Euthanasia:
Definition:
“Euthanasia is
the intentional killing by act or omission of a person whose life is felt not
to be worth living.”
Introduction:
Euthanasia
- refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. Many different
forms of euthanasia can be distinguished, including animal euthanasia and human
euthanasia, and within the latter, voluntary and involuntary euthanasia.
Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have been the focus of
great controversy in recent years.
History:
The term euthanasia comes from the Greek word which means “well-death” .
Hippocrates mentions euthanasia in the Hippocratic Oath, which was written
between 400 and 300 B.C. The original Oath states: “To please no one will I
prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.”
Classification
of Euthanasia:
Euthanasia by consent:
Euthanasia may be conducted with
consent (voluntary euthanasia) or without consent (involuntary euthanasia).
Involuntary euthanasia is conducted where an individual makes a decision for
another person incapable of doing so.
Euthanasia by means:
Euthanasia may be conducted passively, non-actively, and actively.
Passive euthanasia entails the withholding of common treatments (such as
antibiotics, chemotherapy in cancer, or surgery) or the distribution of a
medication (such as morphine) to relieve pain, knowing that it may also result
in death (principle of double effect).
A
Controversial Contemporary Issue
The facts:
Euthanasia comes from two Greek words
meaning “good death”. In contemporary debate it refers to the deliberate
killing of a person supposedly for the benefit of that person. It is sometimes
termed “mercy killing”. In most cases euthanasia is carried out because the
person who dies asks for it (voluntary euthanasia), but there are cases of
euthanasia where a person can't make such a request (involuntary euthanasia). A
person who undergoes euthanasia is usually terminally ill, but there are other
situations in which some people want euthanasia. Below you’ll find some of the
main arguments that are used in favour and against euthanasia.
The arguments:
“Human
beings should have the right to die when and how they want to”
For euthanasia: Each person has the right to control his or her body and life and
so should be able to determine at what time, in what way and by whose hand he
or she will die. Human beings should be as free as possible. They are
autonomous – they have the right to take and carry out decisions about
themselves.
Against euthanasia: Death is a natural event that happens to
everyone. Therefore it makes no sense to talk about a right to die. Euthanasia
involves doctors and other medical staff. If euthanasia was legalised someone
would have to carry it out. Someone’s right to die, therefore becomes a
doctor’s duty to kill.............
Ethical problems
of euthanasia
Does an individual who has no hope of recovery
have the right to decide how and when to end their life?
Why euthanasia should be allowed
Why euthanasia should be allowed
Those in favor of euthanasia argue that a
civilized society should allow people to die in dignity and without pain, and
should allow others to help them do so if they cannot manage it on their own.
They say that our bodies are our own, and we
should be allowed to do what we want with them. So it's wrong to make anyone
live longer than they want. In fact making people go on living when they don't
want to violates their personal freedom and human rights. It’s immoral; they
say to force people to continue living in suffering and pain.................
They add that as suicide is not a crime,
euthanasia should not be a crime.
According to the theories:
Virtue theory:
Virtue ethics can be suppressed into one phase: “Act in the
right way, at the right time, for the right reasons.”
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