The Ethics of Euthanasia Essay

Euthanasia: The Controversial Medical Act

Euthanasia is a well-known term in the world of medicine. Much of its popularity, however, stems from the controversy that surrounds it as well as the divided support it receives. Euthanasia refers to the medical act of assisting a patient to die to relieve them of their pain (Pereira, 2011, 38).

The Two Types of Euthanasia

Depending on the mode of “assisted death”, there are two types of euthanasia; one is passive euthanasia, and the other is active euthanasia.

Active Euthanasia: Relieving Pain through Medication

In active euthanasia, the patient has injected drugs that will fasten their death, therefore, relieving them of the pain in the last few days of their life (Garrard and Wilkinson, 2005, 65). This is done through the administration of a life-ending drug at the request of either the patient or the caregivers of the patient. In the United States, active euthanasia is permissible only through a professional physician. On the other hand, passive euthanasia refers to the withdrawal of a life-prolonging drug from a patient to hasten their death (Magnusson, 2004, 441). Similar to active euthanasia, this is done at the request of the patient or the caregiver.

The Legality and Ethics of Euthanasia

Euthanasia is both legal and illegal depending on the law within the jurisdiction of operation. However, the debate has always centered on whether it is ethical or not, both within and without the academic realms. Those who argue for the practice cite a wide range of reasons to support it including the risk of public health for highly contagious diseases, own patient safety in the case where the patient is psychological demented or pain reduction (Magnusson, 2004, 441). Arguments against the practice have been based on the sole argument of ethics. However, it is not just the argument of support for or against that surrounds euthanasia.

The Debate Between Passive and Active Euthanasia

The two types of euthanasia are an issue of a fierce debate as well. The popular doctrine among physicians is that passive euthanasia is better than active euthanasia supporting their argument with the claim that no person has the authority to take another human being’s life (Asch, 1996, 972). Furthermore, the argument is that physicians are trained to tender life and not to cut it short. However, Gorman (2005, 857) suggests that passive euthanasia is just as ethically immoral as active euthanasia and should not be entertained. Nevertheless, these arguments do not stop euthanasia as it continues to thrive in countries where it is deemed legal or not.

The Ethical Perspective: Providing Exceptional Care

Ethically, however, it may be difficult to determine whether it is moral to practice euthanasia or not. Application of Aristotle’s Golden Mean can provide an insightful way of considering the argument (Koehn, 2011, 180). A patient, on the one hand, is in pain and no one other than them understands the emotional and physical state they are in a while, on the other hand, there are people who are guided by their “normal” way of life. It seems, therefore, excessive to kill and yet it is insufficient of human nature to one’s beloved one in pain. The ultimate action in such a situation is to provide exceptional ending days for the patient. Instead of active euthanasia, the patient could be provided with painkillers and be surrounded by their loved ones until they pass away. In such a situation, not only do they die carefree but everyone will feel they played their part once the patient departs and there will be no feelings of guilt.

Works Cited

Asch, David. “The Role of Critical Care Nurses in Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 335, no. 13, 1996, pp. 971-974, doi:10.1056/nejm199609263351312.

Garrard, E., and S. Wilkinson. ”Passive euthanasia.” Clinical Ethics, vol. 31, no. 2, 2005, pp. 64-68, doi:10.1136/jme.2003.005777.

Koehn, Glen. ”Human Goodness and the Golden Mean.” Journal of Value Inquiry, vol. 37, no. 2, 2011, pp. 179-194.

Magnusson, R. S. ”Euthanasia: Above Ground, Below Ground.” Journal of Medical Ethics, vol. 30, no. 5, 2004, pp. 441-446, doi:10.1136/jme.2003.005090.

Pereira, J. ”Legalizing Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide: The Illusion of Safeguards and Controls.” Current Oncology, vol. 18, no. 2, 2011, pp. 38-45, doi:10.3747/co.v18i2.883.