Euthanasia: Morally Right or Ethically Wrong
Euthanasia: Morally Right or Ethically Wrong
SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility
October 02, 2011
Euthanasia: Morally Right or Ethically Wrong
Euthanasia is a “mercy killing” or “merciful death”; a method that implements the practice of ending one’s life to free an individual from pain and suffering due to an inoperable disease. It is a compassionate way for one to carry out the inevitable and be in control of who does it, when, where and why it happens. Euthanasia has always been a taboo subject for the United States, especially since the “Doctor Death” issues, better known as Doctor Jack Kevorkian. Euthanasia has gained a bad reputation within the public eye due to negative media encircling assisted suicide; euthanasia has a purpose and a goal, it should be seen as humanely releasing the soul of a human being from an emptiness created occasionally by our merciless society.
This paper will delineate whether Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide are morally right or ethically wrong. Euthanasia is often confused with and linked to assisted suicide, definitions of the two are vital. Two viewpoints are located within the body of this paper. The first viewpoint will support euthanasia or the "right to die," the second viewpoint will support anti-euthanasia or the "right to live". Each perspective shall attempt to clarify the legal, moral and ethical ramifications of euthanasia and assisted suicide as well as include a personal example of each to detail the ending results.
The term euthanasia has many definitions. The Pro-Life Alliance defines euthanasia as 'Any action or omission intended to end the life of a patient on the grounds that his or her life is not worth living.' The Voluntary Euthanasia Society refers to the word's Greek origins - 'eu' and 'thanatos'-, which together mean 'a good death.' An updated and loosely modern definition is 'A good death brought on by a doctor providing methods or an injection to bring a peaceful end to
SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility
October 02, 2011
Euthanasia: Morally Right or Ethically Wrong
Euthanasia is a “mercy killing” or “merciful death”; a method that implements the practice of ending one’s life to free an individual from pain and suffering due to an inoperable disease. It is a compassionate way for one to carry out the inevitable and be in control of who does it, when, where and why it happens. Euthanasia has always been a taboo subject for the United States, especially since the “Doctor Death” issues, better known as Doctor Jack Kevorkian. Euthanasia has gained a bad reputation within the public eye due to negative media encircling assisted suicide; euthanasia has a purpose and a goal, it should be seen as humanely releasing the soul of a human being from an emptiness created occasionally by our merciless society.
This paper will delineate whether Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide are morally right or ethically wrong. Euthanasia is often confused with and linked to assisted suicide, definitions of the two are vital. Two viewpoints are located within the body of this paper. The first viewpoint will support euthanasia or the "right to die," the second viewpoint will support anti-euthanasia or the "right to live". Each perspective shall attempt to clarify the legal, moral and ethical ramifications of euthanasia and assisted suicide as well as include a personal example of each to detail the ending results.
The term euthanasia has many definitions. The Pro-Life Alliance defines euthanasia as 'Any action or omission intended to end the life of a patient on the grounds that his or her life is not worth living.' The Voluntary Euthanasia Society refers to the word's Greek origins - 'eu' and 'thanatos'-, which together mean 'a good death.' An updated and loosely modern definition is 'A good death brought on by a doctor providing methods or an injection to bring a peaceful end to