...Euthanasia is Morally Wrong. Name Comp 2 Instructor School The issue is that euthanasia is morally wrong. This is applicable to all human beings as life is held as precious and regardless of the gender, age or race an individual has the rights to self-preservation (Leone, 1999). Despite the fact that individuals have a duty to ensure that hey maintain their personal welfare, they also have a moral obligation towards other human beings where they should avoid the harm towards them. This is regardless of whether one knows them personally, or they are complete strangers. It is an obligation to offer protection in good health or sickness and mostly for those who are not of sound mind in the society. This creates a sense of responsibility and the need to have people care for others other than themselves. Another issue is that on medical grounds, euthanasia is still morally wrong as it is expected that the doctor should provide the patients with the sure and care for their health despite the situation. The family members are also expected to do the same and do what is possible to see that their loved ones in hospitals are given the best medical attention. Human beings learn that the fact that underlies all this is that we bring our loved ones to hospitals so that they are cured and brought back to their normal lives. Despite the time it will take and the resources, the ultimate goal is that they have to be cured, and their health restored as well. Doctors...
Words: 1748 - Pages: 7
...IssUEs Of EUThANAsIA: ARGUmENTATIvE EssAy Bilal S. H. Badr Naga Majd T. Mrayyan (1) Bilal S. H. Badr Naga., MSN, RN, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Qassim, Saudi Arabia (2) Majd T. Mrayyan., Prof, RN, The Hashemite University, Jordan Correspondence: Bilal S. H. Badr Naga., MSN, RN, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Qassim, Saudi Arabia Email: Bilal_badrnaga@yahoo.com Case scenario Abstract Euthanasia is one of the issues that has been the subject of intense debate over time. It has been a pertinent issue in human rights discourse as it also affects ethical and legal issues pertaining to patients and health care providers. This paper discusses the legal and ethical debates concerning both types of euthanasia. It focuses on both the supporter of euthanasia and the opponent of euthanasia. Several statements for the Euthanasia argument arediscussed: a merciful response that alleviates the suffering of patients which is sometimes wrongly perceived to be otherwise unrelievable; the autonomy in which the patient has the right to make his own choices; the regulation and legislation of existing practices of euthanasia to protect health care providers and patients. In this heated debate religious, political, ethical, legal and personal views are also included. Among all these, those who desperately want to end their lives because they simply cannot go on in any way, are the ones who suffer. Every individual or group has a different viewpoint regarding euthanasia. Euthanasia is considered...
Words: 7058 - Pages: 29
... INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS TOPIC: EUTHANASIA COURSE NO.: RELT 255 INSTRUCTOR: KIGUNDU NDWIGA, PhD BY: CHRISTINE W. THAIRU STHACH 1511 OCTOBER 2014 EUTHANASIA 'Euthanasia' is a compound of two Greek words - eu and thanatos meaning, literally, 'a good death'. Today, euthanasia is generally understood to mean the bringing about of a good death - 'mercy killing,' where one person ends the life of another person for the sake of this person whose life is to be ended. Euthanasia, also refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering, and a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable suffering. It incorporates an agent; a subject; an intention; a casual proximity, actions of the agent lead to the outcome. A non-voluntary euthanasia is illegal in most countries. For voluntary euthanasia the process has to:- i) Include patient request ii) Take into consideration the amount of suffering the patient is experiencing iii) Discuss and pursue alternative course of action iv) Presented to the patient all available information A person who undergoes euthanasia usually has an incurable condition. In many cases it is carried out at the person’s request but there are times when they may be too ill and the decision is made by relatives, medics or courts. Very often people will call euthanasia “mercy killing”, perhaps thinking of it for someone...
Words: 1367 - Pages: 6
...for deontological ethics. According to the teleological perspective, a form of human behavior is described as moral or non-moral according to the goals explicitly set. The mere achievement of these goals is a necessary and sufficient condition to qualify as moral people’s actions or deeds without taking into account the “intermediate stages” of the actions performed to achieve those goals. Deontology, as a general horizon of articulating the ethical theories, believes on the contrary that in every moment of our existence, every action or deed that we accomplish can be described as moral or non-moral according to the ethical principles underlying our behavior. The very important consequences arising from the two general theoretical horizons concern two different perspectives on “human nature”, or what we call the essence of the human being. Starting from this horizon we will have the consequentialist and deontological dimensions related to euthanasia. The bioethical dimension in which we will discuss the issue of euthanasia involves both dimensions or horizons. The arguments against euthanasia seem to rely rather on the Kantian deontological horizon, while euthanasia pros seem to rely on the consequentialist horizon. This text is intended as an open debate between the two horizons which cannot yet be harmonized. There is at least one class of existential situations in which euthanasia is described as “desirable” in a consequentialist view and there are situations...
Words: 9099 - Pages: 37
...Euthanasia Euthanasia - Deep sympathy for the suffering Introduction Euthanasia is the deliberate killing either by omission or commission of a dependent person for their benefit. Arguments against euthanasia claim that the concern for happiness and human life and not their obliteration is the objective of any good governance. They say that the terminally ill are people who require protection from social, economic and family pressures, and who are particularly prone to this pressure as a result of chronic depression, pain and effects of continued medication. Arguments for euthanasia say it is impossible to maintain quality of life if a patient is dead. While there have been massive arguments, debates and campaigns against euthanasia, this paper will seek to support euthanasia because of the moral issues that relate to the topic. This paper supports that when a personal is physically dead, the only reason anybody wishes to keep them alive is for their selfish clinging onto them with the hope of a miracle and the fear of closure without regard to the wishes of the person. It supports the practice of euthanasia and seeks to evaluate the reasons why euthanasia should be legalized. This paper will have a general audience because of the controversy that it sparks every time it comes up Death is a dreaded subject for all human beings because it signifies leaving the known to go to the unknown. This is the reason why by its nature euthanasia is a hugely hushed up topic...
Words: 1514 - Pages: 7
...Commerce Law Task – Active Voluntary Euthanasia by Lara Mayfield 1. Overview of the issue According to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (2016, p 3) euthanasia is generally “used to describe the process of intentionally terminating a person’s life to reduce their pain and suffering”. “Active” voluntary euthanasia is when a patient requests active medical intervention to end their life. Legislation: Euthanasia is currently illegal at a Federal level and in all states except Victoria where on 29 November 2017, the Victorian Parliament passed legislation that allows for voluntary assisted dying with strict eligibility requirements and safeguards around how it will work. This legislation will come into effect from mid-2019. Euthanasia was legalised in...
Words: 685 - Pages: 3
...Euthanasia Euthanasia is an assisted suicide, also known as mercy killing. In other words, it is the act of killing someone who has a painful incurable disease. Actually, euthanasia is a very controversial issue. Some people claim that it is a solution for patients who are terminally ill. However, I totally disagree with this kind of solution. 3.1 Autonomy People's autonomy or self-determination is an important concept in the debate on legalizing euthanasia. Proponents argue that the ban on euthanasia imposes too great a limit on the individual's scope for controlling the end of his or her life and what shape death will take. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that self-determination would be false autonomy with respect to euthanasia, or...
Words: 1302 - Pages: 6
...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
...Running head: ANALYSIS OF AN ETHICAL DILEMMA Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma NRS 437V December 11, 2011 Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Euthanasia, sometimes referred to as mercy killing, is an act by a third party that causes a patient’s death. Such acts include administering a lethal dose of medication by way of injection or mask, usually to a seriously ill patient. This analysis will discuss the ethics of euthanasia as it relates to nursing, laws, society, and the stakeholders involved in the scenario. The American Nurses Association (ANA) believes that the nurse should not participate in Active euthanasia because such an act is in direct violation of the Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements, the ethical traditions and goals of the profession, and its covenant with society. (Task Force on the Nurse's Role in End-of-Life Decisions, 2011) While patient advocates should be vigilant for providing diligent care, they should perform their tasks with respect, support and due commitment towards their care. In healthcare practice, in order to relieve pain and suffering, there is an obligation to promote dignity and autonomy of patients. Euthanasia is a complex issue in which nurses are uncomfortable determining the life and death of a patient. Nurses have to practice ethical principles of beneficence, which maximize benefit and reduce potential risk and harm to the patient. Non-malfeasance is another ethical issue in which a nurse should do no harm. A competent...
Words: 1165 - Pages: 5
...Marc Vinkler E1 d. 04-12-2011 Essay - about euthanasia What happens when a patient is terminal ill and decides for euthanasia? What would you do if it was a member of your family? Many people have not done any considerations about the question. Is it because we are afraid of the thought, or because we are convinced that we would not end up in the situation? Do you think that people should have the right to decide whether they would like euthanasia or live on with an incurable illness or a paralyzed body? The word euthanasia comes from Greek and means good death. But is euthanasia a good way to die? You can answer that question with two widely different points of view. When a person has been involved in a car accident, where he got paralyzed and also suffers from a lot of pain. Most people would agree that it is best to take the medicine from the person if he or she begs to die. In that way you can say that it is a good death because the person escapes from the pain hell. But if a person makes the wrong decision because depression and ignorance it is tragic. Because in some cases you can actually have a relatively good life even though you are paralyzed. Just read the story about Vivian Berzinski who was paralyzed in 1972 when she was 17 years old. Her doctors felt she would never be able to move, never be able to talk and never be able to breathe without a respirator. But since then she armed only with the love of her family and her own fierce will, she has married...
Words: 712 - Pages: 3
...2 April 2014 Rhetorical Analysis: Euthanasia Particular Analysis There are three key audiences of the text for William F. May's “Rising to the Occasion of Our Death.” The first audience, in this case, would be legislative organizations or lawmakers who have researched and studied similar cases regarding euthanasia. Since May was as an ethics professor at Southern Methodist University, his tone is decidedly intellectual. An uneducated individual would find it more difficult to read his essay; for example, in declarations such as “Advocates of active euthanasia appeal to the principle of patient autonomy,” May's syntax and tone is formal, informative, and utilizes heavy technical jargon (May 662). In other words, it is authoritative, and enables the audience to view him as a credible source due to his syntactical confidence. Other organizations, lobbyists, or lawmakers who are researching evidence on euthanasia would certainly benefit from reading his expert opinion on the matter. Moreover, his desire to develop a “judicious, regulated policy” is a certain acknowledgement that he is attempting to legally call for regulations on euthanasia (May 662). The second audience that May is appealing to are conservative Christians, who are distinctively pro-life. As his article was originally published in well-circulated The Christian Century magazine, addressing this audience exposes members of May's audience who are unfamiliar with euthanasia to its technicalities by debating...
Words: 3937 - Pages: 16
...the right to decide whether she continues to live her miserable life or to grant her wishes and put her to sleep? Should it be your decision to make? Of course not! It is Meggie’s life that is in question, and for that reason it becomes her decision, whether she chooses to end or continue living her life. Meggie’s decision to orchestrating her death by refusing medication is a parallel representation to a wide-spread argument across the world today, known as Euthanasia. While it is viewed as an unethical and demoralizing act to most people, euthanasia must become legal and recognized as a possible solution to those with terminal and catastrophic diseases within the United States of America. Euthanasia, also known as physician assisted suicide, is defined by taking deliberate action with the express intention of ending one’s life to relieve persistent and unstoppable suffering; “A quiet, painless death” (Medilexicon). There are two different types of euthanasia, known as passive and active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia refers to “A mode of ending life in which a physician is given an...
Words: 1384 - Pages: 6
...certain that a persons illness isn't going to be cured, in other words, he or she is terminally ill, would it not be merciful to allow the person to die? Would not euthanasia--or mercy killing as it is termed--be acceptable to the suffering patient as well as to those who are close to him? mercy killing causes no harm to anyone. in fact, it provides a relief to the realtives of the victims as they undergo immense agony, seeing a dear one suffering. Euthanasia is an act of professional support to the terminally ill patient and hence canot be held as a cruel act on the part of the person who commints it. On the other hand, there is a deep rooted belief that life is a god given gift and it is presumptious on the part of a human being to end it. As for taking it away from another human being, howsoever merciful the motive, it is regarded as playing god. If the patient is terminally ill or in a coma, without having expressed any idea on the subject, who is to decide on terminating the persons life? The possibily of greedy and unscrupuluos relatives colluding with an equally unscrupuluos doctor to kill a patient, is a real danger. Morever, though it is an individual decisiom, it cannot be ignored as a major social problem as it opens up a chapter of suffering for the realtives of the patient. Any law, therefore, on euthanasia should have safeguards to preclude any possiblity of exploiting the situation by unscrupulous elements. The Scam in Mercy Killing Imagine one of your family...
Words: 645 - Pages: 3
...Euthanasia Priya John BSN, RN ST Joseph’s College , Maine Nursing Ethics NU 509 December 13, 2012 Abstract The controvertible topic of euthanasia provokes moral reflection on the care for dying patients. Euthanasia not only raises questions about the morality of a particular decision regarding the care of an individual patient but also an ethics of having a specific social approach and convention. Through this article I have presented my thoughts about legalizing euthanasia. Euthanasia Introduction Death and dying are issues of deep humane concern for many people in a variety of circumstances and contexts. Around the world the point of someone’s death is regularly prominence by medical end-of-life decisions. These decisions refer to a variety of choices with regard to withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatments. Debates on voluntary or active euthanasia, in all its aspect, proceed without a solution or prospect of resolution. Since there is no substantial middle ground on which all can agree, the discussion does not progress far beyond an exchange of opinions, however well informed the participants. The arguments for euthanasia have to do with quality of life and respect for autonomy .Arguments against euthanasia have to do with non-maleficence, sanctity of life, and the notion of the slippery slope. Definitions of Euthanasia “Euthanasia is defined as act of administering medication or performing other interventions with the intention of causing a patient's death”...
Words: 823 - Pages: 4
...The Greek term euthanasia literally means “good death” (MacKinnon, 164). Many people today heavily support euthanasia because they feel each individual has the right to die. Proponents for euthanasia would agree that by electing to be euthanized the individual not only has the right to die but the right to die with dignity, to end pain and suffering, and to lessen the financial and emotional burdens on their loved ones. In short, proponents rationalize that the ill are simply “better off dead”. Opponents of euthanasia feel that in no way are we “better off dead”. This reasoning goes against our human inclination to live. Euthanasia is irreversible suicide, simply wrong and should not be accepted. Williams’ article, “The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia” states that in our daily lives we exercise the caution and care necessary to protect ourselves (MacKinnon, 179). Our bodies and mindset were designed to promote life. His article goes on to state we are structured for survival right down to the molecular level. For instance, most of us make attempts to eat well, exercise, take vitamins, and simply try to live life and be as healthy as we can. For most of us it comes as a major shock when we are stricken with terminal illness. No one wants to think of death or spend our last days suffering from pain. There is no doubt that there are times during an individual’s agony when dealing with pain that they may think, if I were to die I could no longer feel this pain. Many people...
Words: 390 - Pages: 2
