Euthanasia it Is Generally Believed

Euthanasia

It is generally believed that life is "good," and death is "bad;" but there are circumstances when this seemingly universal truth may become clouded and confusing. Lately, the issue of euthanasia has come to the forefront of modern society with many cases in the news. However, while a dictionary may define the term "euthanasia" as a quiet and easy death, or the means to acquire it, Philippa Foot asserts that euthanasia is a more complex and morally ambiguous act that often is misunderstood by the general public. According to Foot, there are a number of difficult issues surrounding the concept of euthanasia, including the idea of good and evil, the value of an individual life, and when, and even if, a person can consent to their own death. Since, as Foot points out, the current health care system already employs euthanasia in a different, albeit indirect manner, the question of euthanasia must be explored to not only define it as a term, but also to define when and if it is to be employed.

The dictionary defines "euthanasia" in a limited manner: a quiet and easy death, or the means to acquire it. But as Philippa Foot explains, there are a number of problems with this definition. According to Foot, a definition of euthanasia must include more than a quiet and easy death, in fact it must include the idea that the quiet and easy death is actually a "good" instead of an "evil." It must also be of benefit for the person being killed, and not simply be beneficial to those around the person. When speaking of "good," Foot is careful to stress that the "good" must be a real and tangible "good," not a perceived "good" on the part of those making the decision. And mostly, it can only be termed "euthanasia" when the death of an individual is a real escape from the greater "evil" of continued life. In other words, euthanasia must be a means of ending the "evil" of a life that is generally accepted by society as intolerable for the person living it.

This definition of euthanasia rejects the idea that a person can die when the pain in their life exceeds the joy. However, Foot asserts that life, even a good life, cannot exist without some pain; and even in cases where the pain exceeds the joy of life, in most cases, life should win out. As Foot stated in making her case, "merely being alive even without suffering is not a good…." (Foot, p.4) it seems that the connection between "good" and "life" is stronger than can be calculated, and as a result, the mere sums of pain and joy cannot be compared and equated because life can be more than just the sum of it parts. This can ultimately become the justification for refusal to euthanize a person even if they have given their permission. While the rights of the individual must be respected, even if they wish to die, others cannot, must not, accede to the individuals' wishes if they do not agree with it. The underlying basis of euthanasia must be the ending of a life who's continuance is generally accepted as an "evil." Many times the individual seeking to be euthanized, because they are at the center of the issue, cannot make an objective decision about their future. And since they need the assistance of others to complete the act of euthanasia, it is up to the others to refuse to euthanize a person they feel is not continuing a life that can be considered "evil."