Finished Euthanasia Speech

Good morning/ afternoon Mr Cav and Students

What do we really know about Euthanasia?

The definition of Euthanasia as given by the Oxford English Dictionary is: "the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable disease or in an irreversible coma". Euthanasia is a Greek word literally translating as "a good death".

Euthanasia is a topic that has been debated over for years. A topic that rallies and government debates have been fought over for years.

 Imagine me placing this scenario in your arms.

 A very close relative, someone who has seen the world and has been in the hospital for too long. Their life now is looking out of a window or staring up at the ceiling without any form of communication with the outside world. Would you want this life because personally I wouldn't, I would want the easy quick and painless way out of things, to finally be in happiness. This thought is painful isn't it?...... Well not nearly as painful as some of the things that these people now declared 'vegetables' have to deal with in their daily lives.

The one thing that people look forward too is their family coming to visit them. They want to be able to talk back, say that they love them, but they can't, they physically cannot say a word.

So why is it that the debate arises whenever Euthanasia is merely a discussion point?

Pondering on that how is it that a vet has the legal and ethical rights to offer euthanasia as a solution for our beloved pets where injuries may be as little as a broken leg, when it’s not even slightly considered where humans are concerned?

Euthanasia was legalized in the Netherlands in 2001 and in Belgium in 2002. In 1997 Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize physician-assisted suicide. Recently, the government on the Isle of Man has come to a much debated conclusion and made the decision to legalize euthanasia.

People who are against euthanasia are called "Pro-life"; this is also the view of Christians who regard euthanasia as a sin. One of the main arguments that this group uses is the question of who can decide how advanced a terminal illness is in order for euthanasia to be acceptable.

Over 2000 years ago the Greeks and Romans, two of the greatest civilisations were the first to practice euthanasia. As I’ve mentioned previously the Greek word ‘Euthanatos’ comes to a literal meaning of ‘a good death’. So now in the 21st century what has changed?

When Pro- Life activists say that Euthanasia is bad, are they therefore saying that a ‘good death’ is bad or evil? So now ask you, what therefore is a good death?

Imagine a bed ridden, spoon fed, terminally ill, highly decorated war hero being degraded lying in an aged care facility without any way to communicate with his loved ones, who visit him every day just hoping for some change or sign of life. Well I’ve just introduced you to my great grandad. Should this veteran of life and war not be allowed a good death?

Euthanasia is not a cause that only affects the patient with the disease; no it affects the whole family. This is one of the reasons that some people decide they want to be euthanized. The simply do not want to put their family through so much pain and suffering

Now hopefully you are more informed as to what Euthenasia is and I leave you all to make your decision......