Argument in Favor of Euthanasia Essay - 2098 Words

Debate about the morality and legality of voluntary euthanasia has been a phenomenon since the second half of the 20th century. The ancient Greeks and Romans did not believe that life needed to be preserved at any cost and were tolerant of suicide in cases where no relief could be offered to the dying or when a person no longer cared for their life (Young). In the 4th century BC, the Hippocratic Oath was written by Hippocrates, the father of medicine. One part of the Oath states, â€Å"I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause and abortion† (Brock). For 2,400 years, physicians made these solemn promises. Until very recently the Hippocratic Oath†¦show more content†¦In 1988 there was an unsuccessful attempt to get the question of whether is should be made legally permissible on the ballot in California. In November 1991 votes in the state of Washington defeated widely p ublicized referendum proposal to legalize both voluntary active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. The decision for euthanasia should rest fully with the patient. In terms of euthanasia there are many factors that come into play when deciding; the different types of euthanasia, the ethical issues behind euthanasia, and the legal standpoints. There are different types of euthanasia. There is voluntary active euthanasia, in which a clearly competent patient makes a fully voluntary and persistent request for aid in dying. Appraising active euthanasia from a virtue perspective can offer a more compassionate approach to the predicament of practitioners and clients (Begley). Involuntary euthanasia is when a competent patient explicitly refuses or opposes receiving euthanasia. This method is the commonly called, â€Å"mercy killing† method. Also, non-voluntary euthanasia is when a patient is incompetent and unable to express his or her wishes about euthanasia. Then there i s physician-assisted suicide, the patient is ending his or her life with a lethal dose of medication requested of and provided by a physician for that purpose (Brock). This method is alsoShow MoreRelatedArgument in Favor of Euthanasia Essay1913 Words   |  8 Pagesethical when it comes to facing death. Uhlmann (1998) mentions that individuals’ attitudes towards euthanasia differ. From a utilitarianism point of view – holding that an action is judged as good or bad in relation to the consequence, outcome, or end result that is derived from it, and people choosing actions that will, in a given circumstance, increase the overall good (Lum, 2010) - euthanasia could become a means of health care cost containment, and also, with specific safeguards and in certainRead MoreArgument Of Favor Of Active Voluntary Euthanasia1781 Words   |  8 PagesBenny Mutoni Ethics Society Argument in favor of Active Voluntary Euthanasia In this paper, I will discuss euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide and whether there are circumstances under which the two are ever ethically permissible. I will also be examining active and passive euthanasia and how philosophers view both differently. I will cite the text â€Å"Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues†, philosophers like James Rachel, and cases such as Dax Cowart and Brittany MaynardRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Euthanasia1302 Words   |  6 Pagesbehind Euthanasia In an ethics class I took in high school, I have learned about many controversial topics. One that caught my attention specifically was euthanasia or the â€Å"right to die† as some call it. There are many types of Euthanasia, including active and passive. In class we debated the difference between the two and why passive euthanasia is legal and active is not. Active euthanasia is defined as â€Å"a person directly and deliberately causing the patient s death.† (Forms of euthanasia) PassiveRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?907 Words   |  4 Pagesactive euthanasia, which is a highly contentious issue in the United States. Voluntary active euthanasia is currently illegal in the United States. However, I believe that patients with terminal illnesses experiencing a lot of pain and misery should have the right to die the way they choose, with dignity, instead of being subjected to agony. People should be able to choose voluntary active euthanasia, if ever need be, w hich is why I believe that despite current policy, voluntary active euthanasia shouldRead MoreOpinions on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide1347 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Opinions of euthanasia and assisted suicide vary by country to country, and only a few nations permit euthanasia in the case of terminally ill patients (van der Heide et. al., 2007, p. 1957). The public discourse surrounding the ethical, and subsequently legal status of euthanasia is frequently heated and somewhat polarized, because the debate cuts to the very heart of notions of human rights and ethics. Unfortunately, this only tends to further obscure the issue at hand, which is in reality a fairlyRead MoreThe Morality Of Euthanasia By James Rachels1086 Words   |  5 PagesID: 3339147 Active Euthanasia Does James Rachels in â€Å"The Morality of Euthanasia† successfully argue that in at least some cases active euthanasia is morally acceptable? Explain his view and respond to it. In this essay, we are going to analyze the main ideas included in â€Å"The Morality of Euthanasia† by James Rachels to provide a response to the following question: Does James Rachels in â€Å"The Morality of Euthanasia† successfully argue that in at least some cases active euthanasia is morally acceptableRead MoreThe Ups And Downs Of Euthanasia1288 Words   |  6 PagesMi’esha Straughn Dr. Willis 12 October 2017 ENG 101/102 Mini Term The Ups and Downs of Euthanasia Losing a loved one is an experience that no one wants to go through. Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and the like are all an integral part of life. However, what if one of these loved ones were terminally ill and losing strength day by day? Would one want to watch them suffer, clinging on to the last bit of life that they have, or would he want to help end the suffering in a peaceful manner? These are someRead MoreThe Argument Of Active And Passive Euthanasia1240 Words   |  5 Pages# 3 This essay will aim to focus on the arguments that author, James Rachel’s presents in his article, Active and Passive Euthanasia,† In his article Rachel’s argues that both passive and active euthanasia are morally permissible and the doctors that is supported by the American Medical Association(AMA) is believed to be unsound. In this paper I will offer a thorough analysis of Rachel’s essay then so offer a critique in opposition of his arguments. In conclusion I will refute these oppositionsRead MoreEuthanasia Essay1561 Words   |  7 Pagesethical issue of euthanasia, or mercy killing, concerns whether it is morally permissible for a third party, such as a physician, to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is in intense pain. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words eu (‘well’) and thanatos (‘death’). It means a painless and gentle death. But in modern usage, it has come to imply that someone’s life is ended for compassionate reasons by some passive or active steps taken by another person. The euthanasia controversy isRead MoreFor Euthanasia Persuasive Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pagespain and suffering. Euthanasia is a word that most people avoid because it is very controversial. But why? Euthanasia is a way of ending the prolonging of suffering, while leaving life in peace. Euthanasia is derived from the Greeks where Eu means good and Thanatos means death. When these phrases are combined the word euthanasia is created; meaning â€Å"good death† (6.) There are three types of euthanasia although only two are authentic forms. The first type is active euthanasia. It is described as