Euthanasia: Ethical Issues and Approaches

Euthanasia 1
Euthanasia
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Rationale
Euthanasia refers to the deliberate action of ending a person’s life with the aim of
reducing pain and suffering (Nathan, 2015). This applies mostly to the terminally ill patients.
After a series of professional observations and tests, a doctor may determine that it is
impossible for the patient to heal even if the best possible care was to be offered. It is in such
circumstances that euthanasia may be applied. There are certain factors that must be met
before it is applied. One of these is that the patient and their caregivers must consent. The
other factor is that carrying out such a procedure must be permitted by law. If it is prohibited,
then it cannot be done even if the patient consents.
There are several reasons why euthanasia is an ethical issue. First, human life is
treated with outmost respect in most societies. It is therefore regarded as morally wrong to
intentionally end someone’s life. Doing such a thing is considered as murder. The second
reason why euthanasia is an ethical issue is because it involves consent from the patient. This
means that it is the patient who makes a deliberate decision to end their life so that pain and
suffering may reduce. Therefore, the society and the health professionals may be in a
dilemma whether to obey the societal moral or respect an individual’s autonomy (Shepperd
2016).
Deontological approach may be applied to this case. The approach was developed by
Immanuel Kant and argues that human behaviour should be based on the duty to uphold
moral principles (Mihailov, 2016). This approach refutes the utilitarian approach which
argues that behaviour should be based on consequences. If the deontological approach were
to be applied in the issue of euthanasia, it would then the practice would be morally wrong.
The deontological approach insists on the importance on judging the morality of actions

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rather than the consequences of the action. Since it is morally wrong to kill, deontologists
would conclude that euthanasia is not good practice and should not be carried out.
Diary Entry 1
Decisions regarding euthanasia are very difficult to make. This is because they
surround an issue that all human beings will eventually face, that is, death. It is worth noting
that in most cases of euthanasia, it is the patient who decides to end their life (Keown, 2018).
This makes the topic of euthanasia controversial since death is generally treated as a bad
thing by the society. As an ethicist, it is necessary to respect the autonomy of an individual.
However, in such a controversial issue there are some factors that must be considered even if
the autonomy is to be respected. One of these is whether or not it is morally right to kill. The
answer is that it is morally wrong to intentionally end someone’s life (Halpern, 2015).
Therefore, euthanasia is not morally permissible. In addition to this, most countries have not
yet legalised euthanasia. In such countries, it is illegal to carry out euthanasia.
Diary Entry 2
Most people of the world subscribe to a religion. It is important to consider this when
discussing the topic of euthanasia. This is because, the teachings or various religions are
important in influencing how people live (VanderWeele, Balboni and Koh 2017). Most
religions treat human life as sacred. Due to this, it should be treated with outmost dignity. Let
us take an example with catechism. These are religious principles and teachings that
Christians observe. Christianity teaches that human life is dignified and every person should
endeavour to respect it. Due to this, any practices that do not show dignity to human life are
not permitted. These include such practices as euthanasia and abortion. Therefore, on the
basis of religion, euthanasia is wrong and should not be carried out (VanderWeele, Balboni
and Koh, 2017). As an ethicist, it is important to ensure that the religious values that people