Euthanasia
Which "M" is it? Mercy or Murder?
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"Please do everything to save his life" it is always heard at any care giver place, although it is not said in certain situations. Nowadays, doctor's decision towards patients seems to be a dilemma. Does the doctor have to relieve pain and suffering even by taking patient's life? Or should s/he respect human life, stand back waiting for the nature taking it course? Some people argue in certain circumstances killing someone to relieve his/her suffer considered as a mercy killing, while others believe that letting someone die spontaneously is a manner of respecting human life. About 400 years B.C, Hippocrates, Father of medicine, said in his Oath "I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel" (Miles, 2005). The word "Euthanasia" is a Greek word which means "good death". The term of euthanasia has been used by the historian Suetonius who described how the emperor Augusts died quickly without suffering in his wife's arm. In the 17th century, Francis Bacon was the first user for word euthanasia in a medical context to prescribe an easy, happy and painless death. He has also referred to an "outward euthanasia", which related to a spiritual concept, the preparation of soul. This book will give more information about different opinions on Euthanasia socially, medically, and more about different believes and aspects of life.
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About the Book
“Please do everything to save his life.” It is always heard at any place where care is given, although it is not said in each and every situation. Nowadays, the doctor's decision about his or her patients has become a dilemma. Is it the doctor’s duty to relieve pain and suffering even by taking the patient's life? Or should she or he respect human life and stand back, waiting for the nature to take its course? Some people argue that in certain circumstances killing someone to relieve his or her suffering should be considered as a mercy killing, while others believe that letting someone die naturally is a matter of respecting human life. This book presents a simplistic way of thinking in a very complicated debate. It is about euthanasia, a topic which has been generally ignored and, unfortunately, in many countries has been misused or neglected. In fact, this book will show the exact meaning of the term “mercy killing” and the various types that exist. It will also describe the attitudes of many countries and the beliefs of different religions, as well as medical and social views about euthanasia.
About the Author
Zakyah Basri is a registered nurse, grade III. In 2008, she obtained her bachelor's degree from King Abdullaziz University in Saudi Arabia in medical science. She was so passionate to complete her study in the UK, and that goal guided her to finish her master's course in leadership and management in health at Kingston University in London in 2011. Her experience as an emergency room nurse (A & E nurse) led her to think about the patient's rights and to study more of the choices that are made about ending life in different countries and religions around the world. She recently decided to draw a clear picture for everyone about end-of-life choices and all the difficulties that can be faced in making such a decision. Zakyah fulfilled a lifelong ambition when she was named as a white angel. She chose to talk about this subject out of a desire to be the angel who tried to identify the correct way to give patients their rights, or at least the light to see the decisions they can make.