Ethics and Euthanasia - 0 views

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  #1 Low Yunying on 19 Oct 09

   

  Article: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/09/italy.euthanasia/index.html
  
  The debate on Euthanasia is definitely not new. It is interesting in this case where Euthanasia is illegal in Italy, but patients have the right to refuse treatment.
  
  It is on that basis that Englaro argued his daughter should be allowed to die, because some time before her accident she had expressed the wish not to be kept alive while in a coma -- indirectly refusing treatment. I think this case proves to be problematic because Englaro is speaking on behalf of his daughter and it is based on his own account. In cases where the patient is in coma or in a position whereby he/she is unable to make his/her own decision, is it ethical for their next-of-kin to decide it for them? Is it right for them to decide whether the 'quality' of life is worth living or not? What about the right of the patient to live?
  
  It brings us to the question of ethics at many levels. As quoted in the article '"It is the duty of the doctors, of society, and of the political institutions to administer her essential foods to keep her alive. No one has the right to take her life away from her," According to the deontological theory, it would be the duty of the state and doctors to keep her alive, so where would this put the ethics of doctors and the state? Would there by possible abuse if euthanasia is to be allowed? Who has the right to decide the life or death of another person, and on what grounds?

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Article: <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/09/italy.euthanasia/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/09/italy.euthanasia/index.html</a> <br /> <br /> The debate on Euthanasia is definitely not new. It is interesting in this case where Euthanasia is illegal in Italy, but patients have the right to refuse treatment. <br /> <br /> It is on that basis that Englaro argued his daughter should be allowed to die, because some time before her accident she had expressed the wish not to be kept alive while in a coma -- indirectly refusing treatment. I think this case proves to be problematic because Englaro is speaking on behalf of his daughter and it is based on his own account. In cases where the patient is in coma or in a position whereby he/she is unable to make his/her own decision, is it ethical for their next-of-kin to decide it for them? Is it right for them to decide whether the 'quality' of life is worth living or not? What about the right of the patient to live? <br /> <br /> It brings us to the question of ethics at many levels. As quoted in the article '"It is the duty of the doctors, of society, and of the political institutions to administer her essential foods to keep her alive. No one has the right to take her life away from her," According to the deontological theory, it would be the duty of the state and doctors to keep her alive, so where would this put the ethics of doctors and the state? Would there by possible abuse if euthanasia is to be allowed? Who has the right to decide the life or death of another person, and on what grounds?</div>

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