Preview

Sanctity of Life is not helpful in understanding the issues surrounding euthanasia

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
398 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Sanctity of Life is not helpful in understanding the issues surrounding euthanasia
b) ‘The concept of the Sanctity of Life is not helpful in understanding the issues surrounding euthanasia.’ Discuss. (10 marks)
Some may agree with the statement because the Sanctity of Life does not allow people to make autonomous decisions when it comes to euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia should be an option for a competent adult who is able and willing to make such a decision. The VES argues that every human being deserves respect and has the right to choose their own destiny, including how they live and die. However, the Sanctity of Life is too rigid as it does not make any exceptions.
Furthermore, some may agree with this statement because the Sanctity of Life does not hold one’s quality life as important. For example, Diane Pretty used to lead a full and active life but then suffered from an incurable disease that limited her ability to move and communicate with others like she used. Her quality of life was clearly no longer desirable, and that is why she wanted her husband to end her life so that she could die in a dignified manner. However, the Sanctity of Life overlooks the quality of life, as all life is God given and is thus sacred; therefore it does not truly address the issues surrounding euthanasia.
On the other hand, both Natural Law and the Sanctity of Life are against euthanasia because of the teachings in Bible, such as in Exodus 20 – ‘thou shalt not kill’. The primary precept to preserve innocent life is based upon this. Therefore, it is clear that euthanasia is wrong irrespective of the issues that surround it, there are no exceptions. In addition, in Job 1:21 it states that ‘the Lord can gave, and the Lord has taken away’, and this means that only God has the divine authority to take life away, and so euthanasia should not be carried out, it is intrinsically wrong.
To conclude, it seems that most would agree with the statement because the Sanctity of Life leaves little room for compassion in comparison to a relative theory of ethics
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Brittany Maynard's Arguments Against Euthanasia
    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Brittany Maynard's Arguments Against Euthanasia

    Different people, operating under different viewpoints, maintain diverse beliefs regarding the issue of euthanasia. While some, such as the Buddhists, have more fluid beliefs toward medically-assisted death, others, such as the Catholics, remain firmly opposed. Personally, I agree with the Catholic Church’s perspective on euthanasia. While I know I am not in the position to preach understanding of the pains associated with certain terminal illnesses, I firmly believe that all life, even a life of suffering, is precious and purposeful. As humans are not the true origin of life, neither should we choose when to end our lives. Buddhism suggests that one can become enlightened enough to choose to end their life, but as we were never involved in our initial creation, such enlightenment would be impossible. Patients such as Brittany Maynard seek to end their lives with dignity, as opposed to dying in pain and agony, but death is not meant to be dignified. As our life on earth ends, we should be humbled and fully realize our dependence on God. While I remain open-minded to the reasoning behind euthanasia, my current perspective does not morally support…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Buddhist/Catholic Views on Euthanasia
    • 2672 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Buddhist/Catholic Views on Euthanasia

    Certainly, most would want their lives, by reasonable means, sustained until the end of their lives inevitably approached. Thereupon, most would wish for a “good” or “peaceful” or “happy” death. Such desires are not controversial, but what constitutes both “reasonable” means and a “good” death is, especially in situations involving the purveyance of the latter by the former. Viewed through the lens of a religious tradition, these controversies can become even more problematic. However, when facing these dilemmas, religious disciplines display both diligence and caution in their ethical reasoning, while working to discern and define all morally problematic aspects, to identify the principles and values with which those aspects conflict, and to provide a resolution which enacts those values. In this essay, I will define euthanasia, a particular practice involved in end of life situations; outline how it opposes the principles and values of two…

    • 2672 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    PGD essay
    • 2698 Words
    • 11 Pages

    PGD essay

    Examine and comment on the view that the principle of the sanctity of life should be considered of first importance in medical ethics with regard to the topic you have studied? (50)…

    • 2698 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Essay: Euthanasia Derives From The Greak For A Good Death
    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Essay: Euthanasia Derives From The Greak For A Good Death

    Euthanasia derives from the Greak for a "good death". Euthanasia is practice of mercifully ending a person's life in order to release the person from an incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or undignified death. This essay will show that the negatives outweigh the benefits for a number of reasons.…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Active and Passive Euthanasia 2
    • 1527 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Active and Passive Euthanasia 2

    Conversely, many believe that a person is alive as long as the heart is beating via technical help or not. There are many sides to the controversy of rather or not euthanasia should be administered. There is the question of morality, the question of active versus passive euthanasia and the question of when euthanasia should be properly carried out. None of these questions are without backlash and consequences. There seem to be more loopholes within this issue than there are cut and dry. Yet when you look at the problem on a personal level with the actual individuals involved, some of those loopholes almost disappear…seemingly. God put people on this earth to live and be prosperous-to be fruitful and multiply, as the Bible says. Some believe that when it gets to the point where the quality of person's life gets so dark that they can no longer function in the world without severe medicinal help, then there is no reason to coerce that person to stay alive (please consider the money that it would cost to warehouse this individual-when money could be allocated to helping children).…

    • 1527 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Of Mice and Men
    • 380 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Of Mice and Men

    However in most cases euthanasia is not acceptable you see this in the quote Lord Jacobvitz “The value of human life is infinite and beyond measure, so that any part of life - even if only an hour or a second - is of precisely the same worth as seventy years of it just as any fraction of infinity, being indivisible, remains infinite.”…

    • 380 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Nurture Makes Euthanasia More Acceptable
    • 2280 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Nurture Makes Euthanasia More Acceptable

    Euthanasia is the practice of mercifully ending a person 's life in order to free someone from a deadly disease. The Greek word “Euthanasia” simply means “good death”. This refers to the intentional ending of a person or animal’s life to relieve suffering and pain. It is also known as “Mercy Killing”. It is a serious ethical and political issue in today’s society because it goes against the norms of traditional medicine. It is so, because some people define euthanasia as a form of suicide. However, some people actually think that it is a choice that concerns the quality of life. In fact, people have different standards regarding the worth of life. Others believe that being clinically alive is enough to say that a person should live, but for others, it is simply inadequate. If a person’s life is lacking in self awareness or intrinsic presence as a human being, due to extreme physical or mental suffering, then that person should be able to choose a dignified death rather than an undignified existence. This is evident because of moral conscience, social bias or pressure, and financial situations. It is portrayed that nurture or environmental factors plays a role that make euthanasia more appealing. In short, some people tend to disregard the moral and ethical values of life when they see a person suffering. Indeed, despite of the moral and ethical issues that contradict the concept of euthanasia, there are certain factors it impacts society positively, which leads it to be more socially acceptable.…

    • 2280 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ethical Arguments Against Active Euthanasia
    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ethical Arguments Against Active Euthanasia

    An ethical argument that is supported by a lot of people is that human beings should have freedom of choice, which includes the right to control their own body and life. Nevertheless they should be able to choose when and how they die. The concept ‘quality of life’ is important towards this argument it suggests that a life should only continue as long as a person feels their life is worth living. Author Terry Pratchett who was diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s, became a campaigner for assisted dying. “ I would like to die peacefully with Thomas Tallis on my iPod before the disease takes me over and I hope that will not be for quite some time to come, because if I knew that I could die at any time I wanted, then suddenly every day would be as precious as a million pounds. If I knew that I could die, I would live. My life, my death, my choice.” By allowing people to choose how they die this guarantees they’ll live what remaining life they have to the fullest and most of all free from pain. Supporters of euthanasia believe that allowing people to ‘die with dignity’ is a kinder way than forcing them to continue their lives unhappy with…

    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Dignity In Dying Arguments Against Euthanasia
    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Dignity In Dying Arguments Against Euthanasia

    This essay will discuss the topic of euthanasia which according to the NHS is “the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering.” The arguments from both sides are strong and passionate. I believe that people should have the choice to end their own lives if they are suffering from an incurable pain that will slowly kill them. However, this is where the arguments start “what if the person is in a coma and he or she can’t choose to end it?”, “what if he or she is pressured into it” these are valid arguments and there is no question that when it comes to this topic the waters get muddy so to speak. Personally, I believe that it should be within the rights of a person to end their suffering.…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Assisted Suicide Speech
    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Assisted Suicide Speech

    -Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person…

    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Antigone
    • 1169 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Antigone

    Euthanasia is a topic that is rarely covered in the news. The moral ramifications of killing someone, even for the sake of mercy, seems too heavy of a topic for in depth discussion. No one wants to think about the day they will die, however when someone becomes terminally ill it can soon become their only thought. When pain and suffering enter this scenario, the option of ending a life more quickly may also enter the thought process. According to Life and Hope Network “9% of all deaths in America are caused by Euthanasia” 1 We are given the gift of life at birth. I believe Euthanasia is a violation of the most precious gift we are given… life…

    • 1169 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Death with Dignity
    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Death with Dignity

    Should a person have the choice of when they die if they are suffering from terminal disease? Most physicians and politicians would say, “No”; and most of Christianity agrees. Christianity teaches that euthanasia follows the same definition as abortion- it is murder. However, each individual’s opinion on this matter differs. One person may say it is wrong while the next would say it is morally acceptable. There are always two sides to every debate including this one.…

    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Benefits Of Assisted Suicide
    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Benefits Of Assisted Suicide

    Rationality is what bestows dignity on human beings, and we must respect people’s dignity. Therefore, a human being who may lose their dignity and their rationality through illness and pain may legitimately request euthanasia. In order to respect and protect their dignity,…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Sanctity of Life
    • 4148 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The Sanctity of Life

    A believer in the sanctity of life would argue that only God has the right to give or take life as he created all humans imago dei. If someone believed this, they would argue that under no circumstances does anyone have the right to take their life, or let anyone else take their life for them. Natural law accepts the sanctity of life argument, but would also reject euthanasia due to the primary precept (which is absolute therefore cannot be broken under any circumstances) “preserve innocent life”. For instance, even in the case of Dianne Pretty who had motor neuron disease and was facing a painful death, she would not have been allowed to die, despite saying “I want to have a quick death without suffering”. Both the sanctity of life thesis and the primary precepts would stop her being autonomous.…

    • 4148 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Critically consider the ethical and legal arguments for and against euthanasia
    • 2423 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Critically consider the ethical and legal arguments for and against euthanasia

    Over the past decade the issue of euthanasia has gained vast support on both of the opposing sides, it continues to be one of the most controversial issues in modern day Britain. The most common form of euthanasia is assisted suicide in which someone suffering from a terminal illness such as multiple sclerosis would ask a family member to aid them in ending their life by whatever means necessary. The general view of euthanasia is the as straight forward as flicking a switch and should be legal based on that juvenile belief. In reality euthanasia can be dissected to reveal an array of tiers in which the simple action is not as clear-cut as it is portrayed. These tiers take the forms of passive, active, voluntary and involuntary. The view is those that oppose euthanasia is based largely on the belief in palliative care and religious reasoning, in which life is portrayed as a gift from god and ending life prematurely is fundamentally wrong. These opposing views are ethical and frequently changing and adapting based largely on public opinion conversely the views of the law is constant and until recently was never questioned yet since the introduction of the European Courts of Human Rights into Britain there has been more and more demand for reform to allow for euthanasia under certain circumstances. It is essential that both sides of the debate…

    • 2423 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics