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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". It comes from the Greek, 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. 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.
Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands and in the state of Oregon in the U.S.A. Recently, the government on the Isle of Man has made a much debated 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. There are other non-Christian reasons: one of the strongest arguments against euthanasia is the question of who can decide how advanced a terminal illness is in order for euthanasia to be acceptable.
On the other side of this argument are those campaigning for a change in the law which would legalize euthanasia, including The Voluntary Euthanasia Society.

One of their most publicized arguments, which was used extensively by Diane Pretty's lawyers, is that if a person was more physically able and did not need third party assistance to administer euthanasia, they could commit suicide, which is not necessary illegal on its own. Therefore it is argued that this is discrimination against people with physically deteriorating illnesses. That, they say, is in direct violation of the Human Rights Act, Article 14 which outlaws discrimination.

They feel that the fact that euthanasia is not administered to people suffering agonizing pain if they wish it is another violation of the Human Rights Act. Article 3 clearly states that it is everyone;s absolute right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment. By not allowing people the choice end their life, the law condemns them to prolonged suffering and increasing loss of dignity.

One argument of the "Pro-Life" camp is that we might see mass deaths if euthanasia became lawful. But those who are campaigning to legalize euthanasia say that figures such as those from Oregon show the opposite. In Oregon, only 0.1 percent of deaths in the last five years have been as a result of euthanasia.

The "pro-life" argument regarding improvement in pain control through drugs, hospices etc. only covers those dying in pain. It does not apply to those suffering debilitating illnesses and physical collapse of their body -- for example, those suffering from Motor Neurone Syndrome. In these circumstances, the loss of independence and the breakdown of all bodily functions ensures a slow, undignified death, understandably some of these patients would welcome euthanasia.

Before I began writing up this discussion, I would have said that I felt that euthanasia was a viable option for those with terminal illnesses, but now I accept, not the moral and Christian views which say euthanasia is a sin, but views of people such as Sidney Cohen. He understood that he was going to die, was relieved of pain, and began to live a full life for the short while he had left. He was thankful euthanasia was not an option when he requested it. On the other hand, he was still in physical control of most of his body, unlike cases such as Diane Pretty's. She could never live a full life again after her debilitating illness set in on her. She was totally dependent on others. For this reason I have come to the conclusion that I would like to see euthanasia legalized. If it was legalized, then I would strongly recommend that hefty safeguards be put in place, in order to protect the vulnerable.