Euthanasia often seems the only option to ease suffering in end-of-life patients. When anesthetics do not appear to have an effect anymore, it is only just to grant the patient his or her wish to die peacefully. This would not only allow patients to die in tranquility but also unburden relatives and loved ones from everyday scenes of pain and misery. Therefore, in these situations, euthanasia seems like a morally justifiable choice. Moreover, all people should have the right to decide how they die similar to the existing right of choosing how to live (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012). Additionally, death can also be considered a private issue and a patient has a right to ask other people for non-interference in such decisions. An act of euthanasia does not harm society and even underlines the humane qualities of people, who are able to differentiate right from wrong and offer help to others in their time of need.
There is also an economical side to that. Caring for hopeless patients lets a vast amount of resources go to waste. For instance, life-support equipment could be allocated to those whose life depends on it most instead of providing it to the terminally ill, who could not be saved by any means.
The arguments against euthanasia also include some valid points. One of them is that euthanasia is often asked for by people for selfish reasons. There is a difference between killing someone out of mercy and fulfilling a selfish wish. In the second case scenario, people often decide not to live while there were chances for survival. If that becomes evident, a nurse will face moral and legal consequences. Moreover, the legalization of euthanasia could give rise to a new legal killing method that could be used as a way of assassination.
References
Johnstone, M. J. (2015). Bioethics: A nursing perspective. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Math, S. B., & Chaturvedi, S. K. (2012). Euthanasia: Right to life vs right to die. The Indian Journal of Medical Research, 136(6), 899.
Rich, K. L. (2013). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.