Is Euthanasia Morally Justified Essay - 1237 Words

Philosophy Paper: Is Euthanasia Morally Justified? Euthanasia is defined in the dictionary as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. It s a practice that is illegal in many countries and only legal in a handful of states here in America. As a future physician, I do believe that assisted suicide is moral if that is what the patient wishes. In this paper I aim to prove that denying someone their right to take back control of their life after being handed a debilitating illness, is the actual injustice. Assisted suicide, which usually takes place after a doctor writes a prescription for a lethal barbiturate for the patient to take at a time and place of their choosing, has been called outright murder by those who find it unethical. Thomas Aquinas an extremely influential philosopher, may not have had to deal with euthanasia directly, but it s believed that he would be extremely against it. He essentially believed in killing another if it was for the greater good, a nd as a deeply religious man perhaps he thought that by denying the sick their suffering it would keep them from God s redemptive grace. I whole-heartedly disagree with Aquinas philosophy. When someone is critically ill their symptoms have reached a degree that they find impossible to live with. Who are we to deny someone the choice to rid themselves of a terminal illness? For example, someone with cancer might have to go throughShow MoreRelatedActive Euthanasia Is Never Morally Justified1545 Words   |  7 Pages Analysis on The Argument That Active Euthanasia is Never Morally Justified Death has always been a controversial topic throughout the world. There are many theories as to where we go and what the meaning of life truly is. How one dies is important in today’s society, especially when it comes to the idea of suicide. Active euthanasia, also referred to as assisted suicide, is the intentional act of causing the death of a patient experiencing great suffering. It is illegal in some places, like FranceRead MoreCan Euthanasia Be Justified Morally? Essay1058 Words   |  5 Pages(Macintyre 1996: 57-157). The universally agreed meaning of morality might never be achieved but we can all consent to the good being apparent in all that is presumed to be moral. Euthanasia is the medical process of ending the life of a terminally ill insofar as to relieve their suffering. The medical utilization of euthanasia is an issue that has been overly discussed and debated, yet the general consensus of the goodness in its practice remains elusive. Arguments such as the def y of the will of GodRead MoreEuthanasia Is Morally Permissible?850 Words   |  4 PagesEuthanasia, as defined by many philosophers, should only be morally permissible in certain circumstances where it benefits the one who dies. It is a widely held belief that an act of euthanasia aims at benefiting the one who dies. Using Kantian ethics as a model, one can determine that: It is morally permissible to engage in voluntary acts of euthanasia; it is morally permissible to engage in acts of nonvoluntary euthanasia, and; it is never morally permissible to engage in acts of involuntary euthanasiaRead MoreEuthanasi It s Worst1034 Words   |  5 Pages Euthanasia At It’s Worst Euthanasia should not be an option for patients to end their lives because euthanasia is not morally justified, and corrupts, while contradicting the point of medicine. Euthanasia also should not be used because euthanasia itself puts to much focus on suicidal drugs and not enough on finding better treatment plans for patients. In January 1991, a Gallup Poll was taken of the broad acceptance of assisted suicide in which 58% of people agreed that a person has the â€Å"moralRead MoreThe Moral Permissibility of Legalizing Active Euthanasia Essay1442 Words   |  6 PagesPermissibility of Legalizing Active Euthanasia To date, in the united States of America, active euthanasia has been seen as unacceptable in legal terms. However, the issue is not so clear in moral terms among the public, and especially among the medical community. In fact, nearly half of the doctors in the United States say that they would prescribe active euthanasia under certain circumstances. The law that prohibits active euthanasia restricts many people fromRead MoreDying with Dignity960 Words   |  4 Pagesto the person. People who have this illness resort to an alternative called euthanasia. Euthanasia is when someone a physician or a family members assist the terminal ill to die by injecting such person with a drug or plugging out the chord that keeps the person alive. While supporters of this technique claim that euthanasia is humane and helpful, other people argue that euthanasia is morally wrong, and inhumane. Euthanasia should be legalize in the United States because it gives an alternative forRead MoreThe Case Of Evan Motts Assisting His Wife s Euthanasia Essay1644 Words   |  7 PagesI am going to discuss in this essay the case of Evan Motts assisting his wife s euthanasia. I will cover the ethical issues regarding this topic including whether or not Evan should be punished. I will look at the theories of Kantian Ethics and Utilitarianism to justify whether or not Evan s actions were morally right. An Auckland man is facing a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years after assisting his terminally ill wife to commit suicide. Evan Mott researched suicide methods andRead MoreEuthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide1298 Words   |  6 Pageslineage than voluntary euthanasia, and physician assisted suicide. For most of that time, due to the mediation through religious authorities and law, the treatment of suicide has been largely negative. Older traditions of folklore and philosophy exhibit an attitude of abhorrence and arguments that show any form of suicide as being inherently wrong. Brian Stofell argues how this notion is wrong and how suicide can be morally right in some cases such as voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicideRead MoreIs Euthanasia Morally Justifiable?1657 Words   |  7 PagesThe term euthanasia is used differently by most people. Personally, I use it to include all forms of assisted suicide. The question for most people is whether euthanas ia can be morally justified. Many people consider this practice to be against all ethics. This is despite whether compassion was the motive or otherwise. There are many dynamics that are involved when a person requires it to alleviate extreme pain or a condition that is considered to be torture towards the person experiencing it. ThereRead MoreEuthanasia: Kantianism vs Utilitarianism1599 Words   |  7 Pagesas euthanasia. At present, euthanasia is one of the most controversial social-ethical issues that we face, in that it deals with a sensitive subject matter where there is much uncertainty as to what position one ought to take. Deliberately killing another person is presumed by most rational people as a fundamental evil act. However, when that person gives his or her consent to do so, this seems to give rise to an exceptional case. This can be illustrated in the most common case of euthanasia, where