Is It Ethical To End The Life Of A Homeless Person

When faced with an emergency either illness or injury going to the hospital becomes the only means of obtaining treatment. Imagine entering the hospital as a homeless person facing a life-threatening illness. After providing every treatment possible, it is certain there is no cure. Now assume a prominent politician in the same city has just been shot and rushed to the same hospital. This prominent leader faces certain death without a double organ transplant. Luckily the homeless person living their last days is a perfect donor match. The treatment for both people can take a drastic turn for one of those patients. When approaching such a case there are five viewpoints to consider when providing ethical treatment and considering ending one life for another. Overall, the question remains what would they do in this circumstance. …show more content…
Considering that by ending the life of the homeless person would allow the leader to survive, they would not suggest the surgery. The libertarian would see that by ending the life of the homeless person restricts them from having the freedom to die with dignity and peace on their own naturally. Since ending the life of the homeless person elevates the life of the leader, the libertarian would choose to allow both people to live out their lives naturally. The utilitarian would see the justification in the decision to accept the organ donation. The utilitarian viewpoint takes into consideration individual freedoms; however, it does not restrict the freedom of another. Knowing that the homeless person has just hours or days to live by approving the surgery the hospital is successfully providing every possible treatment to the prominent leader. Overall, the utilitarian would see it ethical because at least the homeless person received treatment that unfortunately was not