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Hastening Death Critical Analysis

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Recommended: Ethics of death with dignity

The topic that I have chosen last week was “Hastening Death” and I presented an insight of both the pros and cons to the controversy. However, this week’s critical thinking analysis, I am choosing the pros of Hastening Death because of many reasons that are forth the positions. First of all, making decision is something that one should definitely make on their own because at the end of the day, your decision is going to matter the most. Even, if there are people who are going to disagree with what you decide on, it depends on what you want at the end. So, having the options to hasten your own death should be available. An empirical article that I came upon that talks about “Hastening Death and the Boundaries of the Self” by Lynn A. Jansen portrayed a …show more content…

This is significant because this supports the fact that this is not an instance of killing to the patient, but by withdrawing the artificial support for the patients, it “allows for the patient’s disease to complete its natural course” (Jansen, 106). In addition, one’s dignity of being worthy of honor or respect can be an important feeling of one’s self. Susan Behuniak portrayed the point involving dignity to the pros of hastening death by mentioning a statement from a patient in the Montana constitutional that depict the terminally ill point of view. This patient had mention that if there comes a point where his suffering is unbearable then there should be an option for him to die peacefully by taking a pill for that purpose (Behuniak). He also mention that it is his life and decision so having “the right and responsibility to make that critical choice” should be available for him (Behuniak). This illustrates the dignity of one’s self to feel the need of having that option based on their values and beliefs if they do decide to end their life. There is no wrong to this decision when it comes to one’s

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It was not intended to make readers sad or necessarily agree with his decision, however, to examine their own life and situation and to contemplate death, as it is inevitable for everyone. Most people are bound to have to face a similar choice as Clendinen. Maybe not in the same extreme measure, but most people will have to make a decision for a family member who is no longer capable of making medical decisions for themselves. Clendinen achieved his purpose and readers should walk away from this article recognizing exactly what Clendinen’s beliefs are on death, and it ought to make them curious about their own thoughts and beliefs. At the very least, talk with their loved one’s before they ever become ill and find out their loved one’s wishes.

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Terminal illnesses can strip even the most advocate life loving people, rendering them a depressed shell and unwilling to continue any further into the deep pits of despair that life has allocated to themselves. The cruel and unusual punishment to such enthusiastic people leaves them, “…permanently incapable of functioning in any dignified human fashion” (Andre, Velasquez 2). In the case of Matthew Donnelly who had, “… lost his nose, his left hand, two fingers on his right hand, and part of his jaw” to cancer, hope of relief was nowhere to be found, high nor low (1). The extreme pain had stripped every bit of joy from Donnelly who typically, “loved life” (1). Donner suffered, “lying in bed with teeth clenched from the excruciating pain,

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Making readers depressed or necessarily agreeing with his decision is not the intention of his writing, rather, to examine their own life and situation and to contemplate death, as it is inevitable for everyone. The majority of people will more than likely be forced to face a similar choice as Clendinen. Maybe not in the same extreme measure, but the majority of people will need to render a decision for a family member who is no longer capable of making medical decisions for themselves. Clendinen's purpose is being achieved and readers should walk away from this article recognizing exactly what Clendinen’s beliefs are on death, and it ought to generate curiosity about their own thoughts and beliefs. At the very least, talk with their loved one’s before they ever become ill and find out their loved one’s wishes are.

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Beside my stand, others believes Physicians and other medical care people should not involve themselves indirectly causing death; however, if they will not be willing to provide a way to relieve extreme pain when a person 's quality of life is low, then what is the meaning of freedom of choice for citizen is when they cannot choose the right for themselves. Even though, the author had “dreamed of disconnecting” her patient’s respirator, yet every day she forced to “make her death impossible and her life unbearable” (Page 458). As the Physician she “ feel differently toward her than the father toward his son”, and that is why the author did not takes off the respirator; knowing, it would be an easy way for killing the women, since never have the same emotional connection as the father (page 458). Finally, the author never had the admiration feeling for women to be able to convict a murder just as the father has done for his infant. Risking one’s life for someone else is not supporting euthanasia, yet giving peace to those painful souls one’s should not have the guilt to live

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