Is euthanasia acceptable among terminally-ill children?
The right to die or not the right to die. The opinions on pediatric euthanasia are very divided around
the world. The ethical discussion on pediatric euthanasia has been going on for a relatively long time.
This essay deals with the acceptance of euthanasia in relation to terminally-ill children. Euthanasia
for terminally-ill children who experience unbearable suffering should certainly be acceptable. This
topic is explored by first sketching a picture about euthanasia among minors and then presenting
arguments about why terminally-ill children should also be allowed euthanasia and use it as a last
resort. The conclusion is a summary of the arguments.
Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending life to relieve persistent pain and suffering. Doctors
sometimes perform euthanasia when its requested by people who have a terminal illness and
experience unbearable suffering with no prospect of improval. It is a complex process that involves
weighing many different factors. However, the rules that apply for euthanasia among children are
different. Minors may request euthanasia themselves from the age of twelve, although the consent
of the parents or guardian is mandatory until they reach the age of sixteen. Sixteen and seventeen
year olds do not necessarily need parental consent, however their parents must be involved in the
decision-making process. For the children between the ages of one and twelve, nothing is currently
legally regulated.
Euthanasia is often used to relieve endless and unbearable suffering of an individual. As mentioned
before, there are no legal regulations for euthanasia among children between the ages of one and
twelve. When it comes to the unbearable suffering of these children, the only two options available
for the parents are waiting for their child to pass away or palliative sedation. Child euthanasia should
be a legal option for those who face terminal disease. Because while some desire to take treatment
and medication until the end, not everyone wants to continue with the feeling of hopelessness and
being in pain. Let alone a parent, who has to see their child suffer day in day out. By making
euthanasia acceptable among terminally-ill children, at least the option is available. Child euthanasia
needs to be accepted as a last resort and does not have to be a first option.
On the contrary, pediatric euthanasia seems quite shocking on first instinct. Especially because the
specific age limits for euthanasia among minors mainly arise from the insights within the
developmental psychology. Those assume that the critical thinking for children usually develops
around the age of twelve. One may say that this indicates it is not ethically correct to euthanise
children. Nevertheless, euthanasia is used to end persistent and unbearable suffering. The children
who qualify for euthanasia are very sick and do not have a prospect on improvement. They do not
get to live their life the way they should be as a child. Even though they are alive, they are absolutely
not living. They are simply surviving, with an undeniable, constant amount of pain. So is it then
ethically correct to not relieve these children from the pain and suffering they are experiencing?
To summarise, this essay has argued that euthanasia among terminally-ill children should be
acceptable. This is because euthanasia should be a last resort for terminally-ill children who suffer
unbearably. However, one may say a child is not be able to make such an important and irreversible
decision themselves. For this reason the parental consent should be mandatory. Those children
deserve to end their suffering just as much as grown-ups do. That is why euthanasia should be
accepted among terminally-ill children.
The right to die or not the right to die. The opinions on pediatric euthanasia are very divided around
the world. The ethical discussion on pediatric euthanasia has been going on for a relatively long time.
This essay deals with the acceptance of euthanasia in relation to terminally-ill children. Euthanasia
for terminally-ill children who experience unbearable suffering should certainly be acceptable. This
topic is explored by first sketching a picture about euthanasia among minors and then presenting
arguments about why terminally-ill children should also be allowed euthanasia and use it as a last
resort. The conclusion is a summary of the arguments.
Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending life to relieve persistent pain and suffering. Doctors
sometimes perform euthanasia when its requested by people who have a terminal illness and
experience unbearable suffering with no prospect of improval. It is a complex process that involves
weighing many different factors. However, the rules that apply for euthanasia among children are
different. Minors may request euthanasia themselves from the age of twelve, although the consent
of the parents or guardian is mandatory until they reach the age of sixteen. Sixteen and seventeen
year olds do not necessarily need parental consent, however their parents must be involved in the
decision-making process. For the children between the ages of one and twelve, nothing is currently
legally regulated.
Euthanasia is often used to relieve endless and unbearable suffering of an individual. As mentioned
before, there are no legal regulations for euthanasia among children between the ages of one and
twelve. When it comes to the unbearable suffering of these children, the only two options available
for the parents are waiting for their child to pass away or palliative sedation. Child euthanasia should
be a legal option for those who face terminal disease. Because while some desire to take treatment
and medication until the end, not everyone wants to continue with the feeling of hopelessness and
being in pain. Let alone a parent, who has to see their child suffer day in day out. By making
euthanasia acceptable among terminally-ill children, at least the option is available. Child euthanasia
needs to be accepted as a last resort and does not have to be a first option.
On the contrary, pediatric euthanasia seems quite shocking on first instinct. Especially because the
specific age limits for euthanasia among minors mainly arise from the insights within the
developmental psychology. Those assume that the critical thinking for children usually develops
around the age of twelve. One may say that this indicates it is not ethically correct to euthanise
children. Nevertheless, euthanasia is used to end persistent and unbearable suffering. The children
who qualify for euthanasia are very sick and do not have a prospect on improvement. They do not
get to live their life the way they should be as a child. Even though they are alive, they are absolutely
not living. They are simply surviving, with an undeniable, constant amount of pain. So is it then
ethically correct to not relieve these children from the pain and suffering they are experiencing?
To summarise, this essay has argued that euthanasia among terminally-ill children should be
acceptable. This is because euthanasia should be a last resort for terminally-ill children who suffer
unbearably. However, one may say a child is not be able to make such an important and irreversible
decision themselves. For this reason the parental consent should be mandatory. Those children
deserve to end their suffering just as much as grown-ups do. That is why euthanasia should be
accepted among terminally-ill children.
