Is Euthanasia Ethically Wrong

Within the past decade, an average of fifty-five percent of terminally ill patients died in pain (Seth). Thousands and thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer or other diseases that can put them in a difficult situation if death comes into play. Constant debate of Physician-Assisted Suicide and/or Euthanasia has caused a spark within the medical industry, causing more hospitals and medical facilities to accommodate special request from terminally ill patients. Within the majority of society, many agree that this is morally wrong; but, what many people don’t understand is what these patients mentally and physically have to endure when making end of life decisions. Which leads to the question, is it truly ethical to help a terminally ill …show more content…
Some believe it is for the greater good while others believe it’s a cruel act against morality and God. Plato, one of the most important philosophers to ever live, created Laws and passages to help society distinguish what should and should not be followed during his time. In part of his laws, it states, “... in a general way that doctors should be punished by death, if by administering any sort of drug they contribute to the termination of life” (Papadimitriou et al). In his mind, intentionally taking a life away was the most evil action a human can accomplish. Active Euthanasia is a concept that Plato would not tolerate because the doctor is aware and actively giving the patient medication to die. However, Plato was aware that people had the right to commit suicide if a constant, inevitable obstacle constantly blocked their goal to a good life. Plato empathized with patients during this time period who were enduring the same terminal illnesses. He believed, “patients unable due to their suffering to live a normal life, should not receive treatment for the prolongation of life” (Papadimitriou et al). Being terminally ill can put a huge pressure on not only the patient, but the family. Constant guessing and testing can be strenuous and not being in “the know” can be terrifying. Being able to have the right to choose what happens can be a step towards a less stressful …show more content…
Deontology goes into detail on how an action can outweigh an outcome. As many would think, killing would be morally wrong in a deontological sense, wouldn’t it? Torbjörn Tännsjö, a swedish philosophy professor, describes how certain actions that involve Euthanasia can come out for the greater good. Within Deontology, active killing is strictly prohibited if it was intended. If a doctor specifically gave a patient medication for the purpose of killing them, that would be considered morally wrong, but, what if the action was meant for a different purpose? For example, “It may be morally permitted to give a patient a painkiller that kills her if the intention is to kill the pain not the patient...provided there is a reasonable proportionality between the good at which one aims and the bad one foresees, it is morally acceptable to give a lethal dose” (Tännsjö). The purpose of the action can be meant for the greater good, even though the outcome may be negative. Terminally ill patients have the right to choose their own path. Their reasoning for the action can outway the outcome by a long shot. Many argue that it is against “a higher being”, or that a miracle may happen, but how often do they really happen? Many patients look at how their actions will affect themselves and their family. Their action can be based on self dignity, having a plan for the future instead of