ETHICAL POSITION PAPER

Ethical Position Paper - Should euthanasia be a legal option for people with terminal illness?



Table of Contents

Introduction4

Questions4

Discussion & Analyses of Interviewees' Respondents4

Applicable Code of Ethics11

Exploration of my Personal & Professional Position - as a Hospital Manager12

References13

Table of Figures

Figure 1 - Comparison of Fundamentals of Deontological and Utilitarian Ethics5

Figure 2 - Utilitarian Approach6

Ethical Position Paper - Should euthanasia be a legal option for people with Terminal Illness?

Introduction

This paper has been developed after the conduction of a series of interviews with two individuals belonging to different fields. One of the two individuals is associated with the local hospital while the other is part of the educational system. The first individual is part of a trauma-counselling team attached to the paramedics division of a local hospital. In contrast, the second individual functions in a teaching capacity.

Questions

The following questions play a major role in the development of this paper and the scope of the research that underlies this paper.

What are the factors that should be taken into account when considering the option of euthanasia for patients with terminal illness?

What is the role of the attending doctor/physician in the decision to administer euthanasia for patients with terminal illness?

What are ehe implications of euthanasia on the family and friends of the individual on whom euthanasia is exercised?

Discussion & Analyses of Interviewees' Respondents

Euthanasia means good death which can be understood and popularly known as dying and death serene sweet mercy killing. In a technical sense would be death without suffering caused to someone suffering from an incurable or painful disease (Miettinen, Myllykangas & Ryynänen, 2003; Denier, Gastmans, De Bal & 2010). Death is caused by own will and without physical suffering in a terminally ill in order to avoid a painful death. The practice is to administer drugs, chemicals or other substances to relieve the terminal ill patient's pain yet that this will shorten the life of this. Euthanasia is defined as causing death to a human, thus seeks to avoid suffering. It is also known as Homicide and Old Lace. Euthanasia is the direct killing of a person dying, suffering or decreased (Parpa, et. al., 2006; Inghelbrecht, Bilsen, Mortier & Deliens, 2009). There are various classifications, one of which is voluntary euthanasia, which is done with full consent of the victim and involuntary euthanasia, as the name says it is because it is done without consent, contrary to the will. Many countries seek legal recognition of this practice. There are various arguments for supporters of euthanasia in order to be legalized, some of these arguments are whether a person is intolerable suffering and calls for the death, other people obey because compassion overwhelms them (Georges, et. al., 2007; Georges, et. al., 2005). Others say that if a terminal ill patient is terminally ill with an incurable disease, it is the same as the previous one, forming the so-called compassionate homicide.

Figure 1 - Comparison of Fundamentals of Deontological and Utilitarian Ethics

Source: Derived from (Núñez Olarte, 2003; Mak & Elwyn, 2003; Swarte, Heintz, Lee, Bout ...