Peter Singer Voluntary Euthanasia Analysis

The evolution of modern medicine has dramatically lengthened the life expectancy of human beings. In many cases, the quality of those life years are satisfactory, and elderly individuals enjoy life. However, there are also many people experience terminal diseases or tragic accidents that reduce their quality of life to the point they no longer want to live. In these cases, patients may plead with their doctor to end their life. Naturally, a physician ending the life of her patient is morally conflicting. One great thinker that has examined the morality of what has become known as voluntary euthanasia is Professor Peter Singer. Singer, in general, believes that voluntary euthanasia is morally permissible and goes to great lengths supporting his viewpoint. Despite his well-supported opinion, there are other thinkers that disagree with his moral reasoning. Each of those philosophers explains in detail the flaws …show more content…
After examining all the relevant argument surrounding this topic, it was easy to formulate an opinion supporting voluntary euthanasia in limited circumstances. The contemporary thinker, Peter Singer provides a sound argument that outlines how voluntary euthanasia keeps with the ultimate objective of healthcare. When debating the morality of voluntary euthanasia, it is important to consider why it is morally impermissible to kill a human being. According to Singer, the fact that killing is considered wrong simply because a being is human is not a strong enough reason for it to morally wrong in all situations. This idea that human life is intrinsically valuable stems from religious ideals and is commonly defended using deontology (Singer, “Voluntary” 528). In deontology, the outcome of an action justifies the action itself.