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Ethical Arguments Against Euthanasia

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In the words of the famous philosopher, Sophocles, “Death is not the worst evil, but rather when we wish to die and cannot.” He was speaking of, what was called in his time ‘mercy killing. It is more widely known as euthanasia today. According to James D. Torr, “Euthanasia is a broad term for mercy killing—taking the life of a hopelessly ill or injured individual in order to end his or her suffering…The term “euthanasia” is derived from Ancient Greek, and means ‘good death’” (Torr 12). This concept of mercy killing has been around for many centuries and is rapidly developing far beyond just doctors allowing patients to kill themselves. Today, it includes six basic degrees: discontinuing life-support, discontinuing feeding or hydration, withholding …show more content…

There are two main sectors to this stance: the ethical argument and the pragmatic argument. The ethical argument states that people should have freedom of choice, including the right to control their own body and life and that the state should not create laws that prevent people being able to choose when and how they die. Perhaps the biggest piece of this argument is quality of life. The statement that life is sacred and is therefore always better than death is rejected. This arguments’ basis suggests that life should only continue as long as a person feels their life is worth living. They view assisted dying as “a compassionate act voluntarily requested by a patient who is destined to die and wants to die to relieve their suffering. As such, it should be carried out only after open dialogue with one's physician and significant others, assessment of all other options, opportunities for counseling, and serious reflection” (Torr 21). The pragmatic argument states that euthanasia, especially passive euthanasia, is already a widespread practice, just not one that people are willing to confess to, so surely it is better to properly regulate it. Many of the practices used as end-of-life care are essentially a type of euthanasia in all but name. Some of these practices include a DNR order or palliative sedation. It is stated that euthanasia is ethical as long as they do not abuse another persons rights

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Montag was content with his life. He would wake up, go to work, burn books, and come home. It was not until one day on his way home where this idea became less of a truth. His neighbor Clarisse asked him if he was happy (Bradbury, 7). Why wouldn’t he be happy?

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Physician-assisted suicide, or euthanasia, is defined as “the act or practice of causing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.” The controversy over euthanasia pits courts, medical professionals, and the ill against questions of reason, laws, and

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However, the wording of this ethic has left room for interpretation. Many argue that prolonging the life of terminally-ill patients suffering pain constitutes doing harm and that ending the patient’s life would be the correct course of action. My personal view on euthanasia is that although it is a difficult choice, in principle a terminally ill patient has the choice to end his life in a timely and peaceful manner. However, the legislation required to write it into law must be drafted very carefully in a way that protects terminally ill patients from pressure and involuntary euthanasia, and must properly define the boundary between sick and terminally ill patients.

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This debate has two clear sides, those who are support regulated physician-assisted suicide, and those who believe euthanasia is immoral. Both sides of the debate have strong arguments. The basic pro-euthanasia arguments support and defend the scientific regulations regarding assisted-suicide. Those against physician-assisted suicide support their claims with emotions and religious morals. However, it boils down to one question: does a human being have the right to decide their own death?

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Which is described by Dimmock and Fisher, “People should have the right to make their own decisions and should be able to decide the paths of their own lives. If the right to choose our own path applies in life, then why would this not apply in respect of our choice of how and when to die?”(Dimmock, Fisher 130). Moreover, the ability to have control over one’s personal bodily autonomy is important, it allows an individual to make a choice that is in line with their values and beliefs. In preserving the right to a person's own bodily autonomy, as a society, in turn, we are showing acceptance for those who do not adhere to the same religious beliefs. As time goes on it is becoming increasingly important to separate religion from the government.

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Mercy or Murder Medically assisted suicide is “the suicide of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, affected by the taking of lethal drugs provided by a doctor for this purpose.’ Although this is different from euthanization, when the drug is administered by someone in the medical field, it does not change the moral issue, professional issue and the potential of abuse. Many people in today's society would say that an assisted suicide by any medical personnel would go against the sanctity of life. Religious and traditional people would say that taking one's life is wrong. Since assisted suicide is initially killing someone this goes against these beliefs.

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Among the most controversial dilemmas broadly under debate is the Euthanasia and Patient Assisted Suicide (PAS) due to spreading of these practices even when laws are approved in limited states of United States and countries. The Euthanasia has always being part of our society since this word is derived from ancient Greek. The ancient Greek defined Euthanasia as the “well” or “good” death. The PAS is when a physician assist patient to commit suicide or facilitate death. It means that doctor and patient know and intentionally consent to give and receive a dose to end life mainly driven by a terminal and painful illness.

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In this essay I will be assessing the disputed issue of euthanasia on utilitarianism grounds. My main claim is that euthanasia should be permitted to those who wish to end their lives, as the fundamental utilitarian

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According to opponents of euthanasia, there is a middle way, that of creative and compassionate caring. Meticulous research in Palliative medicine has in recent years shown that virtually all unpleasant symptoms experienced in the process of terminal illness can be either relieved or substantially alleviated by techniques already available. There is also a fear that people would be coerced into ending their lives in order to save the hospital and insurance companies money, especially in cases where the patient has no chances of getting well again. These worst case situations are what many people fear would happen if it was widely legalized. By legalizing the option of PAS and euthanasia, the

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584 Words | 3 Pages

Euthanasia is a widely discussed issue among medical professionals and ordinary people. The big question is, why is it that doctors who end suffering while also keeping patients alive are applauded, yet those who respect terminally ill patients’ request to end their suffering lives, are often punished? Freedom of choice regarding the issue of euthanasia is one of the major debates. Patients should have control over their own body and should be able to choose whether they would like to be euthanized or not.

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Many pro-euthanasia believers will use the autonomy argument and debate the opinion that patients should have the right to choose when and how to they want to die. In an article in the Houston Chronicle, Judge Reinhardt ruled on this topic by stating “a competent, terminally-ill adult, having lived nearly the full measure of his life, has a strong liberty interest in choosing a dignified and humane death… (De La Torre).” However, dignity cannot be measured by the level of pain or the speed in which the individual dies, because it is already a characteristic of a person’s worth as a human being (Middleton). Allowing a patient to live their life to the fullest until the very end is surely a more humane and dignified death then cutting that life short in fear of what it is coming through the practice of euthanasia. While death for these patients can be a sad ending, it does not have to condemn a person to a remaining life of sadness and negativity.

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If people have the right to live, then do they have the right to die? Is it okay to end someone’s life in order to end his/her pain and suffering? These are two of the biggest questions nowadays and I am here to take my stand on this issue. People are easily confused with this due to the fact that on one hand, we know that it is wrong to take a person’s life. On the other hand, it is difficult to see them suffering and in pain for a longer period of time.

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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.

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The advice and judgment of the physician should be free available to the patient and/or his immediate family. However, the meaning of mercy killing in itself refers to ending a patient’s life due to an incurable disease or intolerable suffering. The moment the doctrine actively decides to end his patient’s life because of these factors, he is committing active euthanasia. Though it can be argued that the doctrine consults the patient and their family, which can be considered different than mercy killing, he is still participating in the assisted death.

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1412 Words | 6 Pages

Have you ever imagined one of your loved ones suffering from a painful illness? Have you ever wanted that person to die and rest in peace? This is called Euthanasia, which means the termination of a patient’s life who is suffering from excruciating pain and a terminal disease. Euthanasia came from the Greek for good (“eu”) and death (“thanatos”) “good death”(Sklansky, (2001) p.5.) There are more than four types of euthanasia such as active euthanasia, which means that death is caused directly by another person by giving the patient a poisonous injection.

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