The Ethics Of Euthanasia
Euthanasia practice is a controversial issue in the world today. There are various types of euthanasia, including passive, active, voluntary and involuntary. The terms in the various types of euthanasia are put to end a patient’s life to avoid suffering by administering medical attention leading to death. The act is illegal in some countries like Australian states, which is considered murder. However, in other nations, the act is legal but through taking into consideration some terms.
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Lawyers of the patients argue that they have a right to end their lives to relieve themselves from pain and suffering. This is alleviated as merciful killing, and as per the advocates of euthanasia, it is not morally illegal[CITATION Ebr12 \l 1033 ]. The opponents of euthanasia argue that the act is illegal in that it is committing murder. They support the idea that caring for the patient can relieve their pain and reduce their chances of suffering. They claim that euthanasia is a practice against human rights.
Types of euthanasia
There are two main types of euthanasia, i.e. active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia is intentionally killing the patient by administering drugs to the patient to end an incurable patient’s life. Active euthanasia may not depend on the patient’s decision but can be influenced by the doctors. Passive euthanasia is the deliberate withdrawal from an ongoing treatment of the patients resulting in the victim’s death. Passive euthanasia is not considered euthanasia in Australia.
Other acts are voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary. Voluntary is done when the patient accepts it. Involuntary euthanasia is taken as murder since the patient does not agree to it, nor do they make the decision[CITATION Ebr12 \l 1033 ]. When the patient cannot consent, the doctors choose euthanasia.
The legal situation of euthanasia
In Australia, the act remains illegal. It is a case of murder if any doctor ends another person’s life. The criminal legislation against euthanasia is given more attention to prevent the practice.
Some laws have been put forward, especially in Australia, to deal with the people found guilty of trying to end the patients’ lives. Advocates of euthanasia argue that autonomy should be given priority. They say there is no need to cause others harm, so euthanasia should be a legal practice.
Those against euthanasia have based their argument on the sanctification of life. Religion views life as God-given, so no one has the right to take it away. The society also states that the act of euthanasia is a practice of murder. Autonomy though used by the advocates of euthanasia, is considered to be abused based on human rights. Kant and Mill [3] believe that the principle of autonomy forbids the voluntary ending of the conditions necessary for autonomy, which would occur by ending one’s life.
Conclusion
Euthanasia is not considered illegal or legal. It is a contentious issue. Its practice is not to be seen as the best way of ending suffering. The arguments over the issue are insufficient to charge the practice as legal or illegal. There is still a lot over the issue, yet we only see a glimpse of what is happening.
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References
Ebrahimi, N. (2012). Ethics of euthanasia. Australian Medical Student Journal. Retrieved from https://www.amsj.org/archives/2066
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Question
Instructions
Return to the topic ( The Ethics of Euthanasia) in the week three assignment. Articulate a specific dilemma in a situation a particular person faces based on that topic. The situation can be natural or fictional.
The Ethics Of Euthanasia
- Summarize the dilemma.
- Define any needed critical terms associated with the dilemma.
- Analyze the conflicts or controversies involved in the dilemma.
Requirements
- Length: 4-5 pages (not including title page or references page)
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page
- References page (minimum of 5 scholarly sources)