Research Paper on:
Sociological Perspectives on Euthanasia

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
policy debates today surrounds the issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The outcome of that debate will profoundly affect family relationships, interaction between doctors and patients, and concepts of basic  ethical behavior" (Marker; Hamlon, 2002; faq.htm). As an aspect of assisted suicide euthanasia becomes a very powerful sociological subject as well. It is a topic which touches upon the social  issues concerning quality of life. In the following paper we examine the sociological aspects of euthanasia, discussing quality of life and the social condition of euthanasia. Euthanasia It  should first be noted that there are two different forms of euthanasia in the medical community. There is passive euthanasia which allows a person to die by taking them off  of machines or by keeping certain medication from them that would prolong their life. Active euthanasia is essentially assisted suicide for it takes direct action it does not merely deny  treatment. This is a commonly understood doctrine and one upheld by most medical professionals. "Sociologically, euthanasia falls under two concepts: that of Emile Durkheims suicide study and Societys concept  of Deviance. First, Emile Durkheim, the first sociologist who evaluated rates of suicide, breaks down suicide into four categories: Egoistic, anomic, altruistic, and fatalistic" (El-Haggan, 2002; faq.htm). The form of  suicide that addresses euthanasia falls under the anomic class of suicide. "According to Durkheim, this anomic suicide occurs when a person is in confusion as to how to deal with  a new change in their lives" (El-Haggan, 2002; faq.htm). From a social, as well as psychological perspective, we can note that such a position is one that affects how  one sees their quality of life. When a new change, social and emotional, comes upon an individual, especially as it relates to ones health, assisted suicide, or euthanasia is the