Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia and assisted suicide
Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Euthanasiaandassistedsuicide/Pages/Arguments.aspx
Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering
Supporting the practices of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
ethical argument – that people should have freedom of choice, including the right to control their own body and life (as long as they do not abuse any other person’s rights), and that the state should not create laws that prevent people being able to choose when and how they die
pragmatic argument – that euthanasia, particularly passive euthanasia, is allegedly already a widespread practice, just not one that people are willing to admit to, so it is better for government to regulate euthanasia properly instead
These arguments are discussed in more detail below.
Ethical argument
The ethical argument states that everyone should be able to choose when and how they want to die, and that they should be able to do so with dignity.
The concept of "quality of life" is an important aspect of this argument. The ethical argument suggests that life should only continue as long as a person feels their life is worth living.
For example, someone who supports the use of euthanasia or assisted suicide based on the ethical argument may believe that a person should be able to choose to end their life if they are living in intolerable pain and their quality of life is severely diminished.
Pragmatic argument
The pragmatic argument states that many of the practices used in end of life care are a type of euthanasia in all but name.
Another controversial practice is known as palliative sedation. This is where a person who is experiencing extreme suffering, for which there is no effective treatment, is put to sleep using sedative medication. Palliative sedation is often used to treat burns victims who are expected to die.
While palliative sedation is not directly carried out for the purpose of ending
Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Euthanasiaandassistedsuicide/Pages/Arguments.aspx
Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering
Supporting the practices of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
ethical argument – that people should have freedom of choice, including the right to control their own body and life (as long as they do not abuse any other person’s rights), and that the state should not create laws that prevent people being able to choose when and how they die
pragmatic argument – that euthanasia, particularly passive euthanasia, is allegedly already a widespread practice, just not one that people are willing to admit to, so it is better for government to regulate euthanasia properly instead
These arguments are discussed in more detail below.
Ethical argument
The ethical argument states that everyone should be able to choose when and how they want to die, and that they should be able to do so with dignity.
The concept of "quality of life" is an important aspect of this argument. The ethical argument suggests that life should only continue as long as a person feels their life is worth living.
For example, someone who supports the use of euthanasia or assisted suicide based on the ethical argument may believe that a person should be able to choose to end their life if they are living in intolerable pain and their quality of life is severely diminished.
Pragmatic argument
The pragmatic argument states that many of the practices used in end of life care are a type of euthanasia in all but name.
Another controversial practice is known as palliative sedation. This is where a person who is experiencing extreme suffering, for which there is no effective treatment, is put to sleep using sedative medication. Palliative sedation is often used to treat burns victims who are expected to die.
While palliative sedation is not directly carried out for the purpose of ending