THE TRUTH THAT EUTHANASIA IS A HUMAN RIGHT

Not:  "ötenazinin bir insan hakkı olduğu gerçeği" başlıklı yazımı İngilizceye çeviren chatgpt'ye teşekkür ederim.

In this piece, I want to share some thoughts with you, my dear and valued readers, about why euthanasia should be legalized in a general sense — and why people should have the right to choose it in many circumstances.

I’ve done some research on euthanasia. In its simplest form, it’s a method of ending life used in some countries, usually for patients with incurable diseases. I don't know if it’s a painful or painless process — but as far as I understand, it’s a decision made either by the patient themselves or, in some cases, their family. I imagine that if the patient is conscious enough to decide, their opinion is taken into account too. At least, I hope so.

But I’d like to go a bit beyond that. Let me call it not just euthanasia — but the right to die. I believe this right should be available to everyone, not just those with terminal illnesses. Let me explain what I mean by “everyone” with a simple example: in the Turkish Penal Code, there's Article 32 which says:

"A person who, due to mental illness, cannot comprehend the legal meaning and consequences of their actions or whose ability to control their behavior is severely impaired, shall not be punished. However, a security measure may be applied."

I bring this up for a reason. Imagine someone who isn’t physically ill but simply doesn’t want to live anymore. Maybe they just don’t like living. Even though Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to life, if a person can't live with dignity — or can’t feel like they are living with dignity — I don't believe they should be forced to keep living. I think this should be a choice. If this soul, this body, and this life belong to me — then the decision to end it should also be mine. I don’t think any law or regulation should restrict that.

Continuing from my earlier point — just as we have the right to life, there should also be a right to death. For those who want it. Let's say someone wants to die — there should be a process. A report or evaluation, proving that this decision is truly their own, that they understand the consequences of what they are asking for. I don't know if this would come from a psychiatrist or another type of doctor, or maybe even a panel of professionals. But once it's confirmed that the decision is freely made and not under the influence of any substances or pressure — then that person should be allowed to end their life, under medical supervision.

Of course, most countries don't offer this right. And in those that do, it’s usually only for terminally ill patients, as I mentioned earlier. But I believe this right should be extended more broadly. People who truly want to end their lives should have a legal and humane path to do so.

Some people simply can’t live, even though they might want to. Others have no desire to live at all. That’s their personal thought, their own wish. If someone is in their twenties and has no will to live, and we tell them, “Well, there’s nothing to be done, you’ll just have to live like this for the rest of your life,” we are not giving them the right to life. On the contrary, we are torturing them. That person might have to drag themselves through 60 more years like this — not live, but drag themselves. How can someone live when they’re not happy to be alive?

Or let’s put aside the concept of happiness altogether. Imagine a place where the right to life is just a right on paper — a place where people can’t actually live with dignity. These places exist. There are systems and governments that actively prevent people from living in a humane way and put endless barriers in their way.

And finally, I just want to say this: telling someone who is mentally and emotionally preparing for death, “No — you have to live,” is a form of extreme cruelty. But sadly, this kind of cruelty is not even considered a crime.