Term Paper on "Medical and Personal Responsibilities on Euthanasia"

Term Paper 3 pages (1090 words) Sources: 3 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Euthanasia in all its forms has become a topic for extreme public debate. Sadly, the issue is not a public one at all but a very personal and excruciating decision that requires self- and social mediation to develop. Over the last few years, organizations have become decidedly split at least publicly falling into two camps, those who believe active euthanasia should be allowed to all who believe their life is not worth living and that the medical and legal communities should support this and those who believe that all acts including even the most passive acts of euthanasia, such as the removal of feeding tubes should be legally and morally banned. The "truth" of the matter is that there are many more middle road positions that support a more personal emphasis on the subject. Three experts on the subject, Conolly, Humphry and Lederman will be compared in this work to show that there is a compromise to be had, that will respect the individual and curtail the medical community from aggressive acts that prolong suffering rather than "life."

Conolly's view on personal responsibilities with regard to euthanasia is that is its the personal responsibility of each human to sustain life in a humanitarian manner, including allowing the natural coarse of death to take human life, where it is unavoidable. Conolly feels that people must understand that there is no obligation to sustain treatments that are clearly not working, and prolong life to a point where the act of dying is feared. He contends that hard cases do not warrant legislating active euthanasia as the balance would go unchecked and such laws would disproportionately effect those who are most vulnerable, as they suffer most tragically, the poor and the disenfranchised. "The first problem is that once we take ourselves to the right actively to terminate human life, we will have no means of controlling it." (158)

Connolly's view on medical responsibilities are that the existing system needs to put in check the utilization of what he terms useless technology to prolong life and therefore suffering and instead seek to improve and extend existing utilization of palliative care. An example he uses is medical professionals abysmal use of aggressive technological medicine, underutilization of pain medication and lack of compassion. "Experience with hospice care in England and the United States has shown repeatedly that in every case, pain and suffering can be overwhelmingly reduced. In many cases in can be abolished altogether." (159) in short Conolly, asserts that personal responsibility lies in seeking out appropriate care for the dying patient rather than giving them the dire responsibility of choosing to end their own life to save their family from what can be a valuable time of healing, and that medical care needs to focus more on palliative care and less on aggressive and useless prolonging of suffering.

Humphrey on the other hand is demonstratively in favor of euthanasia, though in a markedly passive form, such as the removal of naso-gastric feedings, that have prolonged the life of a comatose patient. Humphrey believes that the personal responsibility of the individual is to be allowed the comfort of knowing that they do not have to prolong life if the life is not worth living. "The American Medical Association's decision to… READ MORE

How to Reference "Medical and Personal Responsibilities on Euthanasia" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Euthanasia in All Its Forms Thesis

Euthanasia in all its forms has become a topic for extreme public debate. Sadly, the issue is not a public one at all but a very personal and excruciating decision… read more

Thesis 5 pages (1495 words) Sources: 3 Style: MLA Topic: Aging / Death / Gerontology

---

Euthanasia the State Commission Term Paper

Euthanasia

The State Commission on Euthanasia defined euthanasia as the intentional termination of life by someone other than the patient at the patient's request, while physician-assisted suicide is the intentional… read more

Term Paper 9 pages (2899 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Aging / Death / Gerontology

---

Euthanasia - Should Be Your Legal Right Essay

Euthanasia - Should Be Your Legal Right

Euthanasia should be your legal right

The purpose of the present paper is to discuss the very complex issue represented by euthanasia. The… read more

Essay 5 pages (1611 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Aging / Death / Gerontology

---

Euthanasia Kant Levinas Mills Rawls Term Paper

Euthanasia

There are lots of issues that need to be addressed when talking about euthanasia - this can be related to moral values, religions and ethics.

Euthanasia directly disrespects the… read more

Term Paper 7 pages (2168 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Aging / Death / Gerontology

---

Bioethics Definitions Autonomy: "Personal Rule Essay

Bioethics Definitions

Autonomy: "personal rule of the self that is free from both controlling interferences by others and from personal limitations that prevent meaningful choice" (Pantilat 2008).

Non-maleficence: Not intending… read more

Essay 3 pages (1332 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Abortion / Pro-Life / Pro-Choice

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>