Euthanasia: Which "M" Is It? Mercy or Murder?

By Zakyah Basri

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 doctors 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Feb 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781467883269

Zakyah Basri

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.

Book preview

Contents

Euthanasia

Which M Is It—

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

References

To all who may think of this moment as the start and as the bright light on their life—To others who may think about the end of this moment as the end of their suffering and the start of relieve… Yes, to all who ask for relieve. Bless you all.

Euthanasia

Which M Is It—

Mercy or Murder?

Chapter 1

Introduction

Chapter 1

Introduction

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 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.

That type of decision has been described by Boseley (2010) as an ethically controversial decision. A House of Lords Select Committee