The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines euthanasia as the act or practice of killing a very sick or injured person in order to avoid further suffering. Seems a bit harsh, doesn't it? Here is the definition, rephrased with a few different words, of the intentional action of a licensed medical professional to kill a very ill or injured person in order to avoid further suffering. Even though the first definition doesn't seem so bad, the second is significantly more severe. There are two different classifications of euthanasia. There are voluntary and involuntary euthanasias. Voluntary euthanasia is simply euthanasia carried out with consent, while involuntary euthanasia is euthanasia carried out without consent. It's a pretty simple point, isn't it? Well, it gets more complex. There are also two different procedural classifications of euthanasia. This involves active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia occurs when lethal substances or measures are taken to end a patient's life. The other procedural classification, passive euthanasia, is the refusal of life-sustaining treatments. Some people feel that the definition of passive euthanasia is questionable. I believe that euthanasia, as a drastic measure, should not be legal. In my opinion, the only exception to this rule that should exist is the use of euthanasia as punishment for a crime. Euthanasia should only be used to punish criminals who have committed a crime whose punishment is the death penalty. Allowing euthanasia would weaken society's respect for the sanctity of life. Human life should be valued regardless of a person's race, age, gender, religion or social status. A person doesn't have to do it... middle of paper ... grows as they do. Dr. Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society, said: "If we can't control the actions of even one doctor - Jack Kevorkian - when physician-assisted suicide is illegal, how can we we hope to regulate the actions of a single doctor? thousands of doctors where physician-assisted suicide is legal? He makes a valid point: If Dr. Kevorkian couldn't be controlled, what difference does it make to have regulations in place? The regulations will not prevent a vulnerable person from being pressured into choosing death. I believe that euthanasia, as a drastic measure, should not be legal. In my opinion, the only exception to this rule that should exist is the use of euthanasia as punishment for a crime. Euthanasia should only be used to punish criminals who have committed a crime that carries the death penalty...