Euthanasia Research Papers Samples For Students

“ARE RIGHT AND WRONG CONVERTIBLE TERMS, DEPENDANT UPON THE POPULAR OPINION”? : A famous quote by William Lloyd Garrison poses a critical question to each one of us. Certain questions carry a lot of dimension to look through and in such cases there are enough supportive reasons to justify the rightness of each dimension. One such question stands whether it is ethically justifiable to use narcotics to speed up the end of life. Right from its inception the question has been a cause celebre and continues to exist as one. Effective pain relief especially at the end of life has always ...

While euthanasia has been widely practice even in the ancient times, opposition against mercy killing still continues until today. Saint Thomas Aquinas is one of the most vocal figures during the earliest times who believed in the sanctity of life. In fact, the saint argued that euthanasia violates the natural laws of life--survival. The ethical and moral beliefs of those countries and states in the US that openly practice euthanasia at present is founded on the basic tenet that suffering among living things whether humans or animals should not be tolerated.
However, before discussing whether euthanasia is morally ...

- Euthanasia: Liberating Individuals from Pain and Suffering
- But what exactly are animals? And what makes humans different from other animals such that some humans are sometimes confounded on the morals of putting other humans and domesticated animals to mercy killing? But the latter question seems very difficult to answer since it involves questioning the existence of the higher moral status of humans.
- Perhaps the more clear cut definition of an animal in a biological perspective is that they are biological multicellular entities that belong to Kingdom Animalia. These biological entities are motile to include humans ...

Patients and family of patients requesting assisted euthanasia need to be thoroughly informed about the issue and the potential impact of the act of euthanasia in their lives. Euthanasia is defined in the dictionary as mercy killing. This means that the patient is in so much pain or his/her dignity would be further degraded by his/her sickness that terminating his/her life would be more compassionate or merciful. From a medical perspective, euthanasia is referred to as the “act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition” (American Heritage Medical Dictionary, 2007). ...

Introduction

This research paper considers and evaluates the arguments propounded by Rachels (2002) regarding both active and passive forms of euthanasia. In order to be clear on the precise meanings of those terms, it is appropriate to define them before discussing these topics. The research undertaken for this paper will validate Rachels’ views on the issue, which are essentially that there should be no moral or ethical distinction between the two types of euthanasia – basically because in many instances active euthanasia is in fact more humane, because it drastically shortens the duration of the individual’s pain and suffering.

Active and Passive Euthanasia Defined

Active ...

On November 1, 2014 29-year-old Brittany Maynard committed suicide to spare herself a long drawn-out death from a stage 4 malignant brain tumor. Unlike many other Americans who commit suicide, Maynard announced her decision online weeks prior to her death and brought the issue of euthanasia into national headlines. Maynard’s family and physicians will not face charges because Maynard happened to live in Oregon, one of only five states that allows doctor-assisted euthanasia. The other states are Montana, Washington, Vermont and New Mexico. Maynard, originally from California, had to move herself and her family to Oregon in order to legally ...

Introduction

The term “euthanasia” has been dubbed as a form of “mercy killing”, which can be accomplished by doing a particular act which is unlawful or by some act of omission that is considered as lawful. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) had become the most talked about controversial issues around the world. Euthanasia is referred to as the administration of drugs with the explicit intention of terminating the life of the patient at his or her explicit request (Siu, 2010, p. 169). On the other hand, the physician-assisted suicide or “PAS” is recognized as the act of prescribing or supplying of drugs ...

The subject of patient rights is controversial and ties heavily into human rights. Individuals have the right to autonomous choice provided their choices do no harm to others. Individuals also have the right to live their lives as they see fit within legal and moral boundaries. However, how society defines legal and moral is often up for debate. One such debate is centered on the right of an individual to commit legal suicide when they are faced with certain, painful and lingering death. There are many viewpoints on this topic. One viewpoint shared by many is that an individual ...

JAG Number:

Euthanasia refers to the termination of life of an individual, for the purpose of ending their medical suffering. Doctors have the mandate to perform the act depending on the situation, but the numerous debates regarding the subject bring out total confusion on what is right or wrong. The act may be voluntary or involuntary depending on the state of the sick patient. Physicians often encounter the dilemma of upholding morals and ethical values, because the act of ending the life of a person is a crime according to the law.
The term euthanasia traces its roots from Greece, where it ...

[Client’s name]
The word suicide implies self-killing, and it may be either assisted or unassisted. Physician-assisted suicide falls under the category of assisted suicide where the person providing backing is the doctor. A doctor assisting a patient of terminal cancer in taking his own life by providing him with the means or the information necessary for committing self-killing would be an example of physician-assisted suicide. The word euthanasia, also referred to as mercy killing, is often used synonymously with assisted suicide. It is a Greek word where ‘eu’ means right, and ‘Thanatos’ means death. The word euthanasia therefore adds ...

English

Euthanasia is simply a “euphemism” for death (Johnston). Many cases of people being euthanized are not being reported with the assumption of killing in the name of mercy by offering ultimately, good death (Pereira; The Telegraph). Whether it was part of the person’s living will or death wish, even with family members’ consent, termination of life prior to natural death is often due to long agony or continual suffering brought about by ‘dehumanizing’ factors such as vegetative condition, terminating illness, debilitating disease, long-time comatose, and so on.
Given such a scenario, pro-euthanasia group advocates for the basic human rights ...

English

Many cases of euthanized individuals are not being reported given the assumption of killing in the name of mercy or providing ultimately, good death (CHN International; Patients Rights Council; Pereira; The Telegraph). Whether it was the patients’ wish/will or with the consent of family members, people were terminated prior to their natural death because of their continual suffering or long agony brought about by their vegetative condition. Given such scenario, defenders or pro-euthanasia advocate for the basic human rights of all people, not only of life, but also death. They insist that brain dead patients, via their loved ones, ...

Suicide and suicide attempts in the western world have long been considered criminal and punishable. Ancient Romans and Greeks prohibited most suicide, or suicide among the healthy, and punished those who committed suicide by denying them proper burial rituals (Rosenfeld 24). In England and the American colonies, laws continued to punish individuals who committed suicide by denying them a proper burial and both English and American laws found anyone assisting in suicide potentially guilty of murder. In the last several decades, questions about euthanasia and, specifically, the legality of physician-assisted suicide have repeatedly found their way into the legal system ...

Debate about the legality and morality of Euthanasia has been a phenomenon since time immemorial. How can it be lawful to let a patient die slowly and painless through a lethal injection thus saving his/her family from yet another ordeal to add to what has already befallen them? It is very difficult to find a moral answer to this question. Euthanasia is a process of ending a person’s life in order to relieve them from an unbearable pain, irreversible comma or an incurable disease. Is it really right to help a patient end their suffering by helping them to die? In addition, does it morally ...

Euthanasia is a word derived from a Greek term eu thanos meaning good health. In medical terms it is defined as an act where a doctor intentionally ends the life of a person by the administration of drugs, at that person’s voluntary and competent request for reasons of compassion. This type of killing usually has mercy as motive thus its other name “mercy killing”. Euthanasia further implies a good death where the killing act should meet the criteria for “goodness” (Cavan, 41). This criteria maybe swift, relatively painless and causes minimal if any psychological suffering such as fear, anguish or deep regret. With ...

Abstract

This study would focus on euthanasia, otherwise referred to as mercy killing or good death. There have been varied perceptions on the morality of this process with proponents and opponents disagreeing sharply. Just as there are varied views and perceptions at individual level concerning euthanasia, different countries also have different laws concerning euthanasia. This research would investigate whether euthanasia is a viable and moral option to alleviate pain or not, and how people feel towards the whole act.
The data collection process would involve randomly selecting 30 participants who would then be subjected to interviews and filling a questionnaire. The ...

One of the purposes of this course is to help students be able to objectively consider all points of view. To be able to argue effectively you must be able to know and understand both sides of an argument. This paper will be a measure of how well you are able to do that. You are being ask to research an issue upon which there is a disagreement. You will write the paper from your viewpoint, showing all the facts and reasons to support that side of the issue. You will also want to be sure you include 3 major points ...

Mentor’s Name

One of the purposes of this assignment is to be able to objectively consider all points of view. To be able to argue effectively you must be able know and understand both sides of an argument. This paper will be a measure of how well you are able to do that. You are being asked to research an issue upon which there is a disagreement. You will write the paper from your viewpoint, showing all the facts and reasons to support that side of the issue. You will also want to be sure you include 3 major points that your opposition ...

Introduction

Summary
This article sheds light for the argument for and against the legalization of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the United States. The group surveyed a sample of physicians from US who have likelihood of caring the dying patients. The study aims to determine the needs for assistance wit euthanasia or suicide and compliance to such needs.
The findings of the study indicated that 54 percent of the patients who received lethal injection did not make the decision. As a result family members and physicians felt obliged to hasten the death of the patient.
Summary
The article ...

Introduction

Euthanasia is the gentle act of inducing death painlessly with the aim of reducing suffering of the patient . Debates for and against euthanasia have been going on since the early 1800’s, and they are still going on to date. Different countries have different takes and laws governing euthanasia . Despite the debates, euthanasia started being performed even before the debates started. It was supported by Seneca the Elder, Plato and Socrates in the ancient days. However, leaders such as Hippocrates were opposed to the idea of euthanasia even on those early days. Additionally, most Christians were also against the ...

Introduction:

Why the discussion on this issue does holds any importance.
The literal meaning of the word euthanasia and how is it defined.
How and why did the issue gain importance
Body
Categories on euthanasia, namely voluntary euthanasia, involuntary euthanasia and un-voluntary euthanasia and to what extent are accepted in the society and what are the factors that discriminate one category from the other.

A brief description of Active and passive euthanasia and to what extent are they accepted in the society.

Is euthanasia right of a single individual to whom it may concern or should others and the government be allowed to interfere with it.
States where euthanasia is legalized, states where it is not legalized and ...

Abstract

For a long time, the medical profession has subscribed to many ethical statements that have been developed primarily for patients’ benefits. As members of the medical profession, physicians should always recognize their actual responsibility of the patients, society, self, and other professionals. Adhering to the set principles of professional conduct is essential in acting ethically in the profession. The topic of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is controversial in the American medial context. Physically assisted suicide and euthanasia are often used interchangeably. The ethics of these issues are squarely placed before the public eye. This paper focuses on the ethics surrounding ...

Death or dying is not a bad thing because it is part and parcel of life just like other rites of passage. If it was to be a personal choice many could have opted to live and not die because they do not know how it feels on the other side of existence. Life is valuable, and it is for that reason that voluntary euthanasia has become a debatable issue in determining whether it is right or wrong. But it is important to understand it from the onset so as to know when and how it can be termed ...

Introduction

Currently, medical technology advancement has contributed to the development of new drugs for treating serious illness such as cancer. Apart from a cure, it has also created many problems in the health sector. Medical practitioners performing this kind of illegal act on patients do re-establish a secret between him and the client. One major factor that determines a society’s opinion on euthanasia is religion. Different Islamic countries have a separate view on termination of a patient’s life. The first team entails counties controlled by Islamic rules only; they accept Sharia as their legal and administrative leader such ...

Introduction

Individuals have many significant views about human life. There are some circumstances that a person love his life, but may choose to end it for some unwanted medical reason. Some individuals may be in a situation that requires an important decision to end someone else’s life, such as a doctor who was requested to end the patient’s life through assisted suicide. In some cases, a family member may need to decide whether or not to continue his relative’s suffering through continuous medication or to end the physical pain by discontinuing the treatment especially during terminal cases. ...

Reported cases of suicide due to incurable diseases, commonly referred to as terminal illness, have been on the rise. Today, there are several terminal diseases that plague our community. Key among these terminal diseases includes cancer, AIDS and diabetes. Adult patients have always considered the option of terminating their lives so as to avert the suffering that comes with the disease. Some of the methods used by patients in performing suicide are either personally initiated or Physician-assisted suicides, commonly referred to as euthanasia. In all cases and laws according to most constitutions, it is illegal to end the life ...

The questions on whether or not States should legalize abortion has been a debatable issue among policymakers, scholars, and theorists as well, the same applies to the notion of mercy-killing or Euthanasia. Evidently, religious doctrines and existing codes of ethics forbid the ending of human life, from the point of conception to that of old age. To that end, States endorse laws that dictate the ideal punishments for murder; by that logic, even those who opt for suicide break the law but the fact that they are dead makes it impossible to have them serve a jail term. Thus ...

Introduction

Over recent years, religion has become a very crucial part in the health field especially in nursing. The concept of evangelicalism has influenced the health care sector a great deal. According to Thobaben (2010), evangelicalism is a form of social movement that is governed by a certain set of rules. These rules have enabled it to be applied in different areas in healthcare especially in nursing. Leadership and nursing choices are governed by the morals that evangelicalism supports. However, aspects of evangelicalism have affected the health field negatively. The issues of ethics that arise from evangelicalism affect certain health practices. For instance, issues ...

Abstract

This paper puts the legal and ethical issues of physician-assisted suicide in the context of the larger debate on privacy and the right to die, which can be divided into three constituent parts: (1) a patient’s constitutionally protected right to privacy in all matters involving end-of-life treatment decisions. So long as a patient has the mental capacity to make informed consent, the government does not have a legitimate interest to override end-of-life decisions. Critical to the analysis of a patient’s refusal of life-sustaining treatment is the burden of the state to prove a patient did not have ...

Personality and developmental theorists have always been embroiled in controversies of one type or another. By the very nature it is controversial theorizing. The study of people and how they interact and how they respond may seem alarming to many. Freud developed his theories of psychodynamics that, while not wholly discredited, have fallen out of academic favor (Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry, 2005, p. 774). Freud was and remains controversial for both his use of drugs and postulations on the role sexuality plays in developing the psyche. Erikson, a student of Freud’s, seemingly tried to sanitize the sexual aspects of ...

Medical Care at the End of Life: A Catholic Perspective by David F. Kelly (end of life issues)

In the context of this book various ethical principles are analyzed with respect to the medical care at the end life of people and the support that people deserve at their end life. The book is broken into sections which try to expound on the principles guiding the healthcare at the end life of people.
In the context of chapter one, the issue of ordinary and extraordinary means has been reflected with respect to end life medical care ethics. This shows the dilemma facing the medical professionals and the health institutions with regards to end life ethics. This ...

I intend to discuss the ethical implications of euthanasia throughout the course of this essay. Firstly I will be touching on the German philosopher Kant regarding his theories on personhood and consciousness in terms of people in vegetative states such as Terri Schiavo. I then will be moving on to broader issues of euthanasia such as the right to die and the legality of assisted suicide and refusal of treatment. The purpose of which is to find an answer for the question is euthanasia ethical? Plato was quoted as saying “The brain was the seat of the soul” while ...

The debate on euthanasia is certainly a charged one. Who can forget the tension of the Terri Schiavo case, so well publicized in the late 1990s and early 2000s? That very public battle over the fate of a single woman who would certainly never achieve a quality of life most would consider worth living was something that many Americans experienced in a far-too-personal way. In the end, her husband, Michael, was granted the legal right to remove her feeding tube, despite the objections of her parents. They were very much opposed to any such assisted death, although, to be honest, some would have ...

Introduction

A survey conducted by The Telegraph (2015), revealed that a large number of female students in the UK have been victims of sexual assault. Unfortunately, there has been a refusal among university and college officials in the country to investigate these accusations of indecent sexual advances. While academic authorities have been warned about their refusal to act and protect women from these forms of assaults, some officials asserted that it was not necessary to intervene because these cases are purely a police matter (Goldhill & Bingham, 2015). The apparent failure of university and college officials to protect their students from ...

People with Disabilities and Their Families

Assisted Suicide
Introduction
Death is usually considered to be something appalling that everyone should avoid or overcome. However, no matter how modernized our medical technologies are, dying is an unavoidable thing in life. In this regard, there are concerns involving physician assisted suicide that can be depicted as a proceeding wherein the patient is agreeable to end their suffering with the assistance of a physician. Physician assisted kind of suicide or death is a process of prescribing a certain medication to a patient with an intention of ending his or her own life by way of eliminating the extreme pain voluntarily by ...

Physician assisted suicide (PAS) has been one of the most controversial and sensitive issues facing the healthcare industry in most countries today (Burt 567). PAS normally occur when a physician gets involved in helping a patient take their own life through the writing of a prescription, advice, lethal medication, or giving a patient crucial information that can enable them to take their own life. Someone can describe it as a doctor providing a gun to a patient, and the patient pulling the trigger (Manning 248). PAS tends to have a similar moral goal with euthanasia, which is normally premature death of a patient.
Most ethicists have described ...

Physician assisted suicide is a suicide accomplish with the aid of a physician. In some cases, the term is used interchangeably with euthanasia, which refers to the act of ending the life of an individual suffering from an incurable condition or terminal illness, by using lethal injection or suspending the use of extraordinary medical treatment (Humphrey 3). The important issue is that it is assisted death rather than allowing natural death to take place. Physician assisted suicide is an issue of contention which stirs global conflict with various countries differing strongly on their legal stances towards the issue. Currently, only four ...

The right to live or die lies in the hands of an individual. However, the debate on physician-assisted suicide continues to gather different opinions from supporters and opposers. California is one of the legal states in America that supports assisted suicide, though there are religious groups and human rights activists who oppose the act. The journey to its legalization had its up and downs, seen many doctors suffer from practicing the procedure while others being grateful about it. With time, California continued to gather support towards the approval of assisted suicide and people celebrated once it became law in ...

Abstract

The current paper talks about TNR (trap-neuter-release) program. It is a program where un-owned free roaming cats are trapped, surgically sterilized, and treated. The sterilization is done to reduce population. Different reviews by different authors on the matter are looked into in this paper. The paper focuses on the different advantages and disadvantages of the process. Despite it being a humane way of controlling free-roaming cats, it is deemed ineffective. The roaming cats pose a public health risk to humans and other animals. They also predate on the wildlife in the environs, such as birds, reptiles, and other small ...

Unethical Practices

The Hippocratic oath is the cornerstone of the medical profession. Once a physician takes the hallowed oath and joins the ranks of healers, he is supposed to place the interests of patients above all considerations. However, there have been various instances where physicians have followed unethical practices, not living up to the promises they made when they joined the medical profession.
Currently, fears abound amidst recurrent debates surrounding the ‘right to die with dignity’. The state of Oregon has legalized euthanasia. As a result, there has been a marked increase in the number of people obtaining prescriptions to end their lives. ...

English

Before I answer the question: “Should suicide or assisted suicide be legalized,” I would like to define first what suicide is. The term suicide means the killing of oneself. It is also known by the following synonyms or hyponyms: assisted suicide, felo-de-se, self-destruction, self-annihilation, seppuku, suttee, or hara-kiri. Similarly, assisted suicide is defined as the act of deliberately giving assistance or even encouraging an individual to commit or attempt to commit suicide. Many people consider suicide or assisted suicide are terminating one’s own life due to various psychological, financial, familial, communal, pathological, etc. reasons. Whether it is the ...

Funeral Customs & Services in China

Funerary customs in China tend to be quite intricate and tend to vary greatly from one region to another. According to Chinese traditions, it has been considered crucial to bury the dead ("Chinese funeral customs,"). The traditional ideas about burial were rejected by the Communists. Cremation became the rule in the large cities in China, while burial was only practiced in the countryside (Greg & Aidan, 1993:360). The Communists regard coffins as a waste of wood and graves as a waste of good farm land. Till today, burying the dead is discouraged by the Chinese government ("The impact of,"). There about 7.17 ...

Introduction

Catholic Church keeps an eye on social problems, such as poverty, abortion, euthanasia, drugs and alcohol addiction, peace, justice, freedom, and many others. In order to enlighten and organize people to work for social well-being, Catholic Church developed its social teaching that concerns many keen issues of modern society.
There are many themes in Catholic social teaching. They concern human dignity, community, and common good, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor and vulnerable, participation, stewardship of creation, solidarity, role of government, and promotion of peace. All of them in different ways are tied with health care system and ...

The Second World War of 1939-1945 is noted by historians as the war that killed many civilians from each side. The war that have started with the German invasion of Poland kick-started German leader Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, as well as his vision in ridding the Jews in massive concentration camps and executions – the Final Solution or popularly known as the Holocaust. The Holocaust eliminated many innocent lives due to the Anti-Semitism in the European region, and a group’s desire to be claimed the superior race. The Holocaust paved the way for new methods of mass killing ...

Assisted suicide in healthcare is a kind of suicide that is committed with the help of a physician (Suicide, 2013). It is the process through which a doctor provides a patient with means that they can use to commit suicide which in most cases involves providing them with advice and prescription on the available lethal drugs (Suicide, 2013). Instances of this nature are common to terminally ill patients.
The position I take concerning this issue is the non-affirmative. From a religious perspective, there is the realization that human life needs to be respected. This is in line with the ...

Family counselling initially was carried out on legal, medical, reproductive and social aspects of family life, children’s upbringing and education problems. Period of 1940ies and beginning of 1960ies was marked by establishing and unfolding of counselling services of psychological help to family couples. The period of 1930-1940 gave birth to a special practice of family counselling, shifting focus from psychical disorders of a person on the problems of communication between the spouses (Bowen, 1966). In 1950ies the term and practice of family therapy/counselling was established. Unlike psychoanalyses, where the intra-psychical processes were in the center of attention, family counselling was ...

Aging Society

Broom, A. (2012) On Euthanasia, Resistance, and Redemption: The Moralities and Politics of a Hospice: Qualitative Health Research, 22 (2) 226-237.
Politics have been a major player in the hospice service industry. The major controversy is assisted death. Academic and medical communities have debated upon the ethics of this act and there has been a grey area since the debate has never been concluded. Many hospice practiced have the dying well policy and numerous patients cajole the nurses since they read more into this statement than otherwise intended. The modern dying practices and morality need governance in this old age nursing ...

This is a research paper that aims at reviewing Mrs. Terry Schiav case. It considers the views of a number of people who are familiar with Mrs. T. Schiav’s case. This included a friend of mine and our local hospital administrator. Their views and opinions are employed to write up a recommendation and finally a resolution concerning the ethical issues that were highlighted during this case.
Terry Schiav was thirty seven years old when she had a sudden cardiac arrest. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Schindler. On further diagnosis, it was noted that she had abnormally low potassium levels. The ...

Before World War II, German scientists were engaged in various medical experiments as a way of revolutionizing Germany state by cleansing all the human species that were perceived as threatening to the country. The medics were involved in establishing various medical approaches, mostly associated with the human genetics in order to develop a master race. Their plans were directed towards racial cleansing at which the German population was perceived as pure and was not supposed to be interfered with by other seemingly dangerous races.
Development of eugenics is one of the issues that the government-funded medics and scientists were in a ...