MA IN HEALTH CARE LAW - When a doctor is deciding whether or not to discontinue treatment and/or life support , his decision should not differ even though his patient may be a neonate, a child or an incompetent adult.Discuss this statement in relation to

The objective of euthanasia is to allow people who suffer from terminal illness and unending agony to end their life and refusal to permit them to do so would constitute an immoral act . Further , these supporters of euthanasia contend that if an attempt to commit suicide is obstructed then it will result in greater misery to the person who had made such an attempt

Different people have different views about euthanasia . The belief of religious groups is that life is sacrosanct and a gift of god that can be brought to an

end only by an act of god . Some other groups that oppose euthanasia are of the opinion that if euthanasia is enacted or if such killing becomes legal then it may be abused in several ways Experiences from Holland where voluntary euthanasia has been legalized and where stringent rules have been enforced to prevent misuse of this facility reveal that most of the doctors ignore the statutory formalities . Moreover , it has been noticed that these Dutch Doctors generally fail to realize the importance of contacting the relevant authorities in this context

Voluntary euthanasia is a complicated subject that entails ethical arguments . The arguments of the pro-euthanasia activists are that taking one 's life is a matter of personal freedom . In the UK suicide is not construed to be a crime . As such the supporters of euthanasia argue that it constitutes a vital feature of civilisation and that there should be a right to die so that people who suffer from chronic illnesses that involve a lot of pain and suffering can exercise the option to die with dignity and in peace

It is not an exaggeration to state that the excruciating pain and humiliation that such patients undergo , due to their illness , makes their family members and relatives to consider mercy killing as providing them relief and letting them die in dignity

This manner of thinking was evidenced in the court trials of Dr Cox who had given a lethal injection to Ms Boyes in to assist her to end her life voluntarily . The family members of Boyes supported the doctor 's actions . During trial Doctor Nigel Cox accepted that he had given a lethal injection of Potassium Chloride to a fatally ill Ms Boyes , who was of advanced age . She had been suffering unbearable pain and as a result had persistently been pleading with him to end her wretched existence

Doctor Nigel Cox was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to prison for a year . This case became more complicated as the patient 's body had been cremated prior to the conduct of an autopsy . The General Medical Council or GMC found that Doctor Nigel Cox was guilty of professional misconduct , but retained his membership even after the conviction . In addition , the General Medical Council directed him to undergo training in palliative care1 . The situation obtaining in the United Kingdom is that political leaders , the judiciary and society are unwilling to condone euthanasia in an unambiguous manner...