Mercy+Killings

media type="file" key="Youth in Asia.m4a" width="330" height="330" align="center"

__//**Mercy Killings**//__

Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain or suffering. Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, is a very heated topic and has good points and statistics for either standpoint. Euthanasia is illegal in the majority of the US, but in the areas where it is legal, there are cries to keep it in place. There is advocacy for euthanasia because people agree that mercy killing is justified. Euthanasia is said to be effective for one main reason, it relieves the victim of pain and suffering that they are currently enduring, but could escape with a not-so-painful death via injection, pill, etc. Most of us don't understand what it's like to be in that position, therefore we wouldn't know what it is like to make that decision. Others believe though that death is something that is out of our hands, and should not be determined by humans. They state that it is the doctor's job to attempt to PROLONG the life of a patient as long as they can, not END it. They also relate euthanasia closely to homicide, which is why they believe it should be illegal. Euthanasia is deadly. **Euthanasia in history**  Throughout history, euthanasia has been practiced frequently. From old greek and Roman times, to even the Nazi-era. Euthanasia has been conducted without much hesitation or thought. The most prevalent practiced euthanasia would probably be in the Nazi/WWII era. At that point in history, thousand of Jews were being ruthlessly murdered and enslaved. Thousands of them were distraught about the conditions that they were living in at their concentration camps. Euthanasia was practiced here because since they were all distraught about their current situations, they were drawn to thoughts of suicide to escape their sorrowful lives. Many of them wished for it, and they received it. Just like this example, Euthanasia has been practiced all throughout history.

**Resources:** http://www.wikipedia.org/ http://www.mylot.com/w/photokeywords/euthanasia.aspx  http://electionsmeter.com/polls/euthanasia   http://myportfolio.usc.edu/schaikin/2009/10/physician-assisted_suicide_should_death_be_a_choice.html http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/20060117_supreme_court_upholds_oregon_assisted_suicide_law/ http://www.euthanasia.com/page6.html http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2009/06/proliferations_60.html http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/a/assisted_suicide.asp http://articles.mibba.com/World/4129/Euthanasia-Matter-of-Life-and-Death http://webspace.webring.com/people/rl/lrmidi/pid-dn.htm http://www.assistedsuicide.org/farewell-to-hemlock.html