Human Euthanasia
Running Head: HUMAN EUTHANASIA
Human Euthanasia
Vicki Lynn Golden
ITT Technical Institute
David Taylor
Composition I
Abstract
Euthanasia is the ever controversial topic in debates in ethics. It is the taking of someone’s life upon request by that person, who has a terminal illness. Laws have been passed to legalize this act, however, there are still many that don’t approve of this and considers human euthanasia as an immoral act and a form of murder. Those who support this act believe that the wishes of the terminally sick patient should be respected. Thus, they respect the personal autonomy of human kind. They are those people who respect the dignity and honor of a person as citizen of this country. The abuse of euthanasia by doctors is nothing to fear. Specific conditions can be established under which a person may ask for and be granted euthanasia (Zimmerman, 2005). Euthanasia can be a fast and peaceful way for terminal patients to die on their own terms and be at peace with it.
For many years, human euthanasia has been the topic of many fiery debates on ethics. Legalization of human euthanasia and the morality of the act are usually questioned by people who are too blind to see the benefits of euthanasia. They even classify it as murder but the way I see it, euthanasia is helping people. Now, this unresolved issue is really about autonomy and respect. If people have the right to live, then they also reserve the right to die and the right to freely choose how to die. Those people who accept human euthanasia as a moral act are those people who respect the autonomy of a person. In other words, they respect the right of people in being who they really are. By respecting other people’s decisions, this entails respect of the person’s rights as a citizen and treating that person with dignity and respect. It follows that by doing so one also acknowledges the alternative fact that people also have the right to choose
Human Euthanasia
Vicki Lynn Golden
ITT Technical Institute
David Taylor
Composition I
Abstract
Euthanasia is the ever controversial topic in debates in ethics. It is the taking of someone’s life upon request by that person, who has a terminal illness. Laws have been passed to legalize this act, however, there are still many that don’t approve of this and considers human euthanasia as an immoral act and a form of murder. Those who support this act believe that the wishes of the terminally sick patient should be respected. Thus, they respect the personal autonomy of human kind. They are those people who respect the dignity and honor of a person as citizen of this country. The abuse of euthanasia by doctors is nothing to fear. Specific conditions can be established under which a person may ask for and be granted euthanasia (Zimmerman, 2005). Euthanasia can be a fast and peaceful way for terminal patients to die on their own terms and be at peace with it.
For many years, human euthanasia has been the topic of many fiery debates on ethics. Legalization of human euthanasia and the morality of the act are usually questioned by people who are too blind to see the benefits of euthanasia. They even classify it as murder but the way I see it, euthanasia is helping people. Now, this unresolved issue is really about autonomy and respect. If people have the right to live, then they also reserve the right to die and the right to freely choose how to die. Those people who accept human euthanasia as a moral act are those people who respect the autonomy of a person. In other words, they respect the right of people in being who they really are. By respecting other people’s decisions, this entails respect of the person’s rights as a citizen and treating that person with dignity and respect. It follows that by doing so one also acknowledges the alternative fact that people also have the right to choose
Cited: (2009). Why People killed themselves in 2002 under oregon 's physician assisted suicide act. Retrieved from http://www.euthanasia.com/reasons2003.html Euthanasia.com. (2009). Euthanasia. Retrieved October 19, 2009 from http://www.euthanasia.com/proscons.html ProCon.org. (2009). Euthanasia. Retrieve October 19, 2009 from http://euthanasia.procon.org/viewquestions.asp?issueID=0000000043&subissueID=000096 Young, R. (2008). Voluntary Euthanasia. In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved October 19, 2009 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/euthanasia-voluntary/#Fiv Zimmerman, S. (2005). Euthanasia: the right choice for some. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved October 19, 2009 from http://www.religioustolerance.org/zimm01.htm