Phi 208 - Ethics and Moral Reasoning - Euthanasia

Is Euthanasia Morally Wrong

Melanie Kelly

PHI 208 Ethics and Moral Reasoning

Prof. Bradley Thames

February 29, 2016

          Opening question

                  Is Euthanasia Morally Wrong?

Introduction

                      Euthanasia is a highly important matter in today’s society.  There are many debates that have happened to try and justify Euthanasia and how it helps, but what gives us the right to end another human life.  It seems that society feels that they can condone ending the life of any individual even against their will.

             There are two different kinds of euthanasia.  The first is active which is a type that is deliberately ending a person’s life, so that they do not suffer anymore.  The second is passive which is withdrawing all medical treatment in order to cause death to an individual.  These may also be known as voluntary and involuntary.

Position statement:

            When asked if it is morally wrong would depend on you ask.  There are people and physicians that try to make any case as if that is the only answer to their problem.  Then you ask someone like me and yes it is morally wrong.  There are many factors that can contribute to people wanting to end their life and resorting to death to solve the problem.  In many cases the patient is tired of suffering and wants to be relieved from their pain, so they may ask to be euthanasia.  

Supporting reason:

              In today’s society many individuals feel that their needs are not being meet, so physicians are stuck between is it right to end their life.  Physicians should never agree to administer death, but instead make sure that the patient knows there worth in the world.  Since the physicians civil obligation is to pro-long life and provide palliate care (The council on ethical and Judicial affairs, 1984).  If doctors start to carry out euthanasia then people will eliminate all meaning that people have in life.  

Opposing Reason:

             Is euthanasia morally wrong one might ask?  Some would say ending a human life is against Gods plan, and the other would be what gives any human the right to end the life of any individual.  There are some pro-euthanasia arguments that say it should be legalized as long as there is justification.  They state parents with a disabled child should be able to make that decision to end their life.  The question that I have why can’t that child have a life just like me and you.  What is lacking in most of these cases is proper justification and who will determine what reasons are accepted (Lewis, 2007).   If we start allowing euthanasia this would allow people that are not terminally ill, but the patient does not want to live anymore.