BCJ 3601 Unit 4 Case Study

Unit 4 Case Study

Columbia Southern University

What is euthanasia?

Euthanasia is basically the killing of someone that has been thought out by the individual and is administered by a doctor. Usually the person wants to end their life and does want to deal with the medical issues that they are dealing or a doctor has told them that they only have a certain amount of time to live. Some doctors do not want to see their patients suffer so they obey their wishes and give them the medication needed to end their life. In some states there are guidelines that have to be followed in order for it to be legal and not considered a homicide. It is also another form of assisted suicide.

Laws on euthanasia in Texas

Texas is a state that does not allow or condone euthanasia. In the health & safety law code section 166.45-51 euthanasia is not authorized by Texas law (Reuters, T., 2018). Any act of euthanasia is not allowed or a omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. The only form of euthanasia is for animals only and that is allowed at animal shelter by trained individuals. The state is really clear about how they feel about euthanasia and do not have that many law pertaining to it.

Introduction and Background of a case

A 67 year old man was diagnosed with a neurone disease and wanted to be able to end his life with dignity, instead of having to endure a very painful death. He has to carry around a ventilator everywhere he goes and his breathing is dependent on it for 22 hours of the each and every day. The only option that was given to him to end his life was if he did not use his ventilator. He didn’t know how long it would take for him to die or what it be like. It might be in so pain because there isn’t anything helping him breathe. He was given 12 months to live and thought it would be best if he got to choose when he would die. He wanted to be able to know the exact day he would die so that he could live life, and forget about the guessing. He wanted to make it to where his family weren’t worried one day getting a phone call say that he died. He wanted his family to know the day and be prepared for when it happened.

Issues within the case and the outcome

He started his court battle for his choice to be able to end his life in 2014 after he got his diagnosis. The problem with his case is that he did not have any supporting documentation. He did not have documents that he had gotten a second opinion or that if he went the suggested for his death that he would be in excruciating pain for a long period of time. He did not bring any evidence from his family saying that this would make them feel better knowing that he left in a peaceful way and it was his choice. He brought a lot of opinions to the case and not documents that would back up his statements. In the end he was not granted the right to pick the way he died.

My opinion

On the subject euthanasia I agree with someone wanting to choose when they die but at the same time I disagree. I agree because everyone should be able to choose if they want to end their life if they are miserable. If they don’t have a life and are a shell of a person why cant they end their life. On the other side of the coin I do not think anyone should be ending their life because it is a sin. Its like you are taking God job away from him. He supposed to tell you when its your time to go. Its like as a person I do not want anyone to suffer but as a Christian is a sin to do it. But the decision on whether or not to do it should be up to the person but should be in the right circumstances.

References

Reuters, T.(2018). Texas Euthanasia Laws. Retrieved from https://statelaws.findlaw.com/texas-law/texas-euthanasia-laws.html

Rawlinson, K. (2017, October 5). Terminally ill man loses high court fight to end his life. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/05/entombed-man-noel-conway-loses-high-court-fight-end-life

Fenigsen, Richard,M.D., PhD. (2011). Other people’s lives: Reflections on medicine, ethics, and euthanasia. Issues in Law & Medicine, 26(3), 239-79. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/docview/861356297?accountid=33337

Schmalleger, F. & Hall, D. E. (2017). Criminal Law Today. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson