Ethical Issues in Voluntary Euthanasia

This essay discusses the ethical issues surrounding voluntary euthanasia in the case of a patient with ALS. It links the issues to the four principles of principlism and analyses the worldviews of Christianity and Buddhism. The paper recommends that caregivers should grant the patient's wish for voluntary euthanasia.

Running head: ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 1
Ethical Issues in Voluntary Euthanasia
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 2
Abstract
The patient in the case study is inquiring about voluntary euthanasia since he has ALS which is a
chronic complication. Autonomy requires the caregivers to respect the decisions of the patient.
Nonmaleficence states that the actions of the care providers should not harm the clients.
Beneficence requires medical attention to benefit the patients. Justice needs health specialists to
offer fair medical treatment to all clients. The first three principles support the voluntary
euthanasia if it helps, does not harm, and respects the decision of the patient. Christianity has
seven ways of viewing the world and its activities. Buddhism also has three components of
judging the deeds of its believers. The worldview of the two religions shows that they are against
voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. I believe that the caregivers should allow the possibility of
the assisted dying if it honours the principles of ethics.

ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 3
Introduction
The case study talks about George, who has been diagnosed with ALS. Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis has no cure; thus, patients die after three to five years after the infection
(Ashrafi-Asgarabad, Ayubi, & Safiri, 2017). Patients of ALS gradually lose the capability to
breathe, eat, move, or speak. However, they retain the senses of hearing, touch, taste, smell, and
sight. Therefore, treatment methods tones down the progression of the complication but do not
end it. George is thinking about requesting voluntary euthanasia to stop the mental and physical
suffering due to his condition. This essay will link the ethical issues surrounding the patient's
situation to the four principles of principlism. It will also discuss Christianity and Buddhism
worldviews. This paper will analyse the ethical issues on death and dying following the two
religious views. Finally, this write-up will outline my recommendation on the way forward for
George, his family, and the caregivers.
Four Principles of Principlism
Autonomy
The principle requires individuals to respect the decision of other people. In the healthcare
scenario, the patient has the right to make medical decisions. The caregivers and the family of
the patient should respect the decision. The care providers should provide relevant information to
the patient for consent (Moulton, & King, 2010). In the case study, George shows interest in
undergoing voluntary euthanasia. The patient decides due to the fear of suffering and
dependency on others. The physicians should respect George's decision and help him acquire the
voluntary euthanasia.
Nonmaleficence

ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 4
The ethical principle requires the caregivers to desist from causing an intentional injury or harm
to the client (Hoskins, Grady, & Ulrich, 2018). The care provider can harm the patient through
omission or commission of specific activities. George thinks that voluntary euthanasia reduces
the suffering from progressive symptoms such as losing the ability to breathe. Therefore, the
failure of the physicians to conduct euthanasia causes harm to him. The caregivers should assist
the patient to die in respect to the principle of nonmaleficence. The voluntary euthanasia would
severely affect the family members but benefit the patient; thus, the interests of George should
override those of his kin.
Beneficence
The ethical principle requires individuals to take actions that benefit and bring joy to the
recipients (Hoskins, Grady, & Ulrich, 2018). Similarly, caregivers should ensure that their
medical attention helps the clients. Like nonmaleficence, beneficence requires the health
specialists to remove or prevent injury to the client. In the case scenario, conducting the
voluntary euthanasia would benefit the patient as it limits the suffering due to ALS. Therefore,
the caregivers should assist George to die as they prevent harm and help the client. Harming the
patient by refusing to help him to die is unethical as it only exerts suffering to George.
Justice
The principle of justice implies fairness of an individual towards the other. The
caregivers should also be fair to their clients at all time (Hoskins, Grady, & Ulrich, 2018). In the
healthcare sector, care providers should provide quality medical attention to all patients.
Additionally, human limitations such as lack of enough capital should not prevent individuals
from accessing quality care. In various USA hospitals, some patients yearn that the caregivers
save their lives from different ailments. However, other patients require the care providers to

ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 5
assist them to die to eliminate their suffering. Therefore, in the case scenario, performing the
voluntary euthanasia is justice to George.
The Christian Worldview
Christianity has doctrines that enable Christians to view the world in seven different
scenarios. The first scenario is that a supreme being called God exists (Goplen, & Plant, 2015).
Additionally, God created the Universe and everything that is in it. God is righteous, holy,
unchangeable, powerful, and wise. The second view is about the universe. Christians believe
that the Supreme Being created the world and all its components. His did his creation orderly and
with a clear purpose. Additionally, human choices have either favorable or unfavorable
consequences. The third element is on the question of humanity. God created humans in his
image and likeness. Therefore, humans should hold dignity; since their creator is a holy being.
Thus, Christians should avoid abuse, abortion, murder, and other sins.
The fourth issue in the Christianity worldview discusses the question of death. Every
human must die and either begin external life or perish in everlasting power. Those who have
faith in Jesus Christ will live beyond death. The fifth concept talks about human knowledge
about God, his son Jesus, and other things in the world (Shenk, & Plantinga, 2016). The grace of
God enables humans to understand their surrounding and their creator. God uses Jesus Christ and
his word to reveal himself to his creatures. The sixth view discusses ethics according to God.
Christians believe that morality emanates from God’s character (Meilaender, 2013). The seventh
Christian worldview indicates that history is not circular but is linear. Therefore, everything
including life must begin, continue, and ultimately end at some point.
The Buddhism Worldview

ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 6
Buddhists have an eightfold path divided into three components. The first component
called Panna talks about wisdom and discernment. The first point of sense requires humans to
understand and accept truths about life (Ford, 2016). One of the realities is that suffering exists
and causes pain, sickness, loss, and many other things. The second component called Sila talks
about morality and virtues. Buddhists consider harsh language, gossip, and criticism as immoral
deeds. Buddhism requires members to refrain from killing, stealing, lying, misusing sex, and
consuming alcohol. The third view called Samadhi needs individuals to encourage good thoughts
and shun evil ones.
The link between Ethical Issues in the Religious Worldviews and the Case Study
The third Christianity Worldview on humanity notes that Christians should not murder
the other person or permit the procurement of abortion. Therefore, a caregiver who allows
George's quest for voluntary euthanasia is committing murder and going against the doctrines of
Christianity. The sixth Christian worldview indicates that ethics emanate from God's character.
Therefore, assisting the patient to die is unethical as it against the nature of the Supreme Being.
God created the Universe and everything in it. Human beings have no right to taking the life of
another person. It is God who gives and take away life.
Buddhists believe that it is unethical to kill or harm someone. Therefore, assisting George
to die is like killing him which is against the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism also acknowledges
the fact that suffering exists and leads to pain, sickness, and loss. Therefore, the patient in the
case study should allow the suffering and pain as the two are realities of life. Buddhism also has
a view that the members should encourage good thoughts and shun bad ones. The patient's idea
of assisted death is, and a Buddhist should discourage such thoughts.
Personal Recommendations

ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 7
The two religions are against assisted death. However, the principles of principlism
encourage it if the act benefits the patient. I would urge the caregivers to grant the wishes of
George on Voluntary Euthanasia. The symptoms and the progression ALS cause severe pain and
suffering to the patient. Furthermore, the result of the suffering is death. The failure of the
caregivers and the family to grant the wish of the patient is against the principle of autonomy.
Therefore, the caregivers should overlook the religious worldviews and follow the tenets of
principlism.
Conclusion
The case scenario is about George, who is inquiring about voluntary euthanasia due to his
ALS infection. Both Christians and Buddhists have Worldviews on numerous questions.
Christianity has seven components of views on the status of the world. The first component
acknowledges God as righteous, unchangeable, and a powerful being. The second view indicates
that God created the universe and everything in it. The third view mentions that God created
humans in his image and liking. The fourth component discusses external life after death and
everlasting fire. The fifth and sixth worldviews are about human knowledge and ethics
respectively. The seventh component states that human history is not circular but is linear.
Buddhism believes that humans should not kill one another among other views. A proper
analysis of the two religious opinions indicates that they are against voluntary euthanasia.
However, I believe that assisted dying is in line with the principles of principlism.

ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA 8
References
Ashrafi-Asgarabad, A., Ayubi, E., & Safiri, S. (2017). Predictors of health-related quality of life
in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: methodological issues. Journal of the
neurological sciences, 372, 228.
Ford, J. L. (2016). Buddhism, Christianity, and The Matrix: the dialectic of myth-making in
contemporary cinema. Journal of Religion & Film, 4(2), 1.
Goplen, J., & Plant, E. A. (2015). A religious worldview: Protecting one’s meaning system
through religious prejudice. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(11), 1474-
1487.
Hoskins, K., Grady, C., & Ulrich, C. M. (2018). Ethics Education in Nursing: Instruction for
Future Generations of Nurses. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1).
Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: A Primer for Christians. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Co.
ISBN-13: 9780802867704
Moulton, B., & King, J. S. (2010). Aligning ethics with medical decision‐making: the quest for
informed patient choice. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 38(1), 85-97.
Shenk, W. R., & Plantinga, R. J. (Eds.). (2016). Christianity and Religious Plurality: Historical
and Global Perspectives. Wipf and Stock Publishers.