“Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering.” (Nhs.uk, 2016). It is illegal under the Suicide Act of 1961 which states that the legal system can allow up to 14 years in prison for anyone that assists in. It is legal in Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. A question asked continuously over time is should it be legalized in the United Kingdom. It was a question raised in parliament as recently as November, 2014 but was rejected.
It is commonly agreed that people all deserve the right to die with dignity but the argument arises with how dignity is granted. Tony Nicklinson famously took his ‘right to die’ case to the High Court in 2005. Tony Nicklinson suffered from locked in syndrome after suffering from a major stroke. He is unable to take his own life and was said to be asking the court for a “remedy” and not for the courts to legalize assisted suicide so he could protect his family from being prosecuted. He described his life as “dull, miserable, demeaning, undignified and intolerable. He explained he was living a life he did not want to be living and for him this was undignified. Supporters of euthanasia believe all people should be able to decide when and how to die. Mr Nicklinson lost his appeal after a nine-year battle and died in August, 2012. After refusing to eat or drink or to take treatment Tony Nicklinson died from pneumonia Another argument in favor of legalization is cost. Euthanasia provides a cost effective solution in an age where people are living longer with many …show more content…
As shown from the moving personal testimony from Mr Nicklinson himself but also offers a clear cause for concern and address many difficult question that need to be answered and no matter what your personal opinion to this moral question maybe the debate itself will be with us for a very long time to
It is commonly agreed that people all deserve the right to die with dignity but the argument arises with how dignity is granted. Tony Nicklinson famously took his ‘right to die’ case to the High Court in 2005. Tony Nicklinson suffered from locked in syndrome after suffering from a major stroke. He is unable to take his own life and was said to be asking the court for a “remedy” and not for the courts to legalize assisted suicide so he could protect his family from being prosecuted. He described his life as “dull, miserable, demeaning, undignified and intolerable. He explained he was living a life he did not want to be living and for him this was undignified. Supporters of euthanasia believe all people should be able to decide when and how to die. Mr Nicklinson lost his appeal after a nine-year battle and died in August, 2012. After refusing to eat or drink or to take treatment Tony Nicklinson died from pneumonia Another argument in favor of legalization is cost. Euthanasia provides a cost effective solution in an age where people are living longer with many …show more content…
As shown from the moving personal testimony from Mr Nicklinson himself but also offers a clear cause for concern and address many difficult question that need to be answered and no matter what your personal opinion to this moral question maybe the debate itself will be with us for a very long time to