Ethics of Euthanasia - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1661 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/02/06 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Tags: Euthanasia Essay Did you like this example? The topic of Euthanasia has always been a very debated subject. With most people being proponent to euthanasia, there is still a large amount of people and human right groups that are against ending human life by the way of euthanasia. According to Cambridge dictionary, euthanasia is relieving an extremely ill patient who is suffering from incurable disease. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Ethics of Euthanasia" essay for you Create order Euthanasia has been a controversial issue globally as people have differences in their opinions and moral values. In addition, Otlowski (1997) says that there are many countries like Canada, US, Australia, where euthanasia is being practised illegally and doctors faced a lot criticism when exposed. On the one hand, Hitchcock (2016) claims that the longing for death comes from terminally ill people who feel hopelessness. Moreover, some people also believe that act of euthanasia is morally wrong. On the other hand, Healey (2008), commences that thousands of patient die from terminal illness and death remains difficult and painful not just for patients but also for doctors and family. While, some authors believe that euthanasia should be up to the patients only, others argue that it will be misused badly. But, over the last few years the number of patients demanding legal euthanasia has been increased steadily. This report will demonstrate that, the attitude of the people towards euthanasia is controversial. First, the existing literature review and methods for this research will be discussed, after that data collection will be mentioned and finally a discussion with recommendations will be highlighted. Interpretation and findings Information of this survey has been sourced from various students. We conducted a survey on the controversies of euthanasia in the society . Most questions were focused on their opinion and legality about euthanasia. This drew the personal knowledge about the topic. Overall the participants were suggesting that euthanasia should be legal globally but few of them said that it’s not ethical and it will be misused by doctors and patients. Around 51.4% of them agreed that euthanasia should be legal globally. Because euthanasia is illegal in most of the countries. Moreover, 73.5% said it is ethical to relive a patient from their pain if their diseases are incurable. In addition, 65.7% of people think that people should have right to choose when they want to die legally. However, 73.5% believe that euthanasia will be misused once it will be legalized globally. Respondents were also asked whether they want to have an option of ending their life if diagnosed with terminal illness and most of them agreed to have this option. The survey questions showe d difference in the opinion of people about euthanasia. The survey showed that more than half of respondents were in favour of euthanasia and they want it legal globally. On the other hand, only 26.5% says that it is not ethical and it should not be practised. Moreover, approximately 34.3% believe that people should not have right to choose to die legally. Although, significant number of respondents indicated favourable view about euthanasia but few of them strongly disagree with usage of euthanasia. Methods A survey was designed to focus on different opinions of the students, hence both qualitative and quantitative methodology was used. Euthanasia has been an exceptionally questionable subject because of contrast in assessments. A study was intended to know the perspectives and assessments of students in Australia. Three headings were planned including personal opinions, lawfulness of killing all around, whether euthanasia is moral. There were 35 participants that took part in the survey. Most of the participants were students from 19 to 30 age group. The respondents gave their as opinion by answering the questions asked. Confidentially was ensured a nd respondents were not required to reveal their identity. It is believed that survey research was the most suitable way as it provided a lot of information about people’s opinions regarding euthanasia. This survey research helped to know that it is a very critical issue in society. However, as survey only had 15 questions, it provided limited information. The participants provided their views and individual opinions, but to know exact situation and data to be more beneficial, it should have more wider community providing wider knowledge and opinions. Hence, information gathered is limited. Abstract Euthanasia is a highly controversial and crucial issue globally. The purpose of the research is to report on the controversial attitude of people towards euthanasia, and should euthanasia be legalised? Euthanasia is considered as immoral activity by many people from many years so it has become a very controversial topic. It was determined that existing literature is limited as it is highly growing issue across the world. The aim of this survey was to identify people’s opinions about euthanasia whether it is right for humanity and mankind or not. Discussion and conclusion The report suggests that attitude of people towards euthanasia is controversial. There wer e arguments both for and against euthanasia. For instance, when asked about legality of euthanasia 51.4% respondents were in favour and 48.6% were opposing the act. However, findings of this survey suggests that euthanasia should be a personal issue not a social issue. Moreover, most of the respondents believe that right to die legally should be allowed when patient is bearing severe pain and suffering from terminal illness. Data shows that few of the respondents were against euthanasia and they also consider it unethical. Although, some students believe that euthanasia should not be practised, but majority of them consider that it will widely help patients to get relieved from extreme pain they are bearing. This report aimed to examine whether attitude of people towards euthanasia is controversial. Overall, hypothesis was proved as most of the respondents had different opinions and views which proves that euthanasia is a very controversial issue in the society. In this study, we examined that euthanasia has received a lot of criticism and most of people are in favour of euthanasia and demand for its legality. Recommendations As the data indicat ed that most of the respondents were in favour of euthanasia, they want euthanasia legal globally. Views and opinions presented that right to die with dignity should be allowed. Government should legalise euthanasia and allow patients to die peacefully and without regrets if they are suffering from incurable diseases and they are willing to end their life. It is also recommended that right to die should not be a choice of a human rights group or any government group but the choice of the person who is suffering and the family. Lastly, government should also take effective steps to avoid misuse of euthanasia so that patients who genuinely need it can use it. Literature review An extensive body of literature exists on legal implications of euthanasia globally. The main concerns raised in the existing scholarship are as follows: Should euthanasia be legal or whether this is an ethical practice. Another significant concern here is that patients feel burden on their families. Likewise, there are some scholars who believe that euthanasia will be misused by doctors and patients. However, there are few researchers who state that right to die with dignity is a person al issue. Moreover, some argue that terminally ill patients can donate their organs which will be helpful for other patients with more chances of survival. For instance, according to Battin (2005), legalised euthanasia will effect doctor’s value in patient’s life and will create trust issues among patients. Furthermore, it was found that in Netherlands, sixty percent of patients were scared of visiting doctors as they felt their lives would end against their will. In addition, Syme (2008), asserts that there is no illness which cannot be cured, it is just matter of time. No matter how worst the illness is, there is a treatment of it. For example, years ago we didn’t had pain relievers and antibiotics. But due to continuous research and help of people from medicine field made antibiotics and painkillers one hand away. Although, euthanasia has received criticism for its legal implementation only certain counties like Brazil, Canada and Switzerland have legalised it (Wikipedia, 2018). Additionally, Somerville (2017) claims that suicide rates rise in jurisdictions where euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal. Furthermore, Gushee (2004) believes that taking someone’s life from whom society has no threat even if it is done with good motives is considered a murder. Therefore, killing someone is wrong ethically. On the other hand, Denton (2016) asserts that right to die with dignity is a personal issue. Assisted suicide will relief patient from their sufferings. Government should allow and permit patients to die with their choice. Similarly, patients suffering from terminal illness know they will die soon and suffer from unbearable pain, so they should have opportunity and right to choose death. In addition, Glover believes that there is no general statement for word moral, as this word have different values for everyone. Some people consider moral as some sort of rules laid down by God, whereas, some says that it has more social values as it helps in reducing conflicts in society. So, he commences that moral values differ according to situation and circumstances. While the existing scholarship mainly focuses on legal implications of euthanasia and its misuse by doctors and patients, not much has been written about attitude of people towards euthanasia. My research will draw on the existing scholarship and fill the gaps in it, by examining the controversies on euthanasia, as well as attitudes of people towards euthanasia. Reference list: Battin, M. (2005). Ending life. New York city: Oxford dictionary press. Cambridge dictionary (2018). Euthanasia. [online] Available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/euthanasia Syme, R. (2008). A Good death. Victoria: Melbourne University Press. Wikipedia, (2018). Legality of euthanasia.[online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_euthanasia Glover, J.(1997). Causing death and saving lives. London: Penguin Books. Hitchcock, K. (2016). The Right to Die or Right to Kill? The Monthly. Gushee, D.P. (2004). Killing with Kindness. Christianity Today. Healey, J. (2008). Voluntary Euthanasia. Thirroul: The Spinney Press. Otlowski, M.(1997). Voluntary euthanasia and common law. New York: Clarendon Press. Somerville, M. (2017). Do suicide increases where euthanasia is legal? Mercatornet.