Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, is the act of intentionally ending a person's life in order to relieve them of suffering caused by terminal illness, incurable conditions, or intractable pain. While it is a controversial and emotionally charged topic, it raises important ethical questions about the value of human life, the right to self-determination, and the role of healthcare professionals in end-of-life care.
One of the main ethical concerns surrounding euthanasia is the potential for abuse and coercion. There is the possibility that vulnerable individuals, such as those who are elderly or dependent on others for care, may be pressured or manipulated into choosing euthanasia against their will. It is important to ensure that all decisions regarding euthanasia are made freely and voluntarily, without any outside influence or coercion.
Another ethical issue is the potential conflict between the autonomy of the patient and the responsibility of the healthcare professional. While patients have the right to make decisions about their own healthcare, including the choice to end their own lives, healthcare professionals have a duty to preserve life and alleviate suffering to the best of their ability. This can create a tension between respecting the patient's autonomy and upholding the professional's ethical obligations.
A further ethical consideration is the possibility of hastening death as a means of saving resources or avoiding the burden of caring for a terminally ill patient. This raises concerns about the allocation of limited healthcare resources and the potential devaluation of the lives of those who are perceived as a burden.
One potential solution to these ethical concerns is the implementation of strict safeguards and regulations to ensure that euthanasia is only performed in cases where it is truly voluntary and necessary. This could include the requirement for multiple evaluations by independent healthcare professionals, as well as the involvement of legal and ethical review boards to ensure that all necessary criteria have been met.
In conclusion, the ethical issues surrounding euthanasia are complex and multifaceted. It is important to approach the topic with sensitivity and care, considering the rights and autonomy of the patient as well as the ethical obligations of healthcare professionals. By implementing strict safeguards and regulations, it may be possible to ensure that euthanasia is only performed in cases where it is truly necessary and voluntary.
Ethical Theories Of Euthanasia Essay Essay
The Death With Dignity Act is an end-of-life option that allows certain terminally ill people to voluntarily and legally request and receive a prescription medication from their physician to hasten their death in a peaceful, humane, and dignified manner. Also, my view on euthanasia has slightly evolved after reading a lot of information that supports and oppose the practice. However, in many situations, this is not the case. Knowing that their pain and suffering will end, but their life here will end is something that is hard for them to grasp, but they know that it is their best option and will save both them and their family in the long run. BMC medical ethics , 14 1.
Euthanasia: An Ethical Issue
In the article, An Ethical Analysis of Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Rejecting Euthanasia and Accepting Physician Assisted Suicide with Palliative Care, written by Benjamin Shibata, it states Sometimes it is used to prolong the life of someone. Choosing between living with a terminal illness and go through all the pain and suffering that comes as they get closer to dying or making the choice to end your life before the pain and suffering becomes too unbearable to handle. The study presenting data that until now has been very limited, involved 35 cases in which patients believed physician-assisted suicide. Proponents for euthanasia Although it can generally be agreed that euthanasia should not be practiced some issues can just not be overlooked. According to his attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, Kevorkian assisted in 130 deaths of terminally ill patients, each of which were technically categorized as suicides, since the final action that terminated life was executed by the patients themselves. Voluntary euthanasia as is popularly advocated may not fit in such situations. A significant number of countries have also legalized euthanasia, particularly in Europe.
📚 Free Essay on Ethical Issues Surrounding Euthanasia
Euthanasia could be used as a cover of murder and exploited in terms of the rights to life and options of patients. In addition, people who find out that they are becoming a cost burden to society mostly due to cost reasons may choose to end their life in order to save their families the agony. For Kantian Ethics, it is more of an approach of not focusing on the consequences as much but, the principles according to which one acts. This is especially so for children who have been left behind by their parents. Secondly, some philosopher Mary Anne Warren and Frances Kamm states that the practice of active euthanasia is kind and merciful, which allow people Physician Assisted Suicide Persuasive Essay 460 Words 2 Pages Physician assisted suicide is a current controversial issue that has been debated over since the colonial days of the United States. Research work has progressed due to the fact that there is no any other alternative. How will the law protect such people who are not in a position to make such an informed decision? They also had a higher prevalence of depressive disorders; however, they did not differ on ratings of pain severity.
