Analysis of “The Schiavos” and “Fetal Testing for Down Syndrome”
Terri Schiavo was a young woman in a persistent vegetative state (PSV) for nearly 13 years. Her husband fought to have her feeding tube removed to allow her to die naturally, yet her family contested his fight, claiming that Terri responded and interacted with them. Although her autopsy results confirmed what her husband argued. Terri suffered from blindness, and the inability to communicate, or interact. Yet her family continued to contest that she interacted with them, (Schiavo Autopsy). Terri’s case involved the application of passive, involuntary euthanasia by allowing her natural death after the cessation of her tube feedings. I will evaluate these cases using Utilitarianism, Kantian Deontology, and Natural …show more content…
Thus for me, this utilitarian position is the best option as long as it is not used against the will of the patient. That is why it is imperative to consider the creation of Living Wills to make needs and wants clearly known. The application of the three discussed theories to abortion, however, indicate that the parents do not consider the greatest outcome of the child in the womb and its chances of a positive, fulfilling life. The greater value in this case considers the parents, and not the child. Kant’s belief that persons must act out of duty to preserve our lives makes the most sense to me as abortion goes against the rights of the fetus without giving that fetus a chance at a natural, contented
Terri Schiavo was a young woman in a persistent vegetative state (PSV) for nearly 13 years. Her husband fought to have her feeding tube removed to allow her to die naturally, yet her family contested his fight, claiming that Terri responded and interacted with them. Although her autopsy results confirmed what her husband argued. Terri suffered from blindness, and the inability to communicate, or interact. Yet her family continued to contest that she interacted with them, (Schiavo Autopsy). Terri’s case involved the application of passive, involuntary euthanasia by allowing her natural death after the cessation of her tube feedings. I will evaluate these cases using Utilitarianism, Kantian Deontology, and Natural …show more content…
Thus for me, this utilitarian position is the best option as long as it is not used against the will of the patient. That is why it is imperative to consider the creation of Living Wills to make needs and wants clearly known. The application of the three discussed theories to abortion, however, indicate that the parents do not consider the greatest outcome of the child in the womb and its chances of a positive, fulfilling life. The greater value in this case considers the parents, and not the child. Kant’s belief that persons must act out of duty to preserve our lives makes the most sense to me as abortion goes against the rights of the fetus without giving that fetus a chance at a natural, contented