EUTHANASIA. SOME HISTORY AND BACKGROUND, AS WELL AS CURRENT ISSUES ON THIS VERY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC

EUTHANASIA AARP Bulletin Feb. 1997, Vol. 38, No. 2, Washington, D.C. Is euthanasia1 the right way to die? Everyone's life comes to an end in due time. We cannot change our destiny2. We may be confused at this time in life. There are many opposing viewpoints of the right-to-die debate from different people, religions, cultures, race, moral ethics, health care ethics and legal factors that are considered at this time in life. Another big concern is the …

…Proxy law. These laws permit a person to appoint someone to act on her or his behalf in regard to medical treatment. This legally appointed person has the power to refuse or accept life-support for another person should that person become terminally ill and incapacitated. Helping persons die in carefully considered circumstances is part of good medicine and also demonstrates a caring society that offers euthanasia to hopelessly sick persons as an act of love.