I hafta print this out at 10am today (please don't delete!)

Matt Yarberry

English 132.001
Ms. Hall
18, March 2006

Euthanasia: Freedom from Agony or Cold Murder?

One of the most controversial and highly debated social topics of today is euthanasia, or “mercy killing”. This process of “…intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies” (Kohl 15) is a practice shrouded by confusion, emotional strain and ethical dilemmas. The three most common forms of euthanasia are Physician Assisted Suicide, active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. Euthanasia is often met with religious or medical scrutiny and is only currently legal in Oregon and the Netherlands. However, euthanasia is a credible method of easing human suffering and should be fully legalized in the United States.
Assisted suicide is an issue because people have many different reasons for wanting to end their life. People that are in excessive, chronic pain or cannot afford pain medication and medical treatment seek a way to end their suffering. Also, people that do not wish to burden their families or beneficiaries by diminishing their assets or incurring large medical costs look to assisted suicide to correct this problem. Victims that experience a general poor quality of life and that have no hope for recovery will find comfort in euthanasia. People that suffer from degenerative illnesses, diseases and serious disorders have no way out of their living hell. Victims of Lou Gehrig's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s will experience a gradual loss in the quality of life as the disease progresses.
Passive Euthanasia is “hastening the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting nature take its course” (Kohl 31). Examples of passive euthanaisia include; removing life support equipment from patients, stopping medical procedures or medications, stopping food and water and allowing the person to dehydrate or starve to death and not delivering CPR, allowing a person whose heart has stopped, to die. This method of mercy killing is commonly practiced by giving the patient large doses of morphine, relieving the patient of pain and hastening death. These procedures are performed on terminally ill, suffering persons so that natural death will happen sooner. It is also done on people in a Persistent Vegetative State, where comatose individuals with massive brain damage cannot possibly regain consciousness. Passive euthanasia allows a patient’s tortured soul to be set free and doesn’t directly involve the act of suicide to occur or any means of actively “killing” a patient. Active euthanasia involves “causing the death of a person through a direct action, in response to a request from that person” (Kohl 35). A well known example of active euthanasia was the mercy killing in 1998 of a patient with Lou Gehrig's Disease by Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a Michigan physician. His patient was terrified that his disease would cause him to die a horrible death in the near future. He wanted a quick, painless exit from life. Dr. Kevorkian injected controlled substances into the patient, causing his death. Kevorkian was charged with first degree murder and the jury found him guilty of second degree murder in 1999. Active euthanasia allows willing patients a guilt-free escape from their painful lives because there is no act of direct suicide involved. Physicain Assisted Suicide, or PAS is where a physician supplies information and/or the means of committing suicide to a person, so that they can end their own life. This could mean a prescription for a lethal dose of sleeping pills, or a supply of carbon monoxide gas. PAS is a valid method of euthanasia because patients would prefer to end their life rather than continue until their body finally gives up. It gives them means to help themselves.
Although a completely decriminalized act, suicide is still looked upon as a heavy sin. Suicide is a legal act that is obviously available to all people. A person who is terminally ill, disabled or who is in a hospital setting may not be able to exercise this option, either because of mental or physical limitations. In effect, they are being “…discriminated against because of their disability” (Russell 22). They should be given the same access to the suicide option as able-bodied people have. Suicide is a matter of personal choice and a human right. The act should be utilized at one’s personal discretion. Because euthanasia is not a legal option, many people are forced to take the act into their own hands. This forces people to use terrible, back-street methods of assisted suicide. It should become legalized so that people can control the way they are put to death.
Even though public opinion is in favor of euthanasation, there are still many opponents that refute it. The three main groups that attack euthanasia are conservative religious groups, medical associations and groups concerned with disabilities. Religious attacks on euthanasia are generally the most common form of resistance offered. Religious affiliates argue that life is a gift from God, that only God can start a life, and only God should be allowed to end it. Any person who commits suicide is committing a sin. Many religious groups within Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other religions believe that God gives life and therefore only God should have the power to take it away. Suicide would then be "…considered as a rejection of God's sovereignty and loving plan." (Bender 14). However, these arguments cannot be accepted because each person has control over their own life. Persons whose quality of life is nonexistent should have the right to decide to commit suicide, and to seek assistance if necessary. Medical associations whose members oppose euthanasia simply refute it because they are in the businuess of saving and lengthening people’s lives and feel uncomfortable aiding in the termination of life. Groups that are concerned with disabilities fear that euthanasia is the first step towards creating a society that will kill disabled people against their will. However, these groups have misrepresented the act of euthanasia by using scare tactics, they do not tackle the issue directly, but instead create “…false scenarios to alarm the public.” (Russell 24). Such was the case with Focus on the Family, a Christian group misrepresented euthanasia by stating that "…by a sizable margin of 60-40 percent, Oregonians have authorized their doctors to administer lethal doses of poison to willing patients...For the moment, if you are elderly and ill, Oregon is the last place you should want to be." (Russell 24). Focus on the Family is obviously suggesting that residents of Oregon are at risk for being murdered against their will. These groups use phrases like "physician initiated murder" (Bender 19) to imply that euthanasia is cold blooded homicide instead of assisted suicide.
Currently, the only legal option for victims that wish to be euthanized is to remain alive, sometimes in intractable pain, until their body finally collapses. This is hardly an option at all. Euthanasia gives patients the option to choose their own destiny, to have some kind of power or say in the manner in which they die. People who utilize euthanasia are able to die with their dignity intact and avoid years of excrutiating pain and suffering. Whether having the option of euthanasia at a patient’s disposal is for peace of mind or to cease immense pain the patients are experiencing, euthanasia is definitely a rational option that must be legalized and available. Ultimately, euthanasia is a question of choice, empowering people to have control over their own bodies.



Works Cited


Bender, David L. “Problems of Death: Opposing Viewpoints.” Anoka, Minnasota:
Greenhaven Press, 1974. 14-19.


Kohl, Marvin. “Beneficent Euthanasia.” Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books, 1975.
15-35.


Russell, Olive R. “Freedom to Die; Moral and Legal Aspects of Euthanasia.” New
York: Human Sciences Press, 1975. 22-24.

 

...nice paper....

 

I'd say it get 's an A- unless the teacher is biased against you. Good paper. -Joshua

 

smooth idea.......
a+ for that.
I would say try email to backup, but I had 2 locations fail me at one time.

 

Why didnt you send it to yourself in a PM?

 

so we can enjoy it!!

 

Bender, David L. “Problems of Death: Opposing Viewpoints.” Anoka, Minnasota:
Greenhaven Press, 1974. 14-19.


Good paper, but spell Minnesota right and I say it gets an A.

 

Man, you're lucky I didn't see this earlier today. Otherwise you could have ended up with references like this:

Bender, David L. “Problems of Death: Bite my Shiny Metal ***.” Anoka, Minnasota:
Greenhaven Press, 1974. 14-19.

 

Are you in comp II?

I just had to turn in a similar paper at USF...

 

ZOO TEST

Matching section III

Test 1 (Exam 2)


Contractil molecule

Nematocysts

Flame cells

Ameoacytes in the mesenchyme

Contrctile vacuoles

Muscle cells

Food vacuole

Genes

Testes

Ectoderm cells

Suckers

Parapods

Choanocytes or colar cells

Nephridia

Cilia

Cell membranes

Eye spots on Euglena and Planaria

The brain a. Pump water out of the Pramecium

b.shorten-causing movement

c. carry the coded info. Of inheritance

d. make the body covering, from Hydras to you

e.excrete wastes
f.propel paramecia through the pond
g. run for elected office
h. hold and digest protozoans dinner
i. hold flukes and leeches in place on host
j. regulate passage of materials in and out of cell
k. they do nothing
l. produce gammets each with flagellum
m. make water current in sponge
n. receive light energy
o. propel pollysaccahrides
p. produce sponge spicules- sometimes gemmules too
q. receive and translate nerve impulses from whole body
r. release energy in a cell
s. stick to the enemy- or prey on Cnidaria
t. none of the above

----------------------------------Zoo test

Test 2 (exam 2)

Section 3:

Matching habitat

Fluke sporocysts

The strutres producing jellyfish medusae

The adult of the guinea worm

The adults of ascaris lumbricoides

Sheep liver fluke adults

Portugese manowar

Sponges producing gemmules

Sporozites (of malaria) being produced

Demonspiage you wash with

The dinoflagellates the produce the “red tide”

Fluke rediae

Hyalospongiae

Entameaba histolytica

The planaria you used in the lab

The largest [planarian in the US

Scyphozoan adults

The sponges the “greeks” harvest

Sea anemones

Sheep liver flukes in you

Schistosoma- in you

Enterobius vernacularis

Beef tapeworm adults
a. Marine-simming at various depths
b. marine-floating on the surface
c.marine –on the bottom
d. fresh water- free swimming off the bottom
e. Fresh water- attached to bottom or at least on it
f. flying-away in the air
g. inside a misquito
h. terrestrial- on or in the soil
i. in human blood
j. in dogs blood
k. in human stomach
l. in human small intestine
m. in human bile duct
n. in human rectum
o. in muscle tissue of a cow
p. none of the above

 

Hmm, what are you up to?

 

Please leave this up , it is for my English class. I will delete it very soon. Thanks LS1tech.

Matt Yarberry
March 30, 2006

On the night of 3/28/06, I attended a small get-to-gether at my friends apartment roughly 4 blocks away from Steen Hall. I began drinking beer when I arrived. After having less than 5 beers, I stopped drinking. I stayed at my friend’s apartment for several hours until I felt sober and was completely capable to drive my car home safely. I left my friend’s apartment complex and was immediately pulled over by two police cars at “0240”. I was asked to step out of the vehicle immediately by two male officers. I was not informed about why I was pulled over. The officer mentioned that he smelled beer on my breath and asked me if I had been drinking. I told the officers that I had been drinking earlier in the night. I was asked to perform a test by the police officer in which I was required to follow a pen with my eyes. The officer would begin to move the pen back and forth, I was thinking that I was supposed to follow the pen with my eyes. As I began tracing the pen’s movement with my eyes, he scolded me and instructed me to wait until I was actually told to follow it. I obeyed his instructions and kept on tracing the pen’s movement. I was instructed two times, sharply, to wait until I was told. I felt that the officer was antagonizing me with this confusing method. It was as if he was attempting to trick and confuse me. I was then asked to perform a straight-line test in which I was told to walk a straight line, walking heel to toe. I obeyed the officer’s wish without resistance and felt antagonized by the officer once again after being corrected, told to stop, then start back again. At this point, I felt confident that I had passed these physical examinations. I was told that I was under arrest and was put in the back of the police car. I was driven first to (XXXXXXXXX) and started filling out the necessary paperwork. I submitted my fingerprints, various signatures and anything else required of me. I then submitted to performing a breathalyzer test to determine my blood alcholhol level. I cooperated with the officers and my blood alchol level was indeed over the legal limit of .08. My blood alchol level was recorded as .084. I was told that I was guilty of a DUI (Driving under the influence) and MC (minor consumption). My Texas drivers license was confiscated and one of the officers held my drivers license up and said “Kiss this thing goodbye.” I was handcuffed once again and driven to the Downtown police station (XXXXXXX). I entered the police stationed shackled and a police officer took inventory of my belongings and recorded them on paper. I had (XX) cash dollars in my wallet that was confiscated and recorded. I was then uncuffed and put into an empty jail cell. I was scared and upset about the whole situation. I was given a black, plastic food container, with cold pancakes and syrup, along with an orange. I was told that I “…had better eat that.” Feeling overwhelmed, alone and scared, I didn’t have an appetite. I spent the night on the cold floor of the jail cell. I was awakened the following morning by an officer and was asked to step out of the cell. I was given all of my belongings back, however the cash that was taken from my wallet was not returned to me. I was told that I could pay $175 and be released from the jail. Scared and unsure of what to do, I used my father’s emergency credit card to pay the bail. I was given a white sheet of computer paper with only the words “Collision Specialist” hand written on it. I was told that was where my vehichle was currently being stored. I was informed that I should call a friend or family member to pick me up from the jail. I used my cell phone to call my closest friends at SFA to request a ride from the jail. After seven of them did not answer the phone call, I called Robert Williams and was able to speak to him. He said he would be there to pick me up as soon as possible. He showed up within minutes and drove me to my dorm. Tired, scared, worried and depressed from all of the events that had occurred, I got into bed and fell asleep.

I felt guilty and had deep regret for being arrested, yet, also felt like I was put into a very unfair situation. After the disastrous night and following morning I had experienced, I was sick to my stomach and stayed in bed all day. I missed all of my classes on Tuesday (english and history) and wanted to escape from reality. I was awakened by two good friends and was taken to go locate my car. We found the “Collision Specialist” and saw my car waiting immediately inside of the fenced compound. I was charged $85 for the towing charge, and $20 for the storage charge, totaling $106.65. I also have another receipt from the Law Enforcement of Nacogdoches for $145.00. The receipt does not indicate what the charge was for. The papers that I received are a “STATUTORY WARNING”, “NOTICE OF SUSPENSION TEMPORARY DRIVING PERMIT”, “CASH BOND, CONDITION 45.231 PLEA, AND WAIVE OF JURY TRIAL” and the various receipts. I was never given an actual citation from either jail facility concerning my arrest.

 

Slammed am what wheels are on your car

 

Fm5s
they are pimp.

 

thanks

 

the beer drinking paper has some problems