Euthanasia or mercy killing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Euthanasia or mercy killing - Essay Example If other people especially family members have greatly contributed towards one’s success, and one has not retaliated to improve their lives, you have a duty to die. When one becomes incapacitated to the extent that he/she cannot maintain the social fabric that has been holding the relationship together, he has a duty to die. For instance, if he has been making people happy by singing and he cannot sing any more due to illness or other factors, the relationship between him and the acquaintances is likely to weaken. In addition, in the event of living a reckless lifestyle such that nothing is saved for future medication or old age, one has the duty to die. It is irresponsible to be less concerned with one’s owns health only to rely on others when the disaster hits (Hardwig 12). Less likelihoods of the duty to die occurs when one can courageously cope with their own sicknesses or incapacitated condition rendering the patient less time, energy and resources in care giving. On the same note, some diseases will have to cost the caregivers despite the courage and strength the patient shows in trying to withstand the situation. When relatives or family members have to suffer or be very grieved because of the support you have been offering to their lives both material and moral, there is less likelihood on the duty to die. Hardwig, again, argues that the duty to die is very real and possible and wonders the bioethics dismissal of the claim. It is the individualistic fallacies that drive us to think that we have no duty to die. Human beings are held together by kinship ties and the decisions we make impacts others. We share houses, finances, successes, as well as... The essay refers to John Hardwig, who says that there is always a duty to die. There are circumstances that increase the likelihood of the duty to die; one’s illness, history and age. He gives several considerations that clarify the definition of the duty to die. First, if prolonging life will pose more burdens to relatives including loss jobs, financial challenges and emotional stress to the caregivers, there is a very high degree of the likelihood to die. The essay brings a contradictory point now. If people have lived a very poor and difficult life, they have not enjoyed a satisfactory share of what life has to offer, especially as a result of their own flaws, they have a duty to die. Less likelihoods of the duty to die occurs when one can courageously cope with their own sicknesses or incapacitated condition rendering the patient less time, energy and resources in care giving. The essay comes back to Hardwig, who argues that the duty to die is very real and possible and wo nders the bioethics dismissal of the claim. As defined earlier in this essay, the ultimate goal of euthanasia is an act that is intended to shorten the patient’s life medically with the aim of relieving his suffering. In conclusion, shows that the issue of euthanasia will continue to elicit widespread debate owing to its implications on religious, moral and ethical considerations. John Hardwig raises a fundamental yet weighty debate by claiming that people have a duty to die in spite of their common objection to such an idea.