Student’s Name: Sheena Cavazos
Institution: South College – Online Campus
Subject: ENG 1211
Date: 10/12/2020
Annotated Bibliography
Frileux, S., Lelièvre, C., Sastre, M. M., Mullet, E., & Sorum, P. C. (2003). When is physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia acceptable?. Journal of Medical Ethics, 29(6), 330-336.
The article aims to discover factors that influence lay people’s decisions and judgments to accept physician-assisted suicide. The article involves a case study of 72 patients described using a five-factor design. The design involved a combination of ages of the patients of three levels, two levels of their degree of suffering, two levels of their mental status, and three levels of request for the procedure. The study is conducted over 62 adults of middle age and 66 older adults in Western France. The article is based on the prevalent suicide cases of euthanasia acceptability. The authors acknowledge their medical skills and knowledge that place them in a credible position and professional background for their arguments.
The authors claim that an increase in age leads to increased cases of Euthanasia. However, the authors also claim that physicians can either help patients extend life or alleviate pain through Euthanasia. Hence, the physicians are responsible for conducting their practices with enough care and considerations of the patient’s beneficiaries before making any decision. The article used the functional theory of cognition to develop a reliable approach to the question. Based on their research, the authors claim that Euthanasia is mostly determined by the age of the patient, level of suffering despite treatment trials, degree of curability, and the expected period of life-ending estimated by the victim. However, the article was conducted using hypothetical judgments and vignettes, which limited its accuracy and credibility. However, the article will have a significant role in establishing a reliable judgment and conclusion in determining whether Euthanasia is acceptable in society. I agree with the authors that the contributing factors of Euthanasia are age, sickness level, predictability of healing, and expected results. Hence, the article is reliable and credible, with concise and straightforward information grasped by any audience.
LaGrange, V. (2017). Defending the Need for Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia.
The article explores the associated advantages of engaging in Euthanasia. The authors offer reliable and detailed explanations of the most common reasons and advantages associated with assisted Euthanasia. According to LaGrange, patients subjected to Euthanasia are relieved from pain and set under their desired degree of comfort. The article also explains that Euthanasia is performed by unplugging life-support machines, physician aid-in-dying, and artificial nutrition. LaGrange argues that relieving patients from their illness and long-suffering without hopes of recovery is a form of offering the desired comfort zone.
However, the article also exposes the controversial nature of ending one’s life without their consent. LaGrange argues that there is no big difference between removing a patient from a support machine and a personal decision. Generally, the article explores the associated advantages of autonomy as it supports physician-assisted suicide cases. American society has fewer issues of Euthanasia; however, the author argues that Euthanasia enhances one’s freedom to choose what to do with his or her life in difficult circumstances. Autonomous decisions are difficult to make; however, making such a hard decision relies on the autonomous role in life. The article will also play a significant role in exploring and describing the needs for Euthanasia.
Cuman, Giulia, and Chris Gastmans. “Minors and euthanasia: a systematic review of argument-based ethics literature.” European journal of pediatrics 176.7 (2017): 837-847.
The article describes Euthanasia was legalized in the Netherlands and Belgium the same year. The Netherlands is the only country that included minors to request Euthanasia. A review of arguments literature was conducted, 13 publications were included, and four principle medical ethics to organize discussions. The analysis indicated that the debate concerning Euthanasia when at an early age. The article clarifies that the opposition depends on the principle of maleficence. The doctrine of autonomy buttresses is a justification of minors Euthanasia. It should be allowed to ill hopeless children.
Euthanasia for minors, I think it’s a bad idea since minors cannot make appropriate decisions. A request to be granted to the assessment has to be done that the minor can discernment, but the minors are not capable of discernment—also, the argument of weightiness. The minors should not be asked to make decisions on matters on weighty as Euthanasia.
Brandi McKinnon, M. B. A., and Menfil Orellana-Barrios. “Ethics in physician-assisted dying and euthanasia.”
The author states that suffering near the end of life generates anxiety for many patients. The patients fear being a burden to their families, and they worry about managing pain that the decline in quality of life. This drives many patients to seek medically assisted suicide, termed as Euthanasia toward the end of life. These decisions bring questions to the professional and ethical principles of physicians. The article gives more information on ethical implications that are associated with physician-assisted dying. Most people in society support medical assisted dying, but there is a need for training support and implementation standards to aid this process.
The argument of physician-assisted dying is important. I agree since physician-assisted dying is a more respectful and dignified way of putting terminally ill patients to die. This is a process that devalues human life, which should be treasured and protected. There should be training, support, and implementation standards to aid physicians in the process, the ethics should fill the gap and provide institutional resources and mediation of value conflicts.
Brouwer, Marije, et al. “Should pediatric euthanasia be legalized?” Pediatrics 141.2, (2018).
This article poses a question if Euthanasia should be legalized or not. Voluntary active Euthanasia for adults is allowed. The author argues that the Minister of Health should not expand the range of cases in which the international killing of innocent beings is permitted. The author says that terminal sedation leads to deaths, and a continuous increase in the dosage can somehow help relieve pain and suffer acceptably. The article explains that alleviating suffering is a good act, but it also encourages palliative care practice. Philosophers argue that it should be legalized only for voluntary users.
The author is credible since he shows the side effects of legalizing Euthanasia, I disagree with the legalization of Euthanasia since the more people chose Euthanasia and the more it is non voluntarily imposed on patients, the less incentive there is to enhance methods of palliative care. The more doctors practice Euthanasia, the less these doctors work on relieving pain. The more individuals who die of Euthanasia, the fewer individuals there will be who request more prominent palliative consideration. If interest in palliative care is hosed, there is less budgetary motivation for growing new strategies for mitigating pain. The more Euthanasia is extended, the less weight there will be to improve palliative care since killing will be viewed as an easier, less expensive choice.