Ethical Arguments Against Euthanasia
Brianna Coleman
Professor Wayne Urffer
Ethics (Monday, 1pm)
20 November 2012
Euthanasia
On a daily bases we are faced with many ethical issues. In today’s society, ethical dilemmas are seen as relative. What happens when you have to make a dire decision that does not only effect you, but the people around you. What happens when you have to make a decision for a chronically ill loved one? How do you handle the situation? In the case of Euthanasia, there is no room for error or for extreme thought processes. When thinking ethically and morally, one must have balance to determine proper judgement.
Euthanasia, also called mercy killing, is defined as the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme …show more content…
It is administered through drugs, injections, starvation and dehydration, gases, plastic bags, and the ‘peaceful pill’. In certain states, doctors can prescribe a cocktail of drugs intended to kill the patient. Once the prescription is filled there are specific instructions for the patient to understand that they will die with a single dose. To reduce the chances of the euthanasia drugs being vomited up, an anti-emetic must be given. Some of these prescription drugs are covered under the category “comfort care” by health care providers. Two lethal injections can also be provided depending on the state. The first injection is used to put the patient into a comatose state and the second is used to stop the heart. Many pro-euthanasia activist like to refer to starvation and dehydration method. This includes withdrawal of food and water in order to hasten death. This means of death is frequently approved when application is made to the courts. Often it is paired with Terminal Sedation. Terminal sedation is the use of measured sedatives and analgesics for the necessary control of symptoms like intolerable pain, agitation, and anxiety to relieve the distress of the patient and of family members. The use of gases, plastic bags and the peaceful pill often self administered and are found among those who commit
Professor Wayne Urffer
Ethics (Monday, 1pm)
20 November 2012
Euthanasia
On a daily bases we are faced with many ethical issues. In today’s society, ethical dilemmas are seen as relative. What happens when you have to make a dire decision that does not only effect you, but the people around you. What happens when you have to make a decision for a chronically ill loved one? How do you handle the situation? In the case of Euthanasia, there is no room for error or for extreme thought processes. When thinking ethically and morally, one must have balance to determine proper judgement.
Euthanasia, also called mercy killing, is defined as the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme …show more content…
It is administered through drugs, injections, starvation and dehydration, gases, plastic bags, and the ‘peaceful pill’. In certain states, doctors can prescribe a cocktail of drugs intended to kill the patient. Once the prescription is filled there are specific instructions for the patient to understand that they will die with a single dose. To reduce the chances of the euthanasia drugs being vomited up, an anti-emetic must be given. Some of these prescription drugs are covered under the category “comfort care” by health care providers. Two lethal injections can also be provided depending on the state. The first injection is used to put the patient into a comatose state and the second is used to stop the heart. Many pro-euthanasia activist like to refer to starvation and dehydration method. This includes withdrawal of food and water in order to hasten death. This means of death is frequently approved when application is made to the courts. Often it is paired with Terminal Sedation. Terminal sedation is the use of measured sedatives and analgesics for the necessary control of symptoms like intolerable pain, agitation, and anxiety to relieve the distress of the patient and of family members. The use of gases, plastic bags and the peaceful pill often self administered and are found among those who commit