Cost of avoiding death
Another advantage of legalizing voluntary euthanasia is possibly reducing the cost of palliative care. Palliative care aims to provide necessary physical, psychological, cultural, and spiritual needs for the patients and their relatives. Typically, terminal-ill patients are under palliative care to be looked after. However, this comes with cost. In a way, if a patient wishes to have euthanasia it is cost that can be saved and used for those who wishes otherwise.
National Party MP Maggie Barry is firm opposing any types of euthanasia because the palliative care in New Zealand is one of the best in the world. Also legalizing euthanasia would nullify what palliative care aims to achieve. However, nothing is free in the world. It is difficult to give a precise cost for the palliative care because it depends heavily on what service is required. From my understanding, the cost of palliative care is free but additional features such as specialized equipments, 24-hour nursery staff, and so on. So the free palliative care seems to only include minimal service.
In addition, even if palliative cost is not part of your bill, it still costs your money. It was stated that New Zealand government spent approximately 50 million dollars a year on palliative care in 2010. The government’s main revenue comes from taxes and it continues to grow at an alarming rate. With voluntary euthanasia, it could help lifting some burdens off people who are struggling financially.
Hi there, I agree with the plight for Voluntary Euthanasia. I especially agree with the argument that if a person no longer wants to live, he should have the right to die. If a persons dignity has been stripped from him, he should be able to do whatever he pleases.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm not so much on board with the argument that terminally ill patients are a financial burden. If they do not want Euthanasia all possible efforts should be made to keep them alive.
mmm I didn't intend to say all terminally-ill patients are a financial burden. I shall fix that very soon. Thanks for the spot!
DeleteGreat topic Andy. The question almost becomes a philosophical one as we ask is it more humane to allow someone the right to die or to preserve life at any cost without argument?
ReplyDeleteIt's an odd scenario as "humane" deaths for suffering animals is an everyday practice, but we seem to draw a line in the sand for humans whereas this doesn't apply. Unlike animals though, humans have the ability to decide for themselves, I feel with clear legal procedure behind it euthanasia is the way forward.
It may become sticky if a situation arises in which as terminally ill patient has lost the ability to communicate verbally or otherwise, and say, medical professionals or the family wants to get involved with the euthanasia process. This definitely has ethical issues.
I was surprised to hear how much is spent on palliative care, it would be interesting to know (although I doubt the data exists) the percentage of these patients who would (or would have) chosen euthanasia.
It does get sticky because then it can no longer be voluntary. Involuntary euthanasia is a whole different beast which like you said, complicates even further with ethical issues. The thing about palliative care is that it drives on a philosophy that everyone needs to kept alive regardless of their wishes. In a way, they way more unethical than euthanasia ha
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