Beyond Autonomy And Beneficence Analysis

In his paper, “Beyond Autonomy and Beneficence: The Moral Basis of Euthanasia in the Netherlands”, Guy A.M. Widdershoven touches upon the controversial issue of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, as seen from a medical ethics and a medical law standpoint. Although there are both pro-arguments and counter-arguments prevalent in today’s society regarding the morality of this issue; through the practices observed in the country of Netherlands, Widdershoven attempts to break-down and subsequently resolve the negative stigma and arguments that are often associated with the act of physician-assisted suicide, or euthanasia. In doing so, his primary focus lies in the way that pro-arguments have subsequently developed during the previous thirty years of euthanasia practice in the Netherlands. He further goes on to show how both, what he terms as ‘patient autonomy’ and ‘paternalism’, which will be delved upon deeper in the latter …show more content…
As a conclusion, Widdershoven mentions that the entire Dutch experience can not only serve as a correction to arguments in favor of euthanasia, emphasizing either autonomy or beneficence. “It can also raise some doubts about arguments against euthanasia, as the slippery-slope argument.” (That is, if euthanasia were to be permitted, it would result in a downhill movement, with the physicians feeling forced to assist people asking for termination on the one hand, and may also lead to a situation wherein it becomes normal to kill people that are deemed no longer useful to