Euthanasia, American Medical Association, Rachels
Euthanasia has been in the center of the public attention for decades. Different authors and politicians, religious leaders have expressed their concern about the ethical side of the matter, and various researches have been completed to point out both the positive and negative aspects of the procedures. The below essay is looking to prove analyze some of these claims, based on the principles of free will and democracy. The journal articles are carefully selected in order to represent both pro- and anti- euthanasia ideas.
Rachels (1975) has various arguments, starting with calling for a distinction between active and passive methods of euthanasia. The author confirms that there is no ground for mentioning the two methods as one, because this distinction is "crucial to medical ethics". (p.1.) Active euthanasia is currently against the policy of the American Medical Association. However, passive euthanasia is employed often for the request of the patient or the immediate family, and often is the result of long-term high cost of equipment designed to prolong life. However, there are ethical questions surrounding this type of method as well. If the death after the withdrawal of equipment or medication is imminent, the question is simple. However, if it results in a painful and long term illness, and the medication is designed to reduce pain and suffering, there are moral and medical questions arising as well. The author also argues that the termination of potential life because of a long term disability or illness, such as Down's syndrome would be less ethical than letting people go when they want to.
[...] (2000) Euthanasia. The Master's Seminary Journal. Fall 2000. p. 191-212. Richardson, E. (2008) The Politics of Euthanasia. Online. [...]
[...] This is the main reason why there is no agreement in the society about the debate. As people's values change, their preferences due as well. Therefore, in case of one person giving a consent to passive euthanasia after a rough divorce and going through depression would not stand the grounds. On the other hand, forcing people to watch their loved ones suffer, while they know that they specifically requested the termination of treatments that would only extend their lives would not be suitable, either. [...]
[...] Although the Catholic Church has a huge moral influence on people's thinking, it has still not convinced all of its members that the institution should be banned. The real problem is that every single case should be judged individually, and if there were courts to deal with issuing euthanasia permissions, the cases might go on longer than the patient has to live. Examining the interest of relatives associated with the death of the person would also take a long time. References Rachels. J. (1975) Active and Passive Euthanasia. The New England Journal of Medicine. Vol January pp. 78-80/ Essex, K. [...]
[...] The author argues that the AMA differentiates between cessation of treatment and active euthanasia in a way that while one is considered "the intentional termination of the life of one human being by another." (p.3.), the other is not. The motivation of doctors is mostly humanitarian, and therefore, euthanasia can simply not be described as killing, as we know today: motivated by anger, fuelled by alcohol and greed. The author argues that passive euthanasia is not worse than active one. He argues with the statement that in case of passive euthanasia the “doctor does nothing”, because he knows what the consequences of his actions will be. The type of action is irrelevant from an ethical point of view. [...]
[...] Euthanasia: Case study Introduction Euthanasia has been in the center of the public attention for decades. Different authors and politicians, religious leaders have expressed their concern about the ethical side of the matter, and various researches have been completed to point out both the positive and negative aspects of the procedures. The below essay is looking to prove analyze some of these claims, based on the principles of free will and democracy. The journal articles are carefully selected in order to represent both pro- and anti- euthanasia ideas. [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
