Can Euthanasia Be Justified Morally Essay - 1058 Words

Is the choice of individuals to end their lives dependent on anyone else but themselves? Or should a jury or the state truly have the omnipotent voice in such a personal endeavour? Ethics can be elucidated as a set of moral principles, thusly the rules of conduct perceived by one or a society to be the right or wrong, the good or bad (as religiously termed evil). Several philosophers throughout history have attempted to define the term morality in various ways. Aristotle posits that the highest good is always an end and not the means, whilst Hobbes and Locke refute this concept, stating that what is essentially deemed good is all relative to the desires of the agent (the individual or entity) (Macintyre 1996: 57-157). The universally†¦show more content†¦She was so painfully ill that she screamed in agony whenever touched, thusly Dr Cox injected her with potassium chloride to give Mrs Boye a semblance of a peaceful but he was later suspended and criminalised (Euthanasia, 2000). Sue Rodrigues, a mother (in her early thirties), painfully and gradually died of Lou Gehrigs disease. She lived with the knowledge that her muscles will slowly waste away for se ven years while awake and conscious, until she choked to death. Even though she had begged the courts to allow her doctor to assist her in choosing her own moment of death but was refused, until february 1994 when the doctor secretly broke the law to help her die (ibid). These are a few but some of the many countless cases of the laws failure to consent to euthanasia, allowing patients to suffer on the basis of what it deems to be moral. Kantians Deontological will state that good will is good, thusly the focus is then upon the agents will (the intention and reason for the agents action is then questioned, rather than the actual deed itself) (Macintyre 1996: 191). The sole motive of the good will is to do its duty for the sake of its duty, hence duty is acted upon without any inclination or self-interest (ibid). Duty is therefore no means to an end but rather the end itself because good will should be selfless, Kant explains, ‘‘So act that you use humanity, whether in your own person or in theShow 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 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 involunt ary 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 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, whereRead 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 euthanasia 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 MoreEuthanasi Active And Passive Euthanasia1634 Words   |  7 PagesPassiv e Euthanasia where he argues against the distinction between killing in letting die. He says that the distinction is made on morally irrelevant grounds. He says that the distinction between passive and active euthanasia should not be based on whether or not wanted more morally permissible then the other. To prove his point Rachel uses three dif-ferent examples, which included different circumstance where euthanasia is involved. He looks at each example and argues why active euthanasia would