Topic > The ethical dilemmas of euthanasia - 722

Although Robert Orfali supports voluntary euthanasia, in his book he states that "involuntary euthanasia should never be legalized for human beings... it has too much potential for abuse" (9). Essentially, if involuntary euthanasia ever became legal, the risk of lethal drugs being misused would be of great concern. This same concern, however, can be applied to all types of euthanasia. The legalization of assisted suicide creates an opportunity in which terminally ill patients can be persuaded, against their best interests, to opt for euthanasia. Family members with illicit motivations, such as looming inheritances and reduced healthcare costs, can manipulate their terminally ill relatives into choosing a cheaper, quicker, and easier substitute for an extended life. These types of ulterior motives create a dangerous potential for abuse and require careful reconsideration of the legal rules of euthanasia.