...Active Voluntary Euthanasia Active voluntary euthanasia can be considered a number of things, whether it is suicide or physician assisted suicide. Throughout this class, we have discussed various articles that dig into this issue and that I will be using in this paper to demonstrate what is accepted, and what is not by some of society’s leading scholars. Also, I will insert my own input to these views and offer more insight on what I believe is reasonable when it comes to active voluntary euthanasia. To begin, I will start off with Immanuel Kant’s article, “The Morality of Suicide.” Kant first discusses his views on people’s obligations to their own bodies. He talks about the right of freedom that we are all given, and that this freedom is to be used so as to protect life in a way. He argues that using freedom in ways that “abolish life” is “producing lifelessness,” and is therefore “self-contradictory” (385). To sum this part up, Kant believes that human beings should not “have the power to dispose of” their lives (385). After establishing his thoughts in this region, he moved on to that of suicide, which is his almost entirely against. He first comes across the argument saying that suicide is acceptable because “man is a free agent” (385). He counters this argument by explaining that yes man is a free agent, but that we are free to the point of “self-preservation” (385). To me, this means that we do things in life by our own choice, but usually these choices are made...
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...THE CHURCH, EUTHANASIA and ASSISTED SUICIDE Euthanasia also known as “mercy killing” and assisted suicide are worldwide controversial issues. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word euthanasia comes from Greek, meaning easy death (eu: easy, thanatos: death). Euthanasia means to end the life of a person who is terminally ill or suffering from severe pain, in a deliberate way. At the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) webpage, in the section Ethics guides, under the title of Forms of Euthanasia, Religions and Death? (2009), different types of euthanasia are described, such as indirect, active, passive, voluntary, involuntary and non voluntary. On the other hand, assisted suicide is usually performed with the help of a health professional; that is why; it is usually called Physician Assisted Suicide (or PAS). The main controversy is over the different opinions on whether it is the sick patient’s decision or if it is a legal, ethical or religious issue to be considered by a third party. In order to practice assisted suicide in a country where it is legal, many factors should be present, such as the moral and religious beliefs of the patient and the physician or the patient’s family and the physician, as well as the legislation of the country where it is going to be carried out. At present, in countries where euthanasia is not legalized yet, it is very difficult to obtain legal permission to practice it. As regards the ethical...
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...Erica Watson Mr. Bono English 6-7 6 December 2010 Euthanasia in the 1930’s Euthanasia: one of the biggest health controversies talked about for decades always has people judging and debating. Many people have different opinions and beliefs on the topic. From my knowledge, I understand that euthanasia is “the action of killing an individual for reasons considered to be Merciful” (Studyworld.com). Too many questions come to mind when I think of euthanasia. When do you decide to kill the patient? Does the patient agree to this? Is euthanasia legal? In the research that I did, I quickly educated myself on this topic. In the 1930’s many people didn’t know how to grasp the thought of euthanasia. Not too many were educated on it and just considered it suicide. In the United States, euthanasia has never officially been legal. “Medical practitioners opposed the idea of euthanasia and strongly claimed it to be illegal” (Buzzle.com). But, around this time period, the Nazi’s believed in involuntary euthanasia. They were determined to “eliminate the unhealthy members of society through euthanasia” (caae.phil.cmu.edu). Although euthanasia is illegal; “Physician aid-in-dying (PAD) is legal in the states of Washington, Oregon and Montana” (wikipedia.org). The difference between the two is that “Euthanasia entails the physician or another third party administering the medication, whereas PAD requires the patient to self-administer the medication and to determine...
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...Euthanasia Nicholas A. Manuel SOC120 Intro. to Ethics and Social Responsibility Brandon Wolfe 24 June 2013 - You always here the ones that you love say, when my time comes to die, just kill me and don’t let me suffer. For some people this is easier said then done and to partake in this action will be assisting someone in his or her suicide, which has been also known as euthanasia. Euthanasia faces ethical problems that question’s the caregivers medical integrity, the common argument that God is the only one can take someone’s life, and the fact that it is considered murder. I will discuss which one of the three classical theories would resolve these problems, as well as discuss one out of three contrary perspectives. We don’t want to see our love ones suffer just as much as we do not want to see some one end their life. A decision that is life threating with any decision that is made. There are three classical theories in ethics that describes the reasoning behind ones actions or thought process. Those theories are utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. The theory that would resolve the problem of euthanasia would be that of virtue ethics. “Virtue Ethics is an ethical theory that evaluates the morality of the person doing a given act, rather than the act itself. Virtue ethics thus emphasizes that the various virtues and whether a person reflects those virtues in his or her actions are crucial to moral evaluation” Mosser (2010). Where some believe that this...
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...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”...
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...Reflection: Euthanasia In the classroom text there is a chapter on Euthanasia, which I wasn’t even aware of. After reading the section, practicing euthanasia requires many ethical and moral decisions to be made. There must be rules and extreme caution because it is the decision on a person’s life. It is important to distinguish the difference between active and passive euthanasia. Active, is the process when drugs are administered, or using certain death-causing means to bring about tor cause the death of a person. Passive, is the process of withholding or withdrawing certain treatment and letting the person die. Both reasons for being used is to help the person have a good or better death. First thing that I thought is that in order to legally and ethically perform this would require many guidelines and rules. Also, while following certain rules before ending someone’s life, this should help you in making a moral and right decision. No doctor would ever want to let someone suffer, however you would just have to be sure that it was the right thing. In the Netherlands, there is a historical tradition of active euthanasia. There is a law that allows the physicians to medically end a patient’s life as long as there are certain conditions met. Conditions such as; the patient must be faced with unbearable and continuing suffering (although he or she need not be terminally ill, and the suffering need not be physical only), or the doctor must consult with at least one...
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...Euthanasia – dying peacefully and with dignity KEVORKIAN (to Wantz): ''Have you gotten any better?'' WANTZ: ''It's gotten much worse. I wish I could have done it a year ago or two years ago. ... I tried loading a gun, but I didn't know how to load one. If you do it yourself, you don't know what you're doing.'' KEVORKIAN: ''Were you tired or apprehensive when you tried it yourself?'' WANTZ: ''No. People say, 'Hang in there. ... ' (But) when you're in my shoes, then you tell me what to do. Until you are, don't tell me what to do.'' (Castaneda) The foregoing conversation took place and was recorded on October 22, 1991, between Doctor Jack Kevorkian, 63, (later nicknamed as “Dr. Death” due to his notorious physician-assisted suicide practice) and Marjorie Wantz, 58, who had sought his help in ending her life and continuous pain from the incurable disease she had. Wantz fulfilled her wish on the next day when she died while being linked to one of Kevorkian’s ''suicide machines''. This incident once again raised a heated debate whether euthanasia should be legalized, and whether doctors assisting in patient’s voluntary death should be freed of charges. In 1995 Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide defined euthanasia as “the deliberate act undertaken by one person with the intention of ending the life of another person in order to relieve that person’s suffering” (Law and Government Division). Despite the undeniable advantages of modern medicine in terms...
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...Euthanasia Imagine if a close family member of yours was dying of cancer right now. Each breath was agonizing and no drug could change how much pain they were feeling. They just wanted something to stop the torture and suffering. This is what you would call would call Euthanasia. Euthanasia comes the Greek term meaning "good death witch refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. Even though it is Illegal in all 50 states in the U.S I believe that we should have the right to end peoples suffering. There are many reasons why this problem today should be legal. I believe that the person should only have the right to Euthanasia if they are really suffering or the problem can’t be cured. You don’t want this person to be in torment day by day for months or even years with no hope. It should also be the patient’s decision to die. They shouldn’t be forced by anybody. It is there body and there life, if they think they had suffered enough then it should be there decision. It is a personal problem and the government shouldn’t have there say. I also think that keeping people alive who are dying cost thousands of dollars. We could be using this money to save others lives that actually have the ability to live. Euthanasia should also be legal because we do it to our pets all the time. We put them down if they are to old or have a sickness. Just like pets we should have...
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... 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...
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...Euthanasia: A Moral Dilemma The word euthanasia is derived from two Greek words, “eu” which means “good” and “thanatos” which means “death,” thus, you have the translation “good death.” For many, when faced with a terminal disease or injury, it is all they truly want. That is, the ability to choose the right to die, in lieu of, a slow and painful death. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Euthanasia as, “The act or practice of killing hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy,” and also, “The act of or practice of allowing a hopelessly sick or injured patient to die by taking less than complete medical measures to prolong life – mercy killing.” In those two separate definitions, you have the words that define the difference between active and passive euthanasia. “The act or practice of killing…” is what is termed as active euthanasia, in that it involves a person physically “doing” something to bring about the death of an individual. Whereas, “the act or practice of allowing…” is considered passive euthanasia, in that it allows a person to die. Normally, this entails the withholding or withdrawal of necessary medical equipment or medicine. Historically, both methods have evoked great emotional turmoil throughout society. Why? Because, it puts into dispute moral, cultural, social, and religious values that individual’s hold regarding their right to live, aswell as their right to die. Furthermore, individuals want to be able...
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...Persuasive Research Paper Should Euthanasia Be Practiced? The practice where doctors help their patients to commit suicide or wishful death is called euthanasia. In the present world there are a lot of arguments and discussions on this subject that the medical fraternity is not able to make a call whether to support it or abolish it. In this whole process the media is exploiting this issue and taking full advantage of people getting caught in the middle of this situation. People who are suffering and are in constant pain wish doctors should show some mercy and grace towards them and give them a way to die peacefully. There are still people who think no matter what the doctor does, killing is still killing. In my opinion, euthanasia should be stopped as nobody should be allowed to decide on the life and death cycle and especially people who are suffering; the reason is anyways they have no control on their feelings as the pain and suffering takes a toll on their decision making. The proper word for mercy killing and the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering is called Euthanasia. This means a patient who is taking such a decision is actually aware that they are going to die, and in some cases, they know and actively participate in this process. The basic argument people do about euthanasia is that the people who are suffering would have no cure, they have no way of contributing to the society. Their claim is that society cannot help...
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...Euthanasia Euthanasia is one of the most controversial topics debated in the world today. 85% of Australian’s are for voluntary euthanasia, I would like to say that I agree with them but the more research that I have done on the topic has made me reconsider my opinion. Here in Australia, there are many groups that support Euthanasia, such as Dying with Dignity, Voluntary Euthanasia Society and probably the most controversial of all “Exit International”. 1. If Euthanasia was as “simple” as allowing someone who is in chronic pain and terminally ill, to make the decision to end their life peacefully, then I would definitely agree and side with this argument. However, it isn’t that “simple”. 2. There are many different circumstances when it comes to human rights. In an interview with the Director and Founder of Exit International Philip Nitschke (Dr Death) in the Australian Newspaper, December 2013, the organization is now supporting the “tired of life” category as a reasonable excuse to end life. This gives people who are not plagued with illness and are not dying to end their life simply because they are not having a good time. Most of us will go through periods of time feeling this way but most of us come through the other side and can look back on it. I have to wonder how many people who have taken their own lives would now have second thoughts. 3. In the article the interviewer suggests that the relationship between poverty, despair and depression...
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...Euthanasia Euthanasia is defined by the American Medical Association as “the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient’s intolerable and incurable suffering” (American Medical Association 2014). Euthanasia is currently illegal in all US states with the exception of Oregon as well as all of Europe aside from the Netherlands. The two concerns typically used to justify this are that life is thought to be precious and we are obligated to prolong it, not take it, as well as the Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors to “do no harm”. Though it currently remains illegal, there is an increase of support for euthanasia to be practiced in the US. Before assessing whether or not euthanasia is morally justifiable, there are two conceptual distinctions to be made. One is the concept of voluntary vs. involuntary euthanasia, and the other is active vs. passive euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia is chosen by the patient himself or herself, while involuntary is chosen by someone other than the patient. Performing an action that will actively end the patient’s life is defined as active euthanasia, while passive euthanasia is performed by withholding treatment and allowing the person to die naturally. This difference is the basis of James Rachels’ argument in “Active and Passive Euthanasia.” Rachels believes that there is no moral difference between “killing” (active) and “letting-die” (passive). He believes that passive euthanasia defeats...
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...paper is to discuss the topic of euthanasia with the intention of shedding some light on this issue should you ever have to make this choice. There are many reasons for and against euthanasia and this article will explore some of those reasons. Specifically this paper includes a review of the following topics; Background which will include; What is euthanasia and where does it come from, Canadian law in regards to euthanasia, Euthanasia in other countries, What does our society say today? Then I will be looking at the pro euthanasia which will include; Can euthanasia be dignified where I will be looking at the Kantian and the Healthy Soul Theories, and Personnel choice. The last part will be looking at against euthanasia which will include; Who decided when to die which will include the Divine command theory and the Ethical Dilemma and I will end with a Conclusion. Thereafter, an analysis will be completed on the a fore mentioned that will include a discussion analysis of what is taken from within an existing body of research with final recommendations which will be presented based on the research. Background What is Euthanasia and where does it come from? The meaning of the word euthanasia comes from a combination of Greek words eu meaning good and athantos meaning death (Corbett, 2009). Therefore one would say that euthanasia is a good death and by saying this we are then saying “to die with dignity” (Corbett, 2009). Euthanasia is the intentional killing of people...
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...Assisted Death for the Terminally Ill – Yes or No? (2012, October 20). Over my dead body; Assisted suicide. The Economist, 405(8807), 55(US). This article recognizes the increasing acceptance of assisted suicide amongst the public and across the world. Despite so, there are still groups of people who are apprehensive about legalizing euthanasia as they are worried that it may have negative implications. The article gives a detailed description of the requirements that must be met before a person is allowed to go through with assisted suicide. It also uses data to prove that safety measures put in place are being followed and there is barely any abuse of the law in places that legalize assisted suicide. Although voluntary euthanasia is still considered as murder, many doctors in Europe give patients or their family the choice of proceeding with treatment or undergoing passive euthanasia. The article also talks about the possible reasons why people opt for assisted suicide, including loss of independence, dignity, and more. The use of statistics shows that substantial research has been done by the author to prove his point, confirming it is a good source to support the legalization of assisted suicide. As “The Economist” is a reputable magazine, this source is credible and is unlikely to publish articles without prior research. Cassity, S. A. (2009). To Die or Not To Die: The History and Future of Assisted Suicide Laws in the U.S. Utah Law Review, 2009 (2), 515-523...
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