Euthanasia: The Ultimate Right of Choice as a Civilized Being?
Abstract
Euthanasia being the intentional, painless ending of life of a patient suffering from terminal illnesses, has for a long time met considerable hinderance and doubt in both the western and the eastern parts of the world. In the West, sanctity of life has been a core concept for most Christians; even the mere thought of euthanasia appears to be a form of blasphemy and ‘playing God’. Whereas in the East, the traditional concept of “rather to live in agony than to die in dignity” makes euthanasia an unlikely option for most people. On the other hand, certain modern philosophers—out of respect for human life—proposed unprecedented perspectives; certain artists of renown chose the path of suicide as euthanasia was not a legal alternative. It is about time to reflect that whether the world owes them a decent death, and whether euthanasia is the ultimate right of choice as a human being.
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