get through to be able to use the “Death with Dignity” law. (Engber,
Brittney Maynard was a twenty-nine-year-old woman living in California with her husband, that is until she was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma; this meant that she had a malignant brain tumor and was given six months to live. …show more content…
They were to have the crucial once-over meal with her parents on August 23, 1968. But when the unthinkable happened, he told Aurita that he didn’t want her living with him because, “she would turn into a tetraplegic, too,” and that she should go away and find happiness. (Davidson, 1994) Sampedro took his case to the court system using his mouth to write with a pen, but time after time his case had been rejected and he saw no success. Sampedro’s argument was based on that of the constitutional right, equal rights for all, “Look at me. I’m not equal to anybody.” Sampedro stated. “The constitution defends the individual’s dignity and his right to life. But it doesn’t say it’s obligatory to live. It also says no one should be submitted to torture. Making it obligatory to live is torture for me.” (Davidson, 1994)
Sampedro was anything but happy and he finally put a straw to his mouth and as he sipped a cup full of water mixed with cyanide, given to him by an unknown person he said these last words, “When I drink this, I will have renounced the most humiliating of slaveries: being a live head stuck to a dead body.” Then, at the age of fifty-five, Sampedro was granted his single wish and he died …show more content…
According to the “Death with Dignity” Law in Oregon there are many obstacles that you must work through before being allowed to preform these acts. First and foremost, you must be eighteen years of age or older, you must be a resident of Oregon, you must have an incurable terminal illness that will, with out a doubt, kill you within six months or less, and lastly you must be able to make and communicate a clearheaded decision with your doctor. After these qualifications, you still have a lot of work to get through to be able to use the “Death with Dignity” law. (Engber,