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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 9 page research paper that examines the ethical issues associated with the issue of euthanasia, which are frequently addressed in contemporary society due to the fact that modern medical innovation has made it possible to prolong life in situations where, in previous eras, death would have been swift and inevitable. As this suggests, euthanasia debates are often associated with the discussions of the legality and morality of physician-assisted suicide. The following discussion of the ethics of euthanasia will consider both sides of this debate, pro and con, as well as how this issue can be regarded from various ethical perspectives, with a particular emphasis on Australian experience and law. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Page Count:
9 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khauseut.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
and inevitable. As this suggests, euthanasia debates are often associated with the discussions of the legality and morality of physician-assisted suicide. The following discussion of the ethics of euthanasia will
consider both sides of this debate, pro and con, as well as how this issue can be regarded from various ethical perspectives, with a particular emphasis on Australian experience and
law. Arguments on both sides Con: Somerville begins an argument against euthanasia by defining it as "a deliberate act that causes death undertaken by one person with the primary
intention of ending the life of another person, in order to relive that persons suffering" (Somerville, 2003, p. 33). Somerville explicitly excludes cases in which the withdrawing or withholding of
life-saving treatments can be justified, as well as cases in which life is shortened for terminally-ill patients by the administration of pain relief. Somerville (2003) offers 2 major
reasons for opposing euthanasia. First of all, this author reasons that legalized euthanasia will have a detrimental impact on society as works against a foundational structure of society, which is
the prohibition against intentionally ending another persons life. Somerville feels that euthanasia is emotionally appealing to the postmodern mindset because people seek means of controlling an event that elicits fear,
i.e., death. While euthanasia does not allow people to avoid the "cause of our fear-death-it does allow us to control its manner, time and place," which elicits the feelings that
we have gained control over death (Somerville, 2003, p. 33). This argument is connected to the "slippery slope" opposition to euthanasia, which asserts that if euthanasia is legal, abuse is
inevitable (Somerville, 2003). The second argument posed by Somerville against euthanasia is that legalization would have a detrimental effect on medicine, as it is the physicians "absolute repugnance to killing
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