Ethical Questioning of Euthanasia
Euthanasia. Is it a justifiable idea? And if it is, under what circumstances should it be allowed? To help clarify terms: Euthanasia pertains to a death which functions to benefit the person who dies. This death ultimately requires a final act by someone other than the person who dies. There are many ways this question can be approached and dealt with. In this case I ll be referring to a hypothetical situation involving a patient dubbed MB . This woman has suffered severe brain damage as a result of an aneurysm. However her condition is not a classic comatose state. Her waking and sleeping patterns are noticeable as are her responses to pain and pleasure stimuli. Her speech is limited to groans which seem to convey displeasure. She has no noticeable reactions to speech, is able to be mouth fed, and appears to not recognize her family. Financially there are no difficulties posed for the family.
Many euthanasia cases are centered around situations similar to this, and are often justified by proving the patient is essentially dead . The term essentially dead is difficult to define because of matters of personal morals. In my own opinion essentially dead refers to the loss of enough brain function as to prevent the subject from carrying out even the most minimal of cognitive functions. As far as the human aspect of the subject goes, he or she is dead; the only thing left is the biological remains of what used to be that person.
Now the question is: Is MB essentially dead ? In some aspects she certainly is not. Her reactions to pain and pleasure stimuli are synonymous with each respective stimulus (i.e. she reacts positively to positive stimuli and negatively to negative stimuli). Along the same lines, she also displays emotions of displeasure by means of groaning. All of these are signs of cognitive function occurring in the brain. This, however, does not mean to say that she is aware of her condition or, for that matter, her own existence. Her ability to be aware of reality and ultimately her existence, should be weighed heavily when considering whether or not she should be classified as essentially dead . What should also be taken into consideration is the fact that this state which she is in is permanent; her brain damage is irreversible and as such her brain will never function normally. With these factors weighted properly, the observer would seem to come to the conclusion that MB is, in fact, essentially dead . She cannot function as a human being; thus she is no longer a human being, but instead a human body. Her cognitive life has ceased and only her biological life remains.
With MB now classified as essentially dead , should we be allowed end the biological life of her now non-MB body? With the interests of the family in mind, we should. The family should not be made to deal with the agony of having the essentially lifeless body of MB continue to biologically live, when there is no hope for human life to return to it. The next question would now be: May we end her life? Once again the family should have the say in whether or not the body should continue to live. The fact is MB no longer can make this decision; not because she is not cognate, but because she no longer exists as a personality. Because of this, the body has to be placed in the hands of someone to make the decision to end the body s life, by whatever means are appropriate
Euthanasia (as controversial as it may be) certainly has means by which it can and may be justified. Any case in which a person can be classified as essentially dead falls into this justifiable category. There is absolutely no reason why a body lacking human cognizance should be required to live. It is entirely appropriate to put the burden of making the choice of what should be done to body into a cognizant humans hands. In this way the body has an almost surrogate means by which it can be handled.
Другие работы по теме:
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Euthanasia which comes
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia which comes from the Greek meaning of easy death is one of our societies highly debatable issues and the main reason for this argument is against active euthanasia, which is when a terminally ill patient is administered with a lethal drug or using other means to cause there death.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Is euthanasia the
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Is euthanasia the mercy killing of someone who is in extreme pain in order to end suffering, an immoral or amoral act? Simply put, it is an immoral act even though it is intended to help another person. It is assisting in killing another human being, and ending their existence.
Euthanasia 8 Essay Research Paper Euthanasia meaning
Euthanasia 8 Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia, meaning easy death, is one of the most acute and uncomfortable contemporary problems in society. The debate concerns one question: is euthanasia ethical? The case rests on one main fundamental moral principle: mercy. Terminally ill patients often request that doctors put them out of their misery.
Euthanasia Should Be Abolished Essay Research Paper
Euthanasia is the painless, intentional death of a person who is suffering. Euthanasia is wrong because it alters our natural way of survival, and upsets religous beliefs. By using euthanasia, ?miraculous? recoveries have been prevented. People think that the easy way out of their problems is by conducting euthanasia.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Assisted SuicideA great
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Assisted Suicide A great deal of debate surrounds the practice of assisted suicide. Lately, laws against voluntary euthanasia have been eased, although serious moral and legal questions still exist. Most opposition of assisted suicide comes from religious groups, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Argument Essay Research Paper Quantity vs QualityMany
Argument Essay, Research Paper Quantity vs. Quality Many people see death is a bad thing. People don t like it and they don t want to hear about it. For many seriously ill and vegetative patients, death is a good thing for them. Death will end their suffering from pains and they can also die with dignity. Euthanasia traditionally means a good death.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Jason Adams
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Jason Adams Adams1 October 15, 1998 Mrs. Faulk English Per.4Euthanasia Euthanasia should be legal, because if it is their life, therefore, they have the right to be able to end their suffering. Euthanasia was formerly called Mercy killing . Euthanasia means intentionally making someone decease rather then allowing that person to die naturally.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper In today
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper In today’s society, if you ask five people who Jack Kevorkian is then three or more would know who he is. The issue of euthanasia has been on the media’s forefront for several years. There are several pros and cons to this issue. Some of these pros are as follows: it would help to end pain and suffering, it allows a person to die with dignity, and it also helps the grieving process because the person knows when they are gonna die.
Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide Essay Research Paper
EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE In today’s society, euthanasia and assisted suicide is a major discussion. People, who are terminally ill or are depressed, are sometimes looking for a way out. They feel that their only hope is to kill themselves. Other people in the world feel that euthanasia and assisted suicide are morally wrong.
Euthanasia In Australia Essay Research Paper What
Euthanasia In Australia Essay, Research Paper What is it and how is it performed?Euthanasia is the practice of ending a life so as to release an individual from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering. The term is sometimes used generally to refer to an easy or painless death. Voluntary euthanasia involves a request by the dying patient or that person’s legal representative.
Legalizing Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Legalizing euthanasia
Legalizing Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Legalizing euthanasia in the United States gives rights to the people. Rights to those who endure the irrefutable agony of pain and suffering, rights to those who want to be cured of their pain, and rights to those that struggle to end their suffering. Euthanasia is the answer to end their suffering.
What Is Bioethics Essay Research Paper Bioethics
What Is Bioethics? Essay, Research Paper Bioethics encompasses every ethical question relating and pertaining to medicine and the health of living things. Everything from pediatrics to nursing, from euthanasia to birth-pain killer, from the debate of abortion to the law of malpractice is covered by the term bioethics.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EuthanasiaEuthanasia is just
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia Euthanasia is just another word for ?mercy killing? as some people put it but it also means good death. I look at it as more of a good death if it is performed with the right procedures and if a person has a legitimate reason to be put to death but many people would not agree with me that it should be legal.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Euthanasia killing life
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia- killing life painlessly to end suffering, mercy killing. This pratice was traced back as far as the Greek and Roman times. As time passed religion increased and life was viewed as sacred. All forms of Euthanasia was/is now considered wrong. In the year of 1935 a group of doctors formed the first Voluntary Euthanasia Society in London.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Retired professor and
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Retired professor and psychoanalyst Ernest Van den Haag, by defending the right to commit suicide, made an appeal to J.S. Mill?s principle. Van den Haag said that people should have the right to choose as they please, as long as no one else is hurt (Hallock 13). According to the constitution, people have the right to decide death, not the government (Dority 8).
Euthansia Essay Research Paper Euthanasia has been
Euthansia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia has been a popular topic nowadays, but not many peo0le may know about this subject in depth. In my opinion, Dr. Philip?s idea is good as it can help the elderly people to get more information about different methods of euthanasia. As euthanasia is a new issue that came up recently, most elderly people may not know much about it.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EuthanasiaEuthanasia has brought
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia Euthanasia has brought great attention to the public eye since Dr. Jack Kevorkian was discovered for contributing to these horrible inhumane acts. At the present time, the state of Oregon has the world’s only law specifically permitting a doctor to prescribe lethal drugs for the purpose of ending a patient’s life (iaetf/faq.htm).
The Controversy Over Euthanasia Essay Research Paper
The controversy over euthanasia is based on the same ethical and social platform from which the debates for abortion and capitol punishment stem. These social dilemmas all revolve around the sanctity of life and how far government can go in making choices involving individual rights. Although the debate over euthanasia is just heating up in the American judicial system, the practice of assisted suicide has been around for centuries, Modern advances in medicine and technology have helped doctors in prolonging life.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EuthanasiaEuthanasia may be
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia Euthanasia may be defined as taking your own/someone’s life because it is inevitable that he/she/you will die because of some painful terminal illness. Some may see it as murder/suicide and others may see it as a way out, the best thing to do. Like abortion, it is very hard for me to take an “it is right/wrong” philosophical position, because situations vary from person to person.
Eutahnasia Essay Research Paper EuthanasiaEuthanasia is an
Eutahnasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia Euthanasia is an issue that has been debated on many occasions. Both ethical and political questions have been raised. It is the one issue that can touch anyone, even politicians. Euthanasia is an issue that is controversial from all sides and is such a deeply felt issue across society.
Euthenasia Essay Research Paper EuthanasiaImmoral or Human
Euthenasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia Immoral or Human Right? Recent debates over active euthanasia, “killing” a terminally ill patient, in Holland, has risen the question whether euthanasia is immoral or a simple human right. Doctors seem to have no doubt. They made an oath.
Euthansia Article Analysis And Opinion Essay Research
Paper Euthanasia is the help with a death and is also known as ?mercy killing?. There are two types of Euthanasia: Active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. There is also active voluntary euthanasia and active involuntary euthanasia. Euthanasia is illegal in all states but Oregon, who passed a bill making it legal in 1994 under certain circumstances.
Euthanasia Is Ethical Essay Research Paper Euthanasia
Euthanasia Is Ethical Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia is defined in Webster?s Dictionary as ?the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reason of mercy (Webster?s Dictionary 401). The Hemlock Society defines it as ?justifiable suicide, that is rational and planned self-deliverance?.
Euthanasia Today Essay Research Paper Euthanasia has
Euthanasia Today Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia has been, and always will be, a controversial moral and ethical subject. While the majority of both Americans and Canadians seem to support euthanasia as indicated by the latest polls, it is still illegal in both countries. I think it is important to first distinguish between passive euthanasia and active euthanasia.
Is Euthanasia Ethical Essay Research Paper Is
Is Euthanasia Ethical Essay, Research Paper Is Euthanasia Ethical? Euthanasia Comes from the Greek word meaning the good death. It is defined as The act or practicing the end of life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Euthanasia should not
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia should not be made legally acceptable in the present society because there are important aspects that need to be considered and handled concerning who?s to decide, extent to which a physician can practice medicine, and religious opposition to this practice.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EUTHANASIAEuthanasiaRenaldo La FoucadeEducation
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper EUTHANASIA Euthanasia Renaldo La Foucade Education of America University Euthanasia Euthanasia Euthanasia is a topic that provokes as much controversy as capital punishment, primarily because it is irreversible. The question of euthanasia being right or wrong is one that most would prefer left alone.
Brief Look At Euthanasia Essay Research Paper 2
Brief Look At Euthanasia- Essay, Research Paper Brief Look at Euthanasia- Euthanasia is one of the most acute and uncomfortable contemporary problems in medical ethics. Is Euthanasia Ethical? The