...Professor McDonald PHL 154: Moral Foundations December 10, 2012 Voluntary Active Euthanasia: Morally Impermissible Voluntary active euthanasia can be defined as “the intentional and direct termination of a person's life when that person is terminally ill or when his or her death is imminent, and where that person is a competent adult who voluntarily, consistently and repeatedly requests the termination of his or her life. A terminally ill person is defined as one who has an incurable or irreversible condition which is highly likely to cause his or her death within a relatively short time (six months or less) with or without treatment.” In the recent election, Massachusetts voters had an opportunity to allow such a procedure as a ballot referendum. Regardless of whether it is legally permissible or not, voluntary active euthanasia (hereafter “VAE”) is morally impermissible. A Natural Law Argument According to the ethics of natural law, “our primary life goal should be to realize as fully as we can our potential as human beings” (Harris 91). To do this, people should use the standard of human nature to act in a way that is in accordance with human nature (92). Our human nature is determined by the common natural inclinations of humans (93). Human nature can be determined the goals humans collectively strive for (93). These ‘natural inclinations’, as referred to by Aquinas, “reflect the structure of our human nature, which natural law directs us to follow” (93). ...
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...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...
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...To this day, one of the biggest controversial topics that continue to spark endless discussions is the public approval of euthanasia. Euthanasia which is commonly known as “assisted suicide” is the deliberate action of ending a life to relieve continuous pain and suffering (Nordqvist, 2010). This has become a complicated global issue, as various cultures battle with the list of ethical, religious, and legal factors that play a major part in the act. Many see euthanasia as a benefit not only for the patient, but for the patient’s family as well. In this case, the practice is able to end one’s life in a peaceful manner, while a financial and emotional burden can also be lifted off of the family members. In the eyes of others, euthanasia is an act that goes against God’s will and the idea that death is spiritually important and shouldn’t be altered (BBC, 2009). Aside from the fact that euthanasia is also referred to as “mercy killing”, it is still the act of murder—an unlawful premeditated killing of another human being (Answers, n.d.). I personally am against the practice of euthanasia because it is immoral and wrongful. Recurrently, there are cases where patients aren’t given a choice when it comes to euthanasia. In fact, many ill patients lack the sufficient knowledge needed to ease their own symptoms, and aren’t in stable enough conditions to make critical decisions revolving life and death. After being in constant care, it is common for these patients to feel anxious about...
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...Ethical Consideration of Euthanasia as an End of Life Decision Euthanasia is the act of intentionally causing the death of someone to end pain and suffering that they are experiencing. Euthanization encompasses many controversial variables that must be perceived when deciding whether or not it should be allowed and the ethics behind it. There are different aspects of euthanasia, such as active and passive methods that must be considered; where active is physically initiating death and passive is letting an individual die by removing or withholding treatment. There are also cultural aspects that affect people’s decisions and beliefs on the ethical reasoning with euthanasia. A person’s autonomy must also be considered in the decision making...
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...Suicide and murder are looked upon in today’s society as one of the worst things someone can do. I do not condone these things but when you think more in depth, is this not a part of life today? When can these things be wrong and immoral or just necessary? If some person or thing is suffering, is it right to ease the pain? Assisted suicide by a physician can help people that truly ask for their suffering to be over. Every person should have a choice. The first topic to bring up is the realization of how we treat our pets today. No person wants their pets to suffer if they are ill. Pets that suffer are put to rest in a safe and to our knowledge painless way. A question to ask is why do people care more about their pets than the people in their...
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...Gay Williams: A Defense of Humanity Gay-Williams defines euthanasia as “intentionally taking the life of a presumably hopeless person;” hopeless meaning the suffering individual has very little chance of recovery and intentionally meaning the intention has to explicitly to be to kill the individual (Munson, 704). Hence, the term ‘passive euthanasia’ cannot exist, because the sufferer is “not killed…nor is the death of the person intended by the withholding of additional treatment” (704). However, here Williams assumes that the doctor’s intention when ending a treatment is never to kill the patient but always something else. After clarifying the term euthanasia, Williams presents his argument from nature that it is inherently wrong. At the scientific, biological level, it is natural for the body to work towards survival. Hence, survival is a ‘natural goal’. Euthanasia is “literally acting against nature because all of the processes of nature are bent towards the end of bodily survival” (705). By ending life, which is an end of nature itself, euthanasia is obviously unnatural (705). Williams does not stop there but further argues that euthanasia is immoral. He presents it more implicitly, stating that he “shall not employ this line of argument,” but he does still state it (705). He argues that since the body is an individual’s trust from God, by taking his own life, is acting against God. Hence, euthanasia is immoral as well. The crux of Williams’ argument relating to nature...
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...at all. Unjust people would use it differently than just people. Everyone would use it the same. Instructor Explanation: The answer can be found in “Gyges’ Ring” from Plato’s Republic. Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: Question 3. Question : Rachels claims that once it has been decided that euthanasia is desirable in a case: Student Answer: a moral error has already been made. it has been decided that death is no greater an evil than the patient’s continued existence. it has been decided that the patient does not have a right to life. the amount of suffering of the patient becomes irrelevant. Instructor Explanation: The answer can be found in the article “Active and Passive Euthanasia” Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments: Question 4. Question : According to the videos, in which is it legal to commit assisted suicide? Student Answer: Canada Mexico Germany Switzerland Instructor Explanation: The answer can be found in the video “Right to Die, Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia Part 1 5” Points Received: 1 of 1 Comments:...
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...EUTHANASIA BY LORI J DONAHUE FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC BIOETHICS NOVEMBER 18, 2014 EUTHANASIA What is the value of life? Who decides whether or not an individual can end their life? These questions are asked when the controversial topic of euthanasia arises. Certain groups and politicians disapprove of the legalization of euthanasia, arguing that it is immoral. Other groups argue that an individual should be allowed to choose their time of death. These and other questions related to euthanasia will be discussed in this paper. Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending one’s life in order to relieve pain and suffering. Most cases of euthanasia are performed by taking a cocktail of certain medications. Euthanasia is illegal in most states. Only Oregon, Montana, and Washington allow the practice of euthanasia. Some individuals have moved to these states to be able to carry out their wishes to die. Most individuals, religious groups, and organizations do not feel that euthanasia is morally right. They argue that life is valuable in any form and should be lived until God decides to call one home. They feel it is going against God’s wishes and it destroys a basic intrinsic good. According to May (2013), euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are becoming more and more accepted as morally right and legally necessary, these forms of intentional killing of the innocent remains intrinsically immoral. Individuals are created to serve...
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..."Euthanasia means as an action which aims at taking the life of another at the latter's expressed request. It concerns an action of which death is the purpose and the result. "This definition applies only to voluntary euthanasia and excludes the non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia, the killing of a patient without the patient's knowledge or consent. Some call this "life-terminating treatment." Euthanasia can be either active or passive. Passive euthanasia allows one to die by withholding or withdrawing life supporting means. This is a tricky area because ordinary and extraordinary means of supporting life come into the picture. Ordinary means such as nutrition and hydration are never to be withheld since they are one's basic right in order to survive. However, one is not obliged to use extraordinary or 'disproportionate' means to sustain life. Due to complexity, each situation needs to be looked at individually when discussing extraordinary means. However, as a rule, one can discontinue "medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome." One cannot intend death by withdrawing or withholding treatment, but should, however, obey God and let one die a natural death. To withdraw a treatment as a condition worsens is letting one die and not a direct killing. In this case, it is the disease that is killing and not the one who withdraws the treatment. Active euthanasia or' mercy killing' pertains to the Dr. Kevorkian’s'...
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..."Euthanasia means as an action which aims at taking the life of another at the latter's expressed request. It concerns an action of which death is the purpose and the result. "This definition applies only to voluntary euthanasia and excludes the non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia, the killing of a patient without the patient's knowledge or consent. Some call this "life-terminating treatment." Euthanasia can be either active or passive. Passive euthanasia allows one to die by withholding or withdrawing life supporting means. This is a tricky area because ordinary and extraordinary means of supporting life come into the picture. Ordinary means such as nutrition and hydration are never to be withheld since they are one's basic right in order to survive. However, one is not obliged to use extraordinary or 'disproportionate' means to sustain life. Due to complexity, each situation needs to be looked at individually when discussing extraordinary means. However, as a rule, one can discontinue "medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome." One cannot intend death by withdrawing or withholding treatment, but should, however, obey God and let one die a natural death. To withdraw a treatment as a condition worsens is letting one die and not a direct killing. In this case, it is the disease that is killing and not the one who withdraws the treatment. Active euthanasia or' mercy killing' pertains to the Dr. Kevorkian’s'...
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...Liberals Believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems. Liberal. There is injustice still. But look at how much we've accomplished in the last 50 years. We just have to keep working at it. Both the liberal and the radical positions seek to make the infrastructure more effective in the equality of access to resources and rights. For Jeanne, the liberal sees many of the problems with the system and the injustice it produces. She wants to change the system to make it more just, more equal. She does not want to examine deeply those aspects of our culture that have not changed: such as "economic growth achieved by corporate politics." But she also fears that radical change brings chaos, and has a vested interest in the system that exists. Thus, she is less critical than a revolutionary, and more pleased with results that make the system just a little better. The liberal is more likely to see improvements in race, class, and gender issues, while still recognizing that much more needs to be done. Libertarianism view • Variation of conservatism that believes government should be small and should play only the most minimal possible role in social life • ...
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...ISSUES AND MORALITY Bioethics refers to the systematic study if the human conduct in the areas of the life sciences and health care. Based on the foregoing arguments, these are the following issues, namely surrogate motherhood, drug addiction, suicide, murder, self-defense, euthanasia, capital punishment, abortion, and mutilation. Surrogate motherhood is the transaction through which a woman bears the child for the convenience of another woman. It is one of the progressive ways of alleviating infertility. However, Catholic Church is strong in saying that reproduction outside marriage is illicit, and therefore, immoral. Drug addiction is not immoral if the drug intake is meant for curing an illness. However, the immorality of drugs would surface if used outside their purpose. Suicide is to kill oneself. It is an immoral total cessation of a God-given life. Therefore, suicide is immoral. Murder is the art of killing of an innocent person. It is immoral since it violates the right of God over human life. Self-defense is not our duty to kill an aggressor; but we have the right to defend ourselves from any unjust and illegal attack of aggressor. It is justifiable since killing here is not a murder. Euthanasia or mercy killing is defined as the intentional killing of the life of the presumably hopeless person. It is inherently wrong because it violates the nature and dignity of human beings. Since life originates from God, therefore, He alone has a sovereign right over life. Birth...
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...WORKING OUTLINE I. Introduction A. Euthanasia is defined as a “good and painless death” B. Active Euthanasia, Passive Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide or Mercy Killing are the different kinds of euthanasia that most people consider to be immoral C. The reasons of people in favor of euthanasia bases on the situation of the patients 1. The patient’s inability to afford expensive medication 2. The patient requesting to end his life 3. Families who could not bear the pain of seeing their loved ones suffer D. THESIS: Among the factors that affect the decisions of people engaging in euthanasia, poverty, specifically the inability to afford medical services and medicines, is the greatest. II. The different cases of euthanasia presents the contrasting views of society A. Most physicians feel painful in maintaining their vegetative patients’ medications despite the fact of them knowing that these persons could no longer survive and even if they would survive, would not have a worthy life. B. The Philippines being a Christian country prohibits euthanasia because it sees it as a form of suicide, but gives an exception to those people who are emotionally distressed due to expensive medications. III. The depressing economic crisis and the high budget coverage of health care expenses lead states to consider the acceptance of euthanasia. A. Health care expenses for patients with terminal illnesses are currently covering the largest percentage of...
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...Project Draft September 19, 2010 Euthanasia: The United States, since its short, but impactful existence, has been a beacon of hope to so many. From our uplifting constitution, to our extension of peace and aid to the less fortunate, we are for the most part a nation of compassion and empathy. Of course there are those who disagree (be it right or wrong) with these statements, but would never live anywhere else. I suppose the greatest part of this democracy is having the right to exercise and express an opinion, no matter how hot button the topic is. Some would say that our rights are being taken away lately, some would say they are protecting ourselves from, ourselves. Regardless of what you may believe in, what side you stay on, or whose football team you support, people as a whole possess the same wants, needs, and desires. How we choose to get to that destination is what may make us different. Regardless of where we come from, we all like to help others be it selfless or selfish, and rarely do we desire people to suffer….. Euthanasia is legal in many countries, but not in the land of the free. We will put animals to peace, not humans, yet there is a demand for equality. Euthanasia is defined as the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment. Active Euthanasia, Passive Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide or Mercy...
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...Euthanasia is most commonly defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable or painful disease or an irreversible coma; also a physician or 3rd party administering the fatal dose, patient may be incompetent at that point. That is not the only definition however. Some like to say that it is painless where some argue it is painful. Some say it is flat out suicide, others say it is an ends to a mean. When you think about it though, without adding all the controversy in, why wouldn’t someone have the right to chose when and how they die. Assisted-Suicide, a form of Euthanasia, is defined as the patient administering the fatal dose. Then you have a few subtypes of Euthanasia. Since it is such a touchy subject and rides the...
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