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A short film showing how terminally ill people is in the midst of suffering and misery. People who are in pain are somewhat in the middle of darkness-- wanting to end their life so as not to feel pain anymore; and people who kept hoping and fighting to survive for their loved ones.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Euthanasia (also known as mercy killing) is a merciful means to an end of long-term suffering. In this lesson, you will be knowing the ethical issues of euthanasia, how is it performed, its types and the arguments about it. Euthanasia is the termination of a terminally ill person’s life in order to relieve patients of their severe and untreatable pain.
There are people who are really in pain and is in very bad condition who wanted to die. However, no one knows whether that person is wishing to live or wanting to end his life. When people like this are kept alive by machines or other medical treatments, can it be morally permissible to let them die?
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
What is Euthanasia?
What is Euthanasia?
The term Euthanasia is derived from the Greek word “euthanatos” which means gentle and easy death.
It is the practice of putting to death; those people who are suffering from a terrible and incurable sickness or a physically incapacitating ailment without pain, or permitting them to die without treatment or artificial life-support measures. In some cases, the person who has incurable condition which undergoes euthanasia is carried out at his request if he wants to prolong or ended his life and sometimes decision is made also by the relatives, medics and the courts.
"I'm 29 years old and I've chosen to be voluntarily euthanised. I've chosen this because I have a lot of mental health issues. I suffer unbearably and hopelessly. Every breath I take is torture…"
"I'm 29 years old and I've chosen to be voluntarily euthanised. I've chosen this because I have a lot of mental health issues. I suffer unbearably and hopelessly. Every breath I take is torture…"
"I'm stuck in my own body, my own head, and I just want to be free," she said. "I have never been happy - I don't know the concept of happiness."
-Aurelia Brouwer's story, voluntarily euthanised
Find out more on the link below:
HOW IS EUTHANASIA PERFORMED?
Euthanasia is being performed by the attending physician who administers a deadly dose of an appropriate medicine to the patient upon his express request. Physician-assisted suicide is likewise covered by the appropriate Dutch legislation where the physician supplies the drug but the patient administers it. Furthermore, some people believe that euthanasia should be carried out if they ever find themselves in an unpleasant position with no hope of improvement.
Euthanasia is being performed by the attending physician who administers a deadly dose of an appropriate medicine to the patient upon his express request. Physician-assisted suicide is likewise covered by the appropriate Dutch legislation where the physician supplies the drug but the patient administers it. Furthermore, some people believe that euthanasia should be carried out if they ever find themselves in an unpleasant position with no hope of improvement.
Watch the video on how euthanasia is being performed.
DISCLAIMER: The video contains serious topic about Assisted Suicide which is upon the request of the patient.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
There are several types of Euthanasia...
Assisted Suicide
Assisted Suicide
The term assisted suicide also known as physician-assisted suicide (PAS) refers to when a doctor deliberately assists patient in ending their life. The person is probably going through a lot of pain. They might possibly have been told when they were terminally ill. Their physician also will decide the most effective and painless treatment option. In many cases, physicians will prescribe a medicine to help patients end their lives. This might be treated with a deadly dosage of opioids, for example. Finally, it is up to the individual to determine whether or not to take the medicine.
The term assisted suicide also known as physician-assisted suicide (PAS) refers to when a doctor deliberately assists patient in ending their life. The person is probably going through a lot of pain. They might possibly have been told when they were terminally ill. Their physician also will decide the most effective and painless treatment option. In many cases, physicians will prescribe a medicine to help patients end their lives. This might be treated with a deadly dosage of opioids, for example. Finally, it is up to the individual to determine whether or not to take the medicine.
Euthanasia
Euthanasia
On the other hand, euthanasia allows a doctor to end a person’s life in a painless manner. An injection of a fatal substance, for example might be utilized.
On the other hand, euthanasia allows a doctor to end a person’s life in a painless manner. An injection of a fatal substance, for example might be utilized.
Active Euthanasia
Active Euthanasia
Most people associate euthanasia with a doctor putting someone to death; active euthanasia is what it’s called. Active euthanasia is the deliberate administration of a deadly dosage of a sedative.
Most people associate euthanasia with a doctor putting someone to death; active euthanasia is what it’s called. Active euthanasia is the deliberate administration of a deadly dosage of a sedative.
To put it clearly, according to the University of Missouri, School of Medicine, active euthanasia, sometimes called aggressive euthanasia refers to killing a patient by active means just like injecting a patient with a lethal dose of a drug.
To put it clearly, according to the University of Missouri, School of Medicine, active euthanasia, sometimes called aggressive euthanasia refers to killing a patient by active means just like injecting a patient with a lethal dose of a drug.
Passive Euthanasia
Passive Euthanasia
Withholding or restricting life sustaining therapies to hasten death is frequently referred to as passive euthanasia.
Withholding or restricting life sustaining therapies to hasten death is frequently referred to as passive euthanasia.
The line between passive euthanasia and palliative care becomes increasingly hazy as a result of this. Palliative care aims to make individuals as comfortable as possible as they approach death.
The line between passive euthanasia and palliative care becomes increasingly hazy as a result of this. Palliative care aims to make individuals as comfortable as possible as they approach death.
Voluntary Euthanasia
Voluntary Euthanasia
Voluntary euthanasia is when a person makes a conscious decision to seek assistance in terminating their life. The individual must provide their entire agreement and establish that they are completely aware of the situation. As stated by the University of Missouri, School of Medicine, voluntary euthanasia is done with the consent of the patient while involuntary euthanasia is without the consent of the patient, for example, if the patient is unconscious and his or her wishes are unknown.
Voluntary euthanasia is when a person makes a conscious decision to seek assistance in terminating their life. The individual must provide their entire agreement and establish that they are completely aware of the situation. As stated by the University of Missouri, School of Medicine, voluntary euthanasia is done with the consent of the patient while involuntary euthanasia is without the consent of the patient, for example, if the patient is unconscious and his or her wishes are unknown.
Involuntary Euthanasia
Involuntary Euthanasia
Someone else makes the choice to take someone’s life in non-voluntary euthanasia. The choice is frequently made by a close family member. This is usually done when someone is entirely unconscious or paralyzed forever. It often entails passive euthanasia, such as the removal of life support from someone who shows no symptoms of brain activity.
Someone else makes the choice to take someone’s life in non-voluntary euthanasia. The choice is frequently made by a close family member. This is usually done when someone is entirely unconscious or paralyzed forever. It often entails passive euthanasia, such as the removal of life support from someone who shows no symptoms of brain activity.
ETHICS OF EUTHANASIA
ETHICS OF EUTHANASIA
Agonizing moral dilemmas have been raised which are as follows:
Agonizing moral dilemmas have been raised which are as follows:
1. Is it ever right to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is undergoing severe pain and suffering?
1. Is it ever right to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is undergoing severe pain and suffering?
2. Under what circumstances can euthanasia be justifiable, if at all?
2. Under what circumstances can euthanasia be justifiable, if at all?
3. Is there a moral difference between killing someone and letting them die?
3. Is there a moral difference between killing someone and letting them die?
The diverse notions people have about the meaning and value of human existence are at the center of these arguments. According to an article that sets out the current legal position in the United Kingdom on the ethical problems in Euthanasia, religious opponents believe that life is a gift from God and that only He has the authority to decide when it should be ended. It is also Euthanasia that weakens society’s respect for the sanctity of life. It was also stated that it affects other people’s right, not just those of the patient. It was then also emphasized that religious people do not claim that we can’t harm ourselves for the reason that we are capable of doing so because God has given us free will. However, their point is that we would be making mistakes that is against to the will of God. They firmly believed that every human beings is God’s creation and that this places restriction on us. Our lives aren’t only ours to do with as we like. To murder oneself, or to have someone else do it for us, is to deny God and to deny God’s sovereignty over our life including his authority to decide how long we live and how we die. We shouldn’t treat ourselves as a means to our ends and this implies we shouldn’t terminate our lives simply because suicide appears to be the most efficient way of ending our pain. To do so is to regard our intrinsic value.
The diverse notions people have about the meaning and value of human existence are at the center of these arguments. According to an article that sets out the current legal position in the United Kingdom on the ethical problems in Euthanasia, religious opponents believe that life is a gift from God and that only He has the authority to decide when it should be ended. It is also Euthanasia that weakens society’s respect for the sanctity of life. It was also stated that it affects other people’s right, not just those of the patient. It was then also emphasized that religious people do not claim that we can’t harm ourselves for the reason that we are capable of doing so because God has given us free will. However, their point is that we would be making mistakes that is against to the will of God. They firmly believed that every human beings is God’s creation and that this places restriction on us. Our lives aren’t only ours to do with as we like. To murder oneself, or to have someone else do it for us, is to deny God and to deny God’s sovereignty over our life including his authority to decide how long we live and how we die. We shouldn’t treat ourselves as a means to our ends and this implies we shouldn’t terminate our lives simply because suicide appears to be the most efficient way of ending our pain. To do so is to regard our intrinsic value.
Suresh Bada Math
In contrast, Suresh Bada Math and Santosh K. Chaturvedi, authors of Indian Journal Medical Research stated that ‘right-to-die’ supporters argue that people with an incurable, degenerative, crippling, or debilitating illness should be permitted to die with dignity. This argument also supported for persons who suffer from a persistent debilitating condition that is not terminal, such as severe mental illness.
Santosh K. Chaturvedi
The majority of these petitions are filed by the patients, their families or their caregivers. The financial, emotional, time, physical, mental and social burdens that caregivers face are immense. As a result, requests from family members of people with psychiatric illnesses to provide poison to the patient or to them are unusual. The ‘right-to-life’ is mocked by the state’s incompetence, indifference, and lack of investment in health. Hence, many people who are in persistent vegetative state or who have a chronic disease do not want to be a burden to their loved ones. Euthanasia might be seen as a means to uphold the ‘right-to-life’ while honoring the ‘right-to-die’ in a dignified manner.
CLICK THE LINK AND READ THE DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS TO HAVE KNOWLDGE ON WHY EUTHANASIA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED
CLICK THE LINK AND READ THE DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS TO HAVE KNOWLDGE ON WHY EUTHANASIA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED
CLICK THE LINK AND READ THE DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS TO BE INFORMED ON WHY EUTHANASIA SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED
CLICK THE LINK AND READ THE DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS TO BE INFORMED ON WHY EUTHANASIA SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED
IS EUTHANASIA LEGAL IN THE PHILIPPINES?
IS EUTHANASIA LEGAL IN THE PHILIPPINES?
In Philippines, euthanasia is illegal. In 1997, the Philippine Senate considered passing a bill legalizing passive euthanasia. The bill met strong opposition from the country’s Catholic Church.
In Philippines, euthanasia is illegal. In 1997, the Philippine Senate considered passing a bill legalizing passive euthanasia. The bill met strong opposition from the country’s Catholic Church.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE PROPOSED BILL
To have deeper understanding on the meaning and methods of Euthanasia on how it is being utilized, watch the simple video as it also serves as a summary of what is being discussed in this chapter.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
THE ACT OF EUTHANASIA: OUR STAND
In our modern society, there are still tons of unending debatable issues that needs thorough scrutiny to come up with a stand to be fair and inclusive; embrace it or be against it. Some people would use human rights as their weapon to justify their stand while others equip themselves with the sense of practicality. Same goes with the issue of Euthanasia. It is a combination of Greek word “Eu” which means “well” or “good” and Thanatos” which means “death”. Simply, a practice of intentionally ending life to relieve pain and suffering of a person. Should a terminally ill patient in a great deal of pain and discomfort be allowed to terminate their life, if that is what the patient desires? And who has the right to deny a patient who is in complete suffering a less painful ending to their lives? These questions cause a huge amount of controversy, and have been strongly debated.
Despite varying ethical perspective on euthanasia, We, Princess Elyza S. Roxas and Ivy R. Tavares, without the intention to offend anyone who thinks differently from our point of view, is firmly in favour of not performing Euthanasia. This stand is reflected not only from the Philippines’ senate bill 1887 filed by Sen. Miriam Santiago which provides that any person of legal age and sound mind may execute a written instruction, “directing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in a terminal condition or permanent unconscious condition” or known as the “natural death act” but also on a perspective of a Christian follower. Sen. Miriam Santiago added that “In the interest of protecting individual autonomy, and in recognition of the dignity and privacy which patients have a right to expect, our laws should recognize the right of an adult person to make a written directive instructing such person’s physician to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment in the event of a terminal condition or permanent unconscious condition. A person’s right to control his or her health care may be exercised by an authorized representative who validly holds the person’s durable power of attorney for health care”, and we think the opposite.
For us, Euthanasia is a socio-cultural concept that, just like cultures, should be subject to transformation. No matter how terminally ill a person is, he/she should not be supported about his/her desire to end life for this can be considered as an assisted suicide and we all know that suicide is one of the most immoral thing a person can do.
We agree when Hippocrates said that “…and I will abstention from giving a lethal drug to anyone, even if they ask for it.” The Middle Ages, imbued in Judeo-Christian religious beliefs, gave rise to important changes regarding the act of dying. Euthanasia became sinful because the end of life could only come from God.
We also believe that the person involved in practicing Euthanasia does not have any difference to a murderer in God’s eye. Just like what David Hume said, “If determining the time of death is entirely up to God and if man's decision regarding the time of death were a breach against the divine right, a man taking action to preserve life would be as criminal as he who decided to destroy it."
Imagine if Euthanasia will be legalized here in the Philippines. Involuntary euthanasia could be highly dangerous. It is indistinct from murder and it would be impossible to regulate, which can cause the danger of murderers not being brought to justice, due to their crimes being passed off as involuntary euthanasia. There is also concern that doctors could end up killing very sick patients without asking for the patient’s permission, and in the worst case scenario, begin to kill off patients to free up beds in hospitals, or to save money. These situations show how dangerous it could be to let the legalization of euthanasia lead into the legalization of involuntary euthanasia.
PRINCESS ELYZA S. ROXAS
PRINCESS ELYZA S. ROXAS
IVY R. TAVARES
IVY R. TAVARES
References :
Center for Health Ethics. (n.d). What is euthanasia? University of Missouri. School of Medicine. Retrieved June 13, 2021 from https://medicine.missouri.edu/
Euthanasia, assisted suicide and non-resuscitation on request. (n.d.). Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved June 13, 2021 from https://www.government.nl/topics/euthanasia
Holland, K. (2019).Health Topics. Euthanasia: Understanding the Facts. Health Media a Red Ventures Company.
Math, S. B., & Chaturvedi, S. K. (2012). Euthanasia: right to life vs right to die. The Indian journal of medical research, 136(6), 899–902.
Euthanasia
Euthanasia
By Jhon Bon Rei Corpuz
Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending life to relieve pain and suffering. Some people believe euthanasia is murder and find it unacceptable for moral reasons. Many also argue that the ability to decide your own death weakens the sanctity of life. In addition, many churches, religious groups, and faith organizations argue against euthanasia for similar reasons.
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