i. Proposed Approach to Development of Paper:
• Executive Summary
This paper aims to discuss the revolutionary changes that euthanasia brings to the world, highlighted the future of this technology and how we can overcome its negative implications.
• Background/Introduction - Refer to part (ii)
ü Definition of Euthanasia
ü Types of euthanasia
ü Different procedures of euthanasia
ü History of euthanasia – highlighting Nazi’s use of involuntary euthanasia
ü Current situation of euthanasia
• Historical Perspective
ü Lack of right to die
- Terminally ill patients are left to die a slow and painful death
• Current Situation – Refer to part (iii-1)
ü Social ethical issues
ü Religious issues
ü Legal issues
• Future Considerations – Refer to part (iii-2)
ü Legal future
ü The Ageing population
ü Human Organ Trafficking
• Conclusions
ü Keeping the future of euthanasia controlled.
- Contingent code of ethics - the code must fit the situation and the ethics must change as the situation changes.
ii. Specific Innovation of Interest:
Brief Description of specific innovation:
Euthanasia is the painless killing of a patient suffering from a terminal and agonizing disease or in a perpetual coma. Basically, there are 3 types of euthanasia: Voluntary, Involuntary and Non-Voluntary. The main difference between voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia is the will of the subject being euthanized. In voluntary euthanasia, the subject requests to die and fully consents to the killing. In non-voluntary euthanasia, the subject is not willing to die but is euthanized anyway, against his will. Involuntary euthanasia, on the other hand, involves taking the life of a subject who cannot or is unable to show his will to live or die, without consent. Euthanasia can be carried out passively or actively. Active euthanasia, such as a lethal injection, involves intentionally performing an act to end the subject’s life. Passive euthanasia, such as switching off life support machine, is the withdrawal of an act that could have otherwise saved the subject.
Throughout history, euthanasia has always been associated with the violation of the Hippocratic oath and the degree of its acceptance varies from time to time. As the rationale behind euthanasia establishes, it has become increasingly justified as a mean to end prolonged suffering. However, the moral, legal and religious battle over euthanasia is far form over. Does euthanasia extends our freedom of choice or is it still tightly bounded to ethical issues? It remains controversial.
iii. Rationale for Selecting this Innovation:
1) How Euthanasia has changed the world today?
ü Social Ethical Issues - Euthanasia introduces our rights to die & sparked off a debate on ethical issues.
| Against | For |
| ü Violate Hippocratic Oath | ü Right to die |
| ü Devalues sanctity of life | ü End prolong suffering |
| ü Prone to abuse of the weak | ü Can be regulated |
| ü May not be of the best interest of the subject | ü Reduce huge financial burden of family |
ü Religious Issues - The degree of acceptance of euthanasia among different religions and how they change over time
| ü Buddhism | ü Whether suicide/euthanasia is approved depends on subject's state of mind at the time of death. |
| ü Christianity | ü Generally against euthanasia on the beliefs that life is given by God and one should not interfere the natural process of death. |
| ü Islam | ü Against euthanasia as life is sacred <Qur'an 17:33> |
ü Legal Issues –How different countries have set different laws to regulate euthanasia
| UK | The House of Lords have blocked the progress of a controversial bill, which would allow terminally ill people to be helped to die. |
| USA | Active euthanasia is illegal but assisted suicide is allowed in some states. |
| Japan | Unclear (Illegal in the Japanese criminal code, but the "Nagoya High Court Decision of 1962," ruled that one can legally end a patient's life if 6 specific conditions are fulfilled) |
| Netherlands | Legalized in 2001 |
2) How Euthanasia is likely to change the world in the future?
ü The legal future: Richard John Neuhuas, “From the unthinkable, to the debatable, to the justifiable, on its way to the unexceptional.” More countries are legalizing euthanasia. In the future, euthanasia may be just another medical procedure.
Evidence: Japan slowly legalizing euthanasia (above)
Implication: Suicide will not be a crime and non-voluntary euthanasia can possibly justify murder.
ü Ageing population challenges the notion of euthanasia. With our greying society today, euthanasia may be a justified mean to cut medical cost that can prevent family members from going into debt and bankruptcy.
Evidence: Elderly people in the Netherlands are so fearful of being killed by doctors that they carry cards saying they do not want euthanasia
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8466996/Fearful-elderly-people-carry-anti-euthanasia-cards.html
Implications: Selfish family members may abuse euthanasia to lessen their financial burden against the will of the vulnerable elderly.
Yet, advances in palliative care could eventually rule out euthanasia. Palliative care aims to alleviate the pain and suffering of the terminally ill. Instead of killing the patient, medical staff aims to kill the pain.
ü Human Organ Trafficking: If euthanasia is legalized, unsavory acts and shrouded murders to feed to organ trade industry may be spurred.
Evidence: Top Russian Scientist Warns Euthanasia Will Increase Human Organ Trafficking
Implication: Severe human rights violation, increase in organized crimes, social instability.
Hi Shi Xiao
ReplyDeleteNice topic on euthanasia
You can touch on the code of conduct of a doctor. Noting the fact that a doctor's role is to save lives and not end them.
You can also question the fact that, is it easy to execute euthanasia, for the loved ones to pull the plug on the one lying on the bed?
You can both factors to justify euthanasia, how is it different from suicide or murder.
To look further, you should also read up on suicide and murder.
Warmest Regard
Daniel
Hello Shi Xiao,
ReplyDeleteit is a very interesting topic you have. I can see that you have done extensive research on this topic but i was thinking if it is possible you could have some research done based on Singapore context.
As many countries are now facing aging population (like Singapore), I am interested to know how people react towards the issue on euthanasia.
Is there any country with regulation that may affect the future of euthanasia? For example, government's intervene on cases of brain death or persistent vegetative state (PVS) to provide full or assisted medical fee support.
Like what Daniel stated, it is interesting to add in how people resort to suicide and murder when euthanasia is not an option for them.
Qian Hwee
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI like your outline, very concise and clear!
For the social ethical issues, maybe you can touch more on how Euthanasia should be properly regulated. For example, the point on 'reduce burden on family' might not be a justified reason to end a life since the life of a person is priceless. A person with depression might adopt such a wrong thinking and even a person with severe illness may succumb to such negative thoughts even though their families are coping well to help them with their illnesses too.
On the legal issues, you might want to consider how it is a tricky situation for different countries to have different legal systems. Because a person that goes overseas for euthanasia is still considered the citizen of his own country, which may not allow euthanasia. So is his act considered illegal? Are his family members liable for allowing or even helping him to be euthanized?
Hope those points helped (:
Cheers,
Wei Lin.