Preview

Peter Singer's Voluntary Euthanasi A Utilitarian Perspective

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1539 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Peter Singer's Voluntary Euthanasi A Utilitarian Perspective
Euthanasia and PAS

Euthanasia and PAS In this paper, the main topic of discussion will be on how Utilitarian theory and Deontology handle the subject of euthanasia and PAS. While both methods have the same effect, PAS (Physician-Assisted Suicide) is performed by the patient injecting a prescribed lethal dose of medication, whereas euthanasia involves the doctor administering the lethal dose. The specific question being addressed in this paper is whether or not these options, PAS and euthanasia, are considered ethical by utilitarian and deontological standards, and I will divide the paper up into two halves, each theory explaining and telling its own perspective. It is my understanding that the utilitarian viewpoint supports the
…show more content…
In a paper by Peter Singer entitled, “Voluntary Euthanasia: A Utilitarian Perspective” (2003), he concludes that the “utilitarian case for allowing patients to choose euthanasia, under specified conditions and safeguards, is strong.” In the body of his paper, he discusses the different conditions and safeguards that would have to be met in order for this to be allowed in reference to utilitarianism. These conditions and safeguards include mandating palliative care specialists to attempt pain relief techniques, and requiring the patient to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to ensure they are in a mental state capable of making coherent decisions. With these conditions and safeguards in place to prevent decisions being made while in constant pain that could be relieved, or decisions being made while clinically depressed, there seems to be no reason as to why a patient shouldn’t be allowed to choose euthanasia or PAS as an end of life option if the net happiness that would result from them continuing to live is outweighed by the pain and suffering the patient would have to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Marc Bloch's Strange Defeat: A Statement of Evidence Written in 1940, was the result of his experiences during the Nazi invasion of France during World War Two. As the title describes, this Memoir was written in 1940 but was not published until after the war in 1946. This work was written while Bloch was in hiding from the Nazis in Gueret France during the months following the Nazi occupation of France. Bloch, who joined the war effort against the Nazis in 1939 at the age of fifty-four, was of jewish heritage and realized he was a prime target for their hate. Despite his age and the French policy excusing him from duty, Bloch was dedicated to protecting his home. Bloch vanished into the French resistance and by 1943 he was a leader of the resitance…

    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The author examines the moral and ethical dilemma of a physician who take part in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. He distinguishes the difference between passive euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Anson notes, that passive euthanasia is more acceptable due to the similarities of the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics guidelines for withholding or removing life-sustaining intervention. However, the article also implied contradictions in the Hippocratic Oath against active euthanasia. Moreover, Anson examines the ideas based on proponents' views for active euthanasia, which patients who utilize life support systems are suffering agonizing and "leading to an undignified death". Although the article differs…

    • 146 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia is a widely debated and controversial topic in our society. It is believed that the principle of PAS and euthanasia portrays, “merciful acts that deliver terminally ill patients from painful and protracted death” (page 477, column 2). In the paper, “Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Tragic View,” John D. Arras discusses the subject and states that while he agrees with patients making decisions, implementing laws supporting PAS and euthanasia is a huge threat to our social order. However, John D. Arras also concludes that he does not disapprove with the possibility of having a legislative policy in favor of PAS/euthanasia, only if there is “sufficient evidence of reliability of various safeguards” (page 477, column 2).…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physician-Assisted Suicide

    • 2476 Words
    • 10 Pages

    How is physician-assisted suicide any different than regular suicide? Does the fact that a person is terminally ill make it right? Who gets to decide if it is right? These are questions people may ask themselves when deciding whether or not they think physician-assisted suicide is ethical. Whether it is requested or not, many would say it is unethical for a physician to deliberately cause death to a person. Physicians take an oath to first do no harm. Others may say that a person has the right to make his or her own decisions about his or her life. In this paper, I will explore each side of physician-assisted suicide and how it relates to virtue ethics, along with how I feel relativist would see the issue.…

    • 2476 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician-Assisted Suicide

    • 1301 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Why it is unjust and unmoral to approve of medical assistants in the pursuit of death, such as suicide if the patients ask for such help? There are two side to every argument, there are some people that believe that is is morally ethical to receive PAS (Physician-Assisted Suicide). Then, of course there’s the opposing side to the debate in which this paper will cover and that side is :The medical practice is PAS is unjust, unmoral and shouldn’t be legalized for the fact the the will of life out powers a moment of misery.…

    • 1301 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Euthanasia Ethical Dilemma

    • 2102 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Euthanasia is a social issue in today’s world because not only does it affect the lives of those who are terminally ill and/or comatose, and the physicians who have been entrusted with their care, but it also affects the patient’s ability to have control over their own life, whether they are aware of this decision or not, which is one of the reasons why euthanasia has become such a controversial issue around the globe. Caddell and Newton (1995) define euthanasia as “any treatment initiated by a physician with the intent of hastening the death of another human being who is terminally ill and in severe pain or distress with the motive of relieving that person from great suffering” (p. 1,672). Even though the concept of great…

    • 2102 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A hotly debated issue regarding the quality of life for terminally ill patients revolves around the morality and legal implications of euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide which is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease, or in an irreversible coma. There are already a multitude of laws in place regulating physician assisted suicide in some states and countries, as well as laws preventing the practice. But despite these preventative laws physician assisted suicide remains an underground practice to relieve patient suffering. In lieu of the supposed moral issues associated with physician assisted suicide,…

    • 3211 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The right to physician-assisted suicide is a very controversial topic that concerns many people all over the world. There has been much debate about whether a terminally ill patient has the right to die with the assistance of a physician. Physician-assisted suicide is defined as a physician providing a patient with means to kill themselves. The doctor would prescribe a lethal dose of medication to the patient to end their life. From the Utilitarian standpoint, physician-assisted suicide is morally acceptable because the patients should be allowed to end there suffering, reduce the damaging financial…

    • 1112 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician assisted suicide is a highly controversial bioethical issue that has been increasingly debated in recent years. Advocates of physician assisted suicide argue that it champions patient autonomy and reduces suffering while opposers suggest the benefits outweigh the risks and that there are other acceptable alternatives to the practice. This paper attempts to demonstrate the permissibility of physician assisted suicide as a regulated, medically reliable end-of-life option that can help end the suffering of individuals struggling with terminal illnesses. This will be achieved while still providing a comprehensive view of both opponents’ and supporters’ perspectives on the issue, specifically regarding the nature of the death that comes…

    • 1640 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician assisted suicide is a highly controversial issue that has many ethical concerns. There are many moral issues that should be considered when discussing physician-assisted suicide. Many people relate religion as a part of why physician assisted suicide is wrong and others state it violates the Hippocratic Oath. In this paper, we will discuss the moral dilemma of physician-assisted suicide. We will also examine the arguments against and in favor of physician assisted suicide and which view is closer to my own.…

    • 1087 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The medical use of euthanasia has been one the most highly debated topics in healthcare for many years. Should you be able to decide when you want to die? Should physicians help patients who no longer wish to live die? To help gain insight into this highly controversial and fascinating topic, I have chosen an article from Santa Clara University. In this article, the author gave a beautiful example of an acceptable situation in which I believe euthanasia can be used. He explained that his first wife was dying of inoperable bone cancer. She had thrombosis, broken bones, and no longer had any control over her bowels. It was no longer a question of if she was going to die; it was a question of when. She had been suffering for two years and could no longer withstand the pain of her terminal illness. The authors have lobbied for a new law that would allow the use of euthanasia in the treatment of patients suffering from terminal diseases. Under their law, two different physicians would have to both determine that patient is dying from a terminal disease that can not be cured or successfully treated. As stated by one of the authors, Derek Humphry; “It’s me. It’s my body. It’s my liberty. It’s my life. And it’s my death. Let me have control.” If we have given patients the right to refuse feeding tubes and other life saving measures then why should they be stripped of the right to end their unbearable suffering. The biggest principle surround the use of euthanasia is autonomy, the right to self-determination. Some individuals argue that autonomy gives you the freedom to have another person intervene to take your life, while others argue that taking one’s life is a contraindication of autonomy as you are giving away your freedom. There is no doubt that this topic will be debated for many years to come. I personally believe that an individual suffering a terminal disease should be given the right…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide

    • 2127 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Death, while a reality for all people, is still a frightening and unknown experience. That is one of the reasons that physician-assisted suicide is such a complex topic. However, when one is faced with the prospect of witnessing the suffering of a terminally ill loved one and watching them experience unbearable pain, despite the known fact that they will never again be healthy, the issue becomes less complex. Whether an actual experience or an imagined one, it is one of the worst situations an individual can endure. If offered the possibility to end the suffering and relieve the patient or loved one from pain, would you be supportive or would you leave them to suffer? Physician-assisted suicide could be the answer for the select few patients who meet strict requirements and who are in need of relief. Physician-assisted suicide refers to a practice in which a physician provides a competent, terminally ill patient with a prescription for a lethal dose of medication, upon the patient 's request, which the patient intends to use to end his or her own life. (Black) Here is where the controversy arises: should terminally ill patients have the right to choose when to end their lives? Due to the facts that physician-assisted suicide can be constructed to have reasonable laws that ensure it will not be abused and protect the value of human life, relieve suffering patients, and allow citizens in need to exercise their fundamental freedoms to the right of death, physician-assisted suicide should be a legal practice in the United States.…

    • 2127 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Euthanasia the assisted killing of a terminal patient is a controversial topic that medical professionals cannot avoid. Many health professionals face the ethical dilemma of whether or not they should end a patient’s misery. Patient’s rights are always the top priority, doctors are taught to find every possible way to treat and cure the patient, but the possibility of the patient being irremediable to what extent is the health care professionals willing to go to give the patient their wishes?…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout the 21st century, the progress of medical advancement has greatly enhanced the quality of human beings’ lives. However, certain illnesses still remain incurable, from which some people are afflicted with great and constant physical distress. The question becomes whether or not the patients have the freedom to choose terminating their lives because the prolonging of life may consist of only pain and suffering. This is the basic idea of physician assisted suicide (PAS). PAS has raised heated debate and antagonism between different groups, and it is also one of the most controversial issues in our society nowadays.…

    • 1290 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In recent years, assisted suicide has become a rather controversial topic regarding whether or not a dying patient has the right to die with the assistance of a physician. While some are against it due to moral beliefs, others support it as a result of their respect for those suffering. However, physicians remain divided on the issue, being torn on the difference between relief from dying and murder. After analyzing the issue in depth, it is clear that terminally ill patients should be granted the right to assisted suicide in order to end their suffering, reduce financial burdens placed upon their families, and preserve the right of individuals to determine their own fate when facing death.…

    • 959 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays