Assisted Suicide Research Paper

1820 Words8 Pages
In present-day ethical dilemmas are part of our daily lives. They influence and determine one’s actions upon controversial topics. An ethical dilemma can be described as the "situation in which there is a choice to be made between two options neither of which resolve the situation in an ethically acceptable fashion."(make sure to quote)-------this definition can be applied to the moral issue of euthanasia. Euthanasia or otherwise known as assisted suicide is the topic of much conflict, and continues to become persistently more controversial as more counties allow it to be an option. What exactly is assisted suicide? Assisted suicide is known as " a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable (persisting/unstoppable)…show more content…
Following the Netherlands many other countries including Belgium, Columbia, India, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico and states/provinces (Manitoba is a province) North (because Manitoba is in Canada) America including Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Manitoba passed legislation allowing assisted suicide to be legalize. While euthanasia was something that was rarely thought of before, tends to be an option when individuals think about death. When looking at the main ethical principles that are in conflict with the idea of assisted suicide we see that one of the main conflict is if doctors allow their patients to choose euthanasia opposed to waiting for their time to die, are doctors considered killers? Aside from the fact that there are strict guidelines in order for the option of euthanasia. For example the patient must undergo test and be able to prove they are experiencing severe suffering with no chance of getting better. Would allowing your patient to voluntarily die be essentially killing them? An article stated " patients have no absolute right to euthanasia and doctors have no absolute duty to perform it."---- Therefore doctors don't have the complete right and patients are not totally entitled to the allowing of mercy killing why is it allowed? This has to do with the person's rights. As stated in the Code of Ethics under the first value of respect for the inherent dignity and worth of person that explains how individuals have the "right to make choices based on voluntary, informed consent."----Therefore considering euthanasia is legalized in some countries and if the patient is well aware of the outcome, then the doctor nor the patient is doing anything that is unacceptable according to these conditions. In addition to the ethical principles in debate there are multiple values, beliefs and
Open Document