I. Summary of the first article
Helga Kuhse, Bioethics News, July 1992 Background Briefing* (from BIOETHICS NEWS Vol.11 No. 4 July 1992 page 40)
The article concerned deals with the issue of euthanasia, which is literally translated as “merciful death”. Generally, it implies deliberately robbing a person of his life. The article engages historical genesis of euthanasia, in particular examining the issue back in Ancient Greece and Rome (Young). The author of the article asserts that such medical procedures as euthanasia and suicide were rather acceptable in the ancient times. Nowadays, however, the general understanding and attitude towards these medical phenomena are widely censuring and judging. The negative implication of euthanasia is vastly lobbied by the church and religion. The church considered it to be a sin to interrupt one’s own life, for it puts doubt upon God’s competence to give one.
At the level of law, euthanasia is internationally prohibited, in all countries except for the Netherlands at the time of the article. The author provides the rational outlook upon the main advantages and drawbacks of euthanasia, considers its general effect upon the social morality and community. Besides that, the author provides systematic explanation of different forms of euthanasia, including voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary ones.
II. Summary of the second article
Coghill, D.; Bonnar, S.; Duke, S.; Graham, J.; Seth, S. (2009). Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Oxford University Press. p. 412. ISBN 0-19-923499-X. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
The article deals with maltreatment in attitude towards children. The author systematically explains a number of modes of physical violence, among them: physical abuse, sexual abuse; emotional and psychological abuse, and neglect.
In particular, there is no agreement between scientists concerning the essence of physical abuse. However, the general point is that this is an intentional infliction of physical pain to a child, which may entail incorrigible harm to a child.
In the sense of the strongest physiological effect that may be caused by children, violation is sexual abuse. Indeed, this mode of violation is marked out to have a number of incorrigible physiological outcomes, among them nightmares, insomnia, guilt and self-blame, mental disorder, unjustified fear etc ("Child Abuse & Neglect" 617-624).
The most common form of child maltreatment is neglect. In fact, neglect implies the lack of necessary parental treatment upon a child, in particular not providing the necessary medical care, clothes etc.
Discussion
Issue 1. Well, the issue of euthanasia has lately been a heated one. The United Declaration of Human Rights proclaims the right to live as a fundamental virtue of a human being. The same assertion is provided in other international instruments. However, whereas there is a right to live is it assumable that there also is a right to die? According to the opinion of the author, the only prohibition of euthanasia comes from morality and religion. However, there is a point held by a number of modern philosophers and lawyers that while life of a person is considered his property, then a person can easily dispose of it the way he wishes to. On the other hand, the concept of euthanasia implies deliberate act of causing death by person A to a person B, the B being the beneficiary. It is presumed, that person B is incapable of inflicting death by himself (or if he could it would be considered a suicide), then the prohibition of euthanasia can be looked upon as a prevention from killing some other person, not self-assassination.
Issue 1. As far as the second issue is concerned, there is little room to speculate on one. There is no social argument concerning the issue of child violation. It is objectively a negative phenomenon in social life of humanity, which must be managed and struggled by means of all international and national institutions.
Works Cited
Young, Robert. "Voluntary Euthanasia". Plato.stanford.edu. N.p., 1996. Web. 27 June 2016.
"Child Abuse & Neglect". Child Abuse & Neglect 11.4 (1987): 617-624. Web.
