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Conflict Between Active And Passive Euthanasia

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Chapter 3: Euthanasia
• More than half of people in the United States die in some form of hospital or nursing home facility. o 70% of that group of people refrain from wanting any treatment to continue their life.
• There are three different characteristics of euthanasia that help to make it easier to understand after you know both sides of each piece. o The first clarification is between active and passive euthanasia.
▪ Active Euthanasia happens when a person takes initiative in someone’s death.
• An example of active euthanasia is the injection of a fatal dose of certain drugs.
▪ Passive Euthanasia is when a person chooses to no longer give medical care that the person needs to keep them from dying.
• An example of passive euthanasia in the …show more content…

• The frightening part about possibly making euthanasia legal in America is that more harm to others will be allowed to take place. o Hitler’s plan is an example that the book talks about because many handicapped individuals were killed during his life because euthanasia was looked at as an acceptable act. o Deaths of discriminated individuals in different social classes may become an issue if euthanasia becomes legal.
John Hardwig: “Is There a Duty to Die?”
• There are several arguments with euthanasia, one of them being people having a duty to die. o Some think that they don’t have a duty to die because their fortune and technology use has purchased them an exception pass.
▪ Medications are available to extend the duration of life and prolong the duty to die. o Another argument people have with a duty to die is with those who still believe in the individualistic fantasy in life.
▪ That the decisions made for an individual with an illness will only have an emotional impact on that single person.
▪ This vision is very incorrect.
▪ Family means the most to several people and the decisions made for any member would have an impact on the family as a …show more content…

▪ It is a family’s duty to take care of their loved ones, even when one member may become extremely ill.
▪ We may need the favor repaid to us one day by another family member if anything were to happen.
• There are three key oppositions to a duty to die when it comes to ending a family members’ life. o If there is a more important duty that needs to happen. o If a duty to end their own life is unsuited with the means of the individual. o If a dying person is already taking on more than they can handle to make the important decision.
• John Hardwig discusses who may have a more likely or less likely duty to die. o Those who are more likely to have a duty to die include:
▪ Those who live with heavy burdens already
▪ Those who continue to get older
▪ Those who have already lived a long

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