...aspects on wellbeing and how human beings are supposed to relate with animals. There are several theories that are introduced to present ethical relationship that exist between animals and human being. Moral equality theories develop equal considerations and other status of moral aspects that are accorded to animals. This is through refuting some of the moral relevancies of fore mentioning the special characters or properties of human perception as a being. Therefore, through the support of different theories, moral equality is also supposed to be extended to animal rights (Tännsjö, 2008.). This is on the ground of similarity of characteristics and qualities such as physiological and mental level in capacities. Therefore, through the moral impacts, reasoning about the animal rights is approached from different dimensions and concrete conclusion shows the need of having morals and ethical framework considering the rights of animals. Examples compact impacts ethical decisions about animals There are different examples that are used to illustrate the relationship that exist among animals and human being (Tännsjö, 2008.). The ethical morals are supposed to cover positive relationship that enhances better life of the animals. Therefore, the major ethical factor is ensuring safety of the animals. It helps to identify their health and ethical relationship through identifying animal as a part of better life. In most cases, animals are kept at homes through domestication some as...
Words: 899 - Pages: 4
...verses Euthanasia The ethical principle of non-malefiecense is the duty to do no harm. This is promoted by doing three interventions. First intervention is avoiding deliberate harm, risk of harm that occurs during the performance of nursing actions. The second intervention is considering the degree of risk permissible. The third intervention is determining whether the use of technological advances provides benefits that outweigh the risks. The ethical principle of beneficence is the doing or active promotion of good. This is done by providing health benefits to the patients, balancing the benefits and risks of harm, and considering how a patient can be best helped. The ethical principle of Justice is the promotion of equity or fairness in every situation a nurse encounters. The two nursing implications that promote justice are ensuring fair allocation of resources, and determining the order in which clients should be treated. ("Ethical Principles," January 2011, p. screen) There are several nursing ethical arguments on Euthanasia. Those that are against mercy killing have the ethical arguments that euthanasia might not be promoting the patient’s best interest, accepting that it means acknowledging that some people are more important than others, weakening the society’s respect for the holiness of life, and arguing that if voluntary euthanasia were to become legal nationwide, then most probably involuntary euthanasia will be committed at a higher level. The ethical arguments...
Words: 1672 - Pages: 7
...incurable pancreatic cancer. No amount of pain medication is available to treat her pain and allow her to maintain consciousness. She knows her time is limited and she does not feel she should have to wait out the inevitable in such a terrible state. At the same time the family pet Bassett hound is found to have a mass in her intestines. She cannot eat and barely moves as she is in so much pain. The veterinarian has given the option of putting her to sleep or euthanizing her to put her out of her misery as she is suffering so. This sits well with most people. Aunt Bessie requesting euthanization though is out of the question. Why is the question that this paper will attempt to answer and why this is wrong will also be addressed? Euthanasia Defined Euthanasia can bring about different feelings to people depending on the context in which it is used. Mention that good old dog and it is good as they no longer suffering. Change the identity to a person and it is not so easily swallowed. No matter how it is...
Words: 2315 - Pages: 10
...treatment choices and other aspects of their care. “These rights can be exercised on the patient’s behalf by a designated surrogate or proxy decision maker if the patient if the patient lacks decision making capacity, is legally incompetent or is a minor.”(Aha, 1993) Mrs. Jones, in our scenario, is a patient evidently suffering from a terminal illness possibly in its latter stages, or possibly a fresh diagnosis. In either situation, from the information provided Mrs. Jones has made no declaration, or request, agreement to receiving an extra dose of a narcotic which could potentially end her life. Thus, Nancy nurses’ decision to administer this extra dose is not only capable of killing her, but is also premeditated. There is no consideration to her wishes, those of her family, and a blatant disregard of any other health professionals involved. If you are to be justified in helping someone to die (assisted suicide), the person you are going to ‘help’ must have made it clear that they want to be killed. “A unilateral decision that is in someone else’s best interests that they stop living cannot provide acceptable grounds for killing them, if it did, murder would cease to be a crime.” (Palmer, 2010) Yet, in our scenario, that is actually the case, the decision made by Nancy Nurse that Mrs. Jones’ life was one not worth living….and as far as she was concerned and thus, would take it upon herself to end it. I cannot say...
Words: 1864 - Pages: 8
...Euthanasia and Ethical Implications Thereof Euthanasia according to the medical dictionary is the act or practice of killing hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy and/or allowing said person to die by taking less than complete medical measures to prolong life. This type of act is also known as mercy killing or assisted suicide. Individuals who have reached the point when they feel they have no other options have often chosen to look into euthanasia as a way out. Families who see their loved one suffering have approached heath care professionals to act on their behalf and end the pain by euthanizing them. Each instance creates an ethical dilemma for the individual, the health care provider, the family, and other loved ones. Nursing Obligations According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), Nurses are not expected to participate in active euthanasia, as this violates the nurses’ code of ethics. As nurses we have the obligation to provide timely, humane, comprehensive, and compassionate end-of-life care (ANA, 1985). The code for nurses affirms that respect for persons “extends to all who require the services of the nurse for the promotion of health, the prevention of illness, the restoration of health, the alleviation of suffering and provision of supportive care of the dying. The nurse does not act deliberately to terminate life of any person” (ANA, 1985). However, ANA recognizes the patients’ right to self-determination...
Words: 1685 - Pages: 7
...Euthanasia should be legalized Euthanasia has always been a controversial issue not only in America but Internationally. Is it moral? Ethical? And should it be legalized? Before answering any of these questions, one perhaps needs to get some straight facts about Euthanasia or “Assisted Suicide”. “Euthanasia: Euthanasia is the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. Voluntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed has requested to be killed. Non-voluntary: When the person who is killed made no request and gave no consent. Involuntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed made an expressed wish to the contrary. Assisted suicide: Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called "physician assisted suicide." Euthanasia by Action: Intentionally causing a person's death by performing an action such as by giving a lethal injection.. Euthanasia by Omission: Intentionally causing death by not providing necessary and ordinary (usual and customary) care or food and water.” (http://www.nrlc.org) Physician assisted suicide might sound horribly to a normal person with no knowledge about the practice itself. There are many little factors that must be count into consideration when such operations are performed. Voluntary vs. Involuntary...
Words: 1633 - Pages: 7
...ETHICAL ISSUES IN HEALTH To evaluate the impact of moral philosophy on medical practice we must first look at what a moral philosophy is, also which philosophies that will be included. Moral philosophy is the area of philosophy concerned with theories of ethics, with how we ought to live our lives. Deontology and utilitarianism are the two philosophies that I shall be evaluating and applying throughout this essay. These are two time-honoured philosophical positions that apply to a wide variety of topics. Deontology is an ethical system that is attributed to the philosophical tradition of Immanuel Kant. Deontology demands that the actions, or means themselves must be ethical. This philosophy is based upon principles of duty and obligation, we have the freedom to act morally (right) or otherwise (wrong) based on General Universal Laws. To respect life means that you must not kill, to respect others is not to steal these moral laws are black and white as you must do what is right and do not do what is wrong regardless of circumstance or outcome. Deontologists argue that there are transcendent ethical norms and truths that are universally applicable to all people. Deontology holds that some actions are immoral regardless of their consequence; these actions are wrong in and of themselves. We should not act out of feeling, inclination, love or compassion, but out of our moral duty according to the universal moral laws. Kant gives a ‘categorical imperative’ to act morally at all times...
Words: 3773 - Pages: 16
...Ethical Theories Applied to Euthanasia It is a patient’s right to make the decision to end their life when they are facing a terminal illness, especially after all attempts to provide pain management have failed. However, these patients are left with few options due to the legal, moral, or religious complications of voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (PAS). But, if terminally ill patients had these options available, they would be given the respect to die with the dignity they are entitled to at the end of their life. By applying the utilitarian theory to this question, we would first have to ask, are we providing the greatest amount of happiness or more pain? From a utilitarian point of view, if allowing someone to die with dignity will promote more happiness for them, and those who will be affected by this act, then it is morally ethical. By applying virtue ethics, we would have to ask, whether it is more charitable to continue with pain management until their death, or to relieve their unnecessary pain and suffering by voluntary euthanasia or PAS. Regardless of the moral theories applied, legalizing voluntary euthanasia or PAS, will grant more options, to include reducing the amount of suffering experienced, eliminate the patient’s use of other means to end his or her life, and allow for families to prepare for their loved one’s passing, all of which keeps the patient’s dignity intact. Utilitarianism looks at the best action producing the best consequences...
Words: 2304 - Pages: 10
...nurses, and various medical personal have a harder role. They wager people’s lives and future and decide in some countries whether or not to permit such an act. In this essay we will explore the facts on Euthanasia: Assisted Suicide, my view, the world view and its progress. Before I begin, however, let me note what I will not try to do. I will not try to show you that Physician Assisted Suicide is a fully justifiable course of action what I will do is give you facts and statistics of this rapidly growing controversial issue.. What I will show you is the compatibility to the commitment to good end-of-life care. One of the most important public policy debates today surrounds the issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The outcome of that debate to whether or not it should be made available will profoundly affect family relationships, interaction between doctors and patients, and concepts of basic ethical behavior. Although not accepted widespread, the thought and ease of relocation to a place where it is available is an option many people are considering. By definition Physician-Assisted Suicide is defined as a physician providing medications or other interventions to a patient with understanding that the patient intends to use them to commit suicide. In contrast to Euthanasia defined as, intentionally administering medications...
Words: 1907 - Pages: 8
...of life. However, the ethical issue we have taken up is about death which is induced before time. The background setting for our live case is the very debatable issue of “Euthanasia”. Literally, euthanasia means “Good Death” (Greek: eu = good, thanatos = death). More formally, euthanasia means the intentional act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from an incurable and distressing disease as an act of mercy, which is not necessarily at the request of the patient. Forms of Euthanasia: • Voluntary euthanasia: When the patient has requested the death. • Non-voluntary: When the patient has not made any request and gave no consent. • Assisted suicide: Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called "physician assisted suicide." • Euthanasia by Action: Intentionally causing a person's death by performing an action such as by giving a lethal injection. • Euthanasia by Omission: Intentionally causing death by not providing necessary and ordinary (usual and customary) care or food and water. Euthanasia evokes a mixed reaction among people who come across it. For some, it is unimaginable to end a human life and yet some think it is justified to end a life which is not worth of dignity. There are several moral and ethical issues concerning this...
Words: 2423 - Pages: 10
...PHI 115- Ethics 5/7/2014 Euthanasia The purpose of this research paper is to prove that the process of euthanasia is wrong, it is against the natural and moral end of human’s life , and the most of all , it is unethical. Euthanasia from Greek: “good death” or “mercy killing”, is the practice of ending of life intentionally to relieve intractable problem of suffering. There are plenty of ethical issues to discuss, regarding this one. Proponents of euthanasia consider that death filled with suffering is wrongful and bad death. That is why these people are for legalization of euthanasia. On the other hand, opponents( including my person) of euthanasia would say that any deliberate effort to cause death is wrong and against eternal law ( God’s law). Ethics and morality, basically state the same to many people and they mean exactly one. For Instance, morality refers to personal character, belief and behavior, ethics is the reflection on morality with that person’s actions and his /her professionalism. When we say an ethical person or a moral person, that is the same meaning. Very often, in or common life we can hear both terms like medical ethics or bioethics, they both describe the same and have the same meaning. These are the guidelines...
Words: 2846 - Pages: 12
...Dynamics of Ethics L. M. BSHS/322 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues In Human Service June 23, 2012 Dynamics of Ethics In today’s society many individuals are faced with having to choose between what is ethical and what is not. One thing that a remains pressing as it relates to ethical issues are the dynamics that surrounds them. In this paper I would like to discuss the current issues surrounding euthanasia. Implementing euthanasia comes with many compelling arguments, often times this issue involves individuals rights, politics, ethics, and religion. Although this debate is far from over I would like to take an objective view and discuss the ends and outs of euthanasia. Attempts to authorize euthanasia and assisted suicide have occurred in “the U.S for the last twenty years (Euthanasia in the United States Wikipedia, 2012).” For illustration in 2005 Religious Leaders committed to standing firm in their beliefs by stating “assisting suicide and euthanasia will radically change the social air we all breathe by severely undermining respect of life (Euthanasia in the United States, 2012).” Clearly leaders at this time strongly opposed allowing suffering individuals the right to end their life. “In 2006 The House of Lords blocked a bill that would allow terminally ill people to be helped to die” (BBC Ethics, 2012). This particular bill led to a heated discussion on whether or not it is right to allow people to take their own life. Joffe stated in a pressing debate that...
Words: 1095 - Pages: 5
...Ethical Analysis of Weensolsen’s The Art of Dying Excelsior College Abstract In The Art of Dying, How to Leave This World with Dignity and Grace, at Peace with Yourself and Your loved Ones, Patricia Weenolsen, Ph.D. takes a practical approach to show the reader how the process of dying can actually bring emotional healing. In her book Patricia Weenolsen makes a strong case for euthanasia. Even though only a pages deal directly with euthanasia directly, the overarching theme of The Art of Dying deals with a “good death” and thusly exerting no small amount of influence on ones departure from this life and surrounding circumstances. In dealing with the emotions surrounding the death process, the reader is given tools that result in some small measure of control that inevitably leads to contemplation of euthanasia. In what I would term a most compassionate manner, Patricia Weenolsen takes the reader on a journey through the end of life, helping the reader to prepare for the final pages of this life. Keywords: euthanasia, death, dying, Patricia Weenolsen Introduction In her book, The Art of Dying: How to Leave This World With Dignity and Grace, at Peace With Yourself and Your Loved Ones, Patricia Weenolsen, Ph.D. delivers a compelling argument for euthanasia that will cause readers to consider the manner in which they choose to leave this life both physically and mentally. While arguments can be made against euthanasia, the ability of terminally ill patients of...
Words: 1908 - Pages: 8
...“Duty over a Right: Euthanasia Weighed” “Duty over a Right: Euthanasia Weighed” Euthanasia is a highly emotive and contentious subject, giving rise to a great deal of conflicts. However, despite its frequent exposure in public and professional media, there appears to be a lack of clarity about the concepts and definitions used in the euthanasia controversy. This suggests that discussions on this subject are inadequately informed and ineffectual. The ethical focus of the euthanasia issue concerns the moral legitimacy of ‘voluntary euthanasia.’ Euthanasia is a deliberate intervention or omission with the express intention of hastening or ending an individual’s life, to relieve intractable pain or suffering. As per the given problem of a 60 year old patient with stage 4 cancer asking for euthanasia, I would choose to be the lawyer of the doctor who refuses to perform euthanasia. ETHICAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS My client’s refusal of performing euthanasia is primarily because the act itself is against the principles of Beneficence, Nonmaleficence and Life Preservation. By virtue of the Principle of Beneficence, one should act to further the welfare and benefits of another and to prevent evil or harm to that person. Also, the Principle of Nonmaleficence provides that one should refrain from inflicting harm or unduly risking the infliction of harm on another. Lastly, we have a moral duty to protect and preserve human life whenever possible as within the context of life preservation...
Words: 668 - Pages: 3
...Euthanasia could be socially acceptable for patients with chronic illnesses because it is an escape from pain felt from the illness, a decision made between the patient and family members, and the moral consideration of the physician to help end the life of a loved one. The decision by the patient to end their life to relieve their chronic pain and suffering from their illness should be based on knowledge and not emotions. Patients with cancer suffer pain from chemotherapy and radiation. The patient could become ill and unable to function in their everyday life. Choosing to end their life could be a choice made by the patient because of the pain and sickness that they are feeling. The patient should research their options before making...
Words: 371 - Pages: 2
