ipl-logo

Divine Command Theory Euthanasia

540 Words3 Pages

The duty-oriented theory is an ethical system that holds that the right action is one that is based on ethical principles known to be right, independent of consequences or whether they serve good ends. This theory states that people have a duty to do the right thing even if it produces a bad result. If a patient needs lifesaving treatment, then the right thing to do would be to give them that treatment. Using the duty-oriented theory a person is to first consider what actions are right and proceed from there. Opponents of euthanasia argue that the duty based theory is not interested in results, rather than the initial thought of being right or wrong, and it could lead to a reduction of happiness. It may be in the best interest for a patient to not further treatment, with a possibility of it leading to more issues or causing an unwanted physical weakness. By looking at the bigger picture it may be best in certain cases for the physician to do the right thing by not continuing treatments and allowing the patient to decide whether or not they would like to end their life or expand it, the choice is up to them. The divine command theory is the ethical theory that something can be known to be right and good when it is in compliance with God’s will and wrong when God condemns it. We must obey the …show more content…

S., & Groves, J. R. (1999). Ethics of health care: a guide for clinical practice (2nd ed.). Albany: Delmar Publishers.

Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/

Facts About Euthanasia. (n.d.). Facts About Euthanasia. Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www.terrisfight.org/facts-about-euthanasia/

Jenkins, E. (2002). Euthanasia and Suicide. Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www.kc-cofc.org/39th/Lectures/2002 Manuscripts/Jenkins-Euthanasia_and_Suicide.PDF

Manning, M. (1998). Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: killing or caring?. New York: Paulist

Show More
Related
1043 Words | 5 Pages

In Culture of Death, Wesley J. Smith is very clear about his opinions on where the future of healthcare is headed. In my essay, I will be discussing Smiths’ statements regarding assisted suicide, euthanasia and removal of food and fluid and why he believes the government should put an end to legalizing these practices. I will also discuss the important cases of Annette Corriveau, Robert Latimer, and others. Wesley Smith is a bioethicist and human rights activist that advocates for the illegalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Read More
874 Words | 4 Pages

It is believed that once practicing physician-assisted suicides becomes an acceptable concept in society, the next steps will easily be taken toward unethical actions such as involuntary euthanasia. Edmund D. Pellegrino, MD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Medical Ethics at Georgetown University claims that our healthcare system is too obsessed with costs and principles of utility. He defies the belief that the slippery slope effect is no more than a prediction, by reminding the outlooks and inclinations of our society. Furthermore, he believes there comes a day that incompetent patients and those in coma won’t be asked for their permission to use euthanasia. The Netherlands is another example of such misuse.

Read More
1023 Words | 5 Pages

Assisted Suicide: A Controversial Topic Assisted suicide, also known as physician-assisted death (PAD), has been a topic of controversy for decades. While some argue that PAD should be legalized to grant terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity, others believe it goes against the sanctity of life. This essay will explore the arguments for and against assisted suicide and offer recommendations on how to approach the issue. PAD is Important

Read More
769 Words | 4 Pages

The recent legislative advancements concerning physician-assisted suicide have unveiled a series of controversial arguments regarding the right to die. As told by The Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health, “Assisted Suicide is a form of self-inflicted death in which individuals voluntarily bring about their own death with the help of another, usually a physician, relative, or friend. Assisted suicide is sometimes called physician-assisted death or PAD” (Frey 915). Four U.S. states now have legalized the practice of assisted suicide and other countries across the world are successfully making headway in their push for physician-assisted suicide.

Read More
1385 Words | 6 Pages

Legalization of physician-assisted suicide has been in discussion throughout the years in the United States. While many state and federal lawmakers have this up in discussion, the state of Oregon is the only U.S state were physician-assisted suicide is legal. Not only is assisted suicide illegal, the use of euthanasia is also an illegal substance being prescribed to patients. There are four distinguished types of euthanasia, all with different meanings that are mentioned later on in the text. Over the last forty years and counting, Pakes had informed that the views of physician-assisted suicide have been changing, and it is still ongoing today.

Read More
1252 Words | 6 Pages

Assisted suicide is a rather controversial issue in contemporary society. When a terminally ill patient formally requests to be euthanized by a board certified physician, an ethical dilemma arises. Can someone ethically end the life of another human being, even if the patient will die in less than six months? Unlike traditional suicide, euthanasia included multiple individuals including the patient, doctor, and witnesses, where each party involved has a set of legal responsibilities. In order to understand this quandary and eventually reach a conclusion, each party involved must have their responsibilities analyzed and the underlying guidelines of moral ethics must be investigated.

Read More
937 Words | 4 Pages

The possible legalization of euthanasia can cause a great disturbance in how people view life and death and the simplicity of how they would treat it. "There are many fairly severely handicapped people for whom a simple, affectionate life is possible." (Foot, p. 94) As demonstrated, the decision of terminating a person 's life is a very fragile and difficult one, emotionally and mentally. Nevertheless, it’s a choice we can make if it is passive euthanasia being expressed.

Read More
529 Words | 3 Pages

If this painful disease leads down a road of death by misery, then it is only treatment to pass this patient away peacefully. We are doing justice by ending the pain, torment, and suffering. We must serve others and do to others like we would like for others to do for us. It is a treatment to medicate someone by putting them to a peaceful death if death is where they

Read More
870 Words | 4 Pages

The word “euthanize” means to bring about a person’s death to relieve them from serious distress. The topic of euthanasia in medicine has evolved since intensive care was first instituted. Before the 1950’s, a simple model was used to determine when someone was dead: the individual was dead when his or her heart stopped beating. In the modern light, the answer to this question isn’t as clear. With advancements in organ transplantation and other medical technologies, the stopping of a beating heart is no longer a definite death sentence.

Read More
418 Words | 2 Pages

Ethical Complexity of Distribute Justice and Rationing Medicine is a practice based on moral standards applied to clinical values and judgments, also known as medical ethics. Ethical values consists of beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy and justice. However, these ethical principles are affected when distributive justice and rationing of health care resources are implemented “…in a world in which need is boundless but resources are not…” (Scheunemann & White, 2011, p. 1630). The historic Hippocratic Oath described the four main principles of medical practice and established a moral conduct for clinicians. Beneficence demands that health care providers develop and maintain skills and knowledge, consider individual circumstances of all patients, and strive for the patient’s benefit.

Read More
1455 Words | 6 Pages

The altruistic behaviour of healthcare practitioners may include consistent work or the providence of informal medical advice beyond the boundaries of contracted hours along with the general willingness to move beyond the additional miles in professional activities. There is sufficient evidence that many healthcare practitioners perform their duties beyond their contracted hours but there is a declining trend evident related to the altruism in medicine. This can be expressed within the unwillingness of anaesthetist for accepting a final case on the list due to the time of operation to be run beyond the contracted session limit. The emergence and maintenance of altruism and cooperative social behaviour is found to be a major issue in the biological

Read More
1731 Words | 7 Pages

THE EUTHANASIA CONTROVERSY Summary Euthanasia has constantly been a heated debate amongst commentators, such as the likes of legal academics, medical practitioners and legislators for many years. Hence, the task of this essay is to discuss the different faces minted on both sides of the coin – should physicians and/or loved ones have the right to participate in active euthanasia? In order to do so, the essay will need to explore the arguments for and against legalizing euthanasia, specifically active euthanasia and subsequently provide a stand on whether or not it should be an accepted practice.

Read More
1234 Words | 5 Pages

A controversial practice that invokes a debate over how beneficial its intentions are is the use of euthanasia. The argument switches between whether or not putting terminally ill patients to death with the assistance of a physician is justifiable and right. Legalizing the practice of euthanasia is a significant topic among many people in society, including doctors and nurses in the medical field, as it forces people to decide where to draw the line between relieving pain and simply killing. While some people see euthanasia as a way to helping a patient by eliminating their pain, it is completely rejected by others who see it as a method of killing.

Read More
869 Words | 4 Pages

Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, is the act of permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured patients. This is never suggested by the caretaker rather than requested by the patient or their family. Few areas such as the Netherlands have already legalized this practice. This debate, as split as a fork in the road, is over whether or not this approach should be legalized worldwide on stances regarding religion, ethics, and self choice.     I see this as being extremely unethical on both religious and social morality levels.

Read More
1016 Words | 5 Pages

INTRODUCTION Euthanasia alludes to the act of deliberately close a life keeping in mind the end goal to assuage torment and enduring. There are different euthanasia laws in each country. The British House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics defines euthanasia as "a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering".[1] In the Netherlands, euthanasia is understood as "termination of life by a doctor at the request of a patient"". Euthanasia is sorted in diverse ways, which incorporate voluntary, non-voluntary, or automatic.

Read More

More about Divine Command Theory Euthanasia

Related Topics

Open Document