Ethical Debates in Abortion and Euthanasia

Ethical Debates in Abortion and mercy turn thumbs downing self-reliance stub be defined as self-rule and it is a persons or tolerants primary decently. This regulation means that an adult who is an informed and competent patient has the good to accept or refuse some(prenominal) treatments, drugs or surgical procedures. These decisions moldiness(prenominal) be taken in to consideration veritable(a) if these choices be non in the best interest of the patient. It is a healthcargon professionals duty and obligation to respect patients autonomy. Although or sotimes this can be difficult as it may conflict with paternalistic attitudes of other healthc be professionals. A persons autonomy could be overridden in cases such(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) as, if an individuals decision intrusts public health in risk of exposure or could electromotive forcely harm others, that persons autonomy may be restricted.Autonomy is often employ in the respectable debate of me rcy killing. Though it is a patients freedom to make decisions on their birth treatment, the concept of autonomy is misconceive in the case of stop an individuals dieliness-time. In this case, although a patient is loose of giving valid consent, a doctor does not carry the pledge to treat a patient unless he has signed a write consent.2. In order to produce a non-maleficence conclusion with turn up(p) reducing the benefits for others the neighborly worker could approach Bernie with the idea of inform all(prenominal)(prenominal)y admitting himself to hospital. If Bernie was to work unhappy at any time during his stay he would be able to arc himself without the pressure of noteing isolated, but he would tacit be offered the swear out oneself he needs.This would take some of the pressure off his parents, his mother would accordingly feel less threatened knowing that Bernie is being negociated for properly and receiving the assistant he needs to address his proble ms. (Psychotic episode, grief counselling, family counselling). His mother and father could wherefore start to concentrate on their own problems and try to correct their relationship.If the self-coloured family where to address their individual problems, it could be suggested this would thusly in turn draw a better family flavor with effective communication.3. For the solelyification for Bernie to be section below the Mental Health Act would depend on Bernies area of mind. Bernie is un leave aloneing to be voluntarily admitted to hospital, so if he was to be segment this would enable him to be treated with the correct medication such as anti-psychotic medication which would help treat psychosis. Although if Bernie is not materially psychotic and just grieving for his grandmother then being sectioned would not be justified as his problems could be treated with counselling in the conjunction to help resolve his family issues.If Bernie was to be sectioned this could change how concourse check at Bernie in the future for example job applications and generally inside the community.Bernie has often used threatening behaviour towards his parents, if this was to escalate the sectioning of Bernie could be the precisely option and then would be justified to protect his family and himself from violence.AbortionThe honourable debate regarding stillbirth asks whether it is chastely right to deliberately terminate a pregnancy before childbirth.In the early part of the 20th coulomb fairnesss were brought in to reduce access to legal spontaneous spontaneous abortion. Many women resorted to seeking out backstreet abortionists, which either permanently damaged their health or even cease their life due to unwanted pregnancies.In 1967 the Abortion Act became law, since then the act has been unsuccessfully challenged numerous times by pro-life groups who still try to limit the access to abortions.Looking at abortion from a moral view there are many dimensio ns which are conjugated to abortion. This debate is very complex and every question reachs to sub-questions and sub-parts.There are pro-life enthusiasts who are against abortion and pro-choice groups who are partially or completely in favour of termination of pregnancy. Pro-life groups/ bulk deal that that it is ethically/morally wrong to kill a foetus which has potential to live they believe that every foetus is alive and has the capacity to set into a tender-hearted being like us. So killing a foetus is the same as killing a gay being which is wrong.Pro-choice groups regard abortion as acceptable in some circumstances such as there being a sound medical problem which could endanger the foetus or mothers life, the foetus pull up stakes suffer from mental or physical abnormalities or where the pregnancy was unintentional for example rape of failure of contraception.Two philosophical theories that could be utilize to this debate could be natural law and virtue ethics.Natur al law of import focus is on actions, it asks if an action is good or regretful and in accordance with nature.One of the primary precepts is protect and preserve the innocent. From this we recrudesce a secondary precept do not abort. This is an absolute moral rule that you should not kill an innocent person. This is how the Catholic Church views abortion and therefore condemns abortion in all instances.The Church of England tries to encourage the issues ring abortion, the church recognises that all individuals have different views regarding this sensitive matter.The 1983 resolution of Synod stateThat in situations where the continuance of a pregnancy threatensthe life of the mother a termination of pregnancy may be justifiedand that there must be adequate and safe provision in our societyfor such situationsChurch of England General Synod, 1983There are a few Catholics that disaccord with the Vatican regarding abortion. They argue against the total ban on abortion with argument s such asTheologians such as Aquinas and Augustine who believed that a foetus does not become a person until between 40 and 80 days afterwards conception has occurred. twain Catholic has the right and responsibility to follow their own conscience on moral matters.Though pro-choice Catholics dont see abortion as being morally good they to argue that there could be situations where it is the least bad moral choice that is available at the time. rightfulness ethics are concerned with what kind of people we should be. It helps to develop characteristics which help to make moral decisions easier, for example whether to consider and abortion or not. These ethics dont say that abortion is right or wrong but that it is up to the individuals personal character. A decision that a woman makes about an abortion must contribute towards her happiness.A person, who is virtuous and has disciplined themselves in the virtues of temperance, would be in a better state of mind and condition to define on the important matter of having an abortion.In some countries such as India, aborting foetuses which are to be born girls are becoming a study problem. Some cultures prefer to have baby boys, so request are termination purely on the basis that the child is female.Pro-choice activistic and author Janet Hadley, sex selection abortions in India are extremely commonalityAll over India, there are clinics performing amniocentesis and sonography scans, even in districts too poor to afford supplies of clean drink water. Every day, an estimated 3000 female foetuses are aborted. And there are doctors making a mint.Janet Hadley Abortion between Freedom and Necessity (Great Britain Virago Press 1996) 88Female foeticide is more common than male foeticide, countries, in particular India and China, are more likely to have serious consequences on the balance of the genders in the population. The reasons behind these are well-nighly cultural, rather than religious.When it comes to this very sensitive debate, I feel I can honestly say that I am neither, for or against abortion. I do feel it is every womans right to decide. Until I am placed in a position where I am undecided on whether to continue with a pregnancy or not, I find it very difficult to have an tactile sensation.Working in an operational theatre, it is part of my role to be part of a surgical group which carries out termination of pregnancies. I think doing this job has influenced me to have an sincere view on this matter. I have seen patients use this procedure as a form of contraception, but have withal had to be with patients who have made the decision to terminate their pregnancy due to foetal abnormalities and miscarriage.Every womans circumstances are different and should be taken into consideration, and in a lot of these cases we have to consider the fathers feelings which a lot of people extend to forget.euthanasiaEuthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a persons life in order to end the ir suffering. According to English law both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal.This process is sometimes called forgiveness killing. Euthanasia can fall into categories such as uncoerced euthanasia where a person makes the decision to die and asks for help enable to do this. Non-voluntary euthanasia is when a person is unable to make the decision or give consent to die, for reasons such as being in a coma or being brain damaged, another person give make the decision on their behalf. This could be because the patient expressed their wishes for their life to be ended in these circumstances. Involuntary euthanasia is where someone is killed heedless of their wishes.There has always been lots of controversy surrounding the debate on euthanasia and whether this act should be legal or not. In most countries euthanasia is seen as a criminal homicide or murder. Although in countries such as Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg these practices are still considered legal. Killing is inexcusable withal is seen as excusable when used as a criminal penalisation?Arguments regarding this debate can often depend on which method is used to carry out the end of life for the patient.There are many arguments on this debate, many of which fall into different categories such as ethical, pragmatic and religious arguments and many more. Some ethical arguments for anti-euthanasia may includeEuthanasia weakening the respect in society and the sanctity of life, and all human beings are valued regardless of age, religion, sex etc.Voluntary euthanasia could be the start of a slippery slope which may lead to unwilled euthanasia where a person who wants to live is killed regardless of their wishes.Euthanasia can affect other peoples hum rights, not just those of the patients, for example, family, relatives and even medical staff.Practical arguments for anti-euthanasia in this debate could beIf palliative care was to be carried out properly euthanasia would not needed to be ne cessary, it could help prevent a patient feeling this is the only option.Doctors should not be allowed to decide when a patient should die legalisation of this would put doctors in a position of power which would be unacceptable.Religious people feel that euthanasia is against the will of god. Although god has given us all free will, they argue that it would be wrong for us to kill ourselves or ask another to do it for them.The slippery slope argument explains the fears of voluntary euthanasia becoming legal and where it may lead, such as involuntary euthanasia. If the law changes and voluntary euthanasia becomes legal, how would we be able to keep it under control? Without official regulations and control mechanisms proponents of euthanasia feel it would never be legalisedWhere would this slippery slope lead to? Could doctors start killing patients without their permission? Would doctors kill patients to save money and create more free beds?We conclude that is was to the highest d egree impossible to ensure that all acts of euthanasia weretruly voluntary and that any liberations of the law in the United Kingdom could not be abused.We were also concerned that vulnerable people the elderly, lonely, sick or distressedwould feel pressure, whether real or imagined, to request early death.Lord Walton, Chairman, House of Lords take in Committee on Medical Ethics looking into euthanasia, 1993.Why do people want euthanasia?Most people think that the main reason that people choose to seek euthanasia is because of them being in severe and unbearable pain. There are many psychological factors such as depression, feeling like a burden, the loss of their dignity and not scatty to be dependent which cause people to think of euthanasia.the great unwashed consider what quality of life they are going to have, for example a terminally ill patient can be damaged by physical conditions e.g. incontinence, vomiting, paralysis and difficulty breathing.Some peoples arguments may i ncludethe great unwashed have the right to die when and how they would like being independent gives them the right to carry out decisions about themselves.A libertarian argument believes that if an action is in the best interest of everybody, then it does not violate anybodys rights, so is morally acceptable.Euthanasia happens, so is it not better to legalise it and make it adjust properly.People are allowed to die with dignity and in their own way.Relatives are spared from watching their loved ones suffer and die painfully.Utilitarianism believes that moral rules should produce the great happiness of the greatest people. Looking at it from utilitarian point of view, people who are allowed to die a good death when they choose will allow them to be happier in their final days.Utilitarianism looks at total human happiness and not just that of the patient involved. People who agree with this principle would see the negative effect it would have on those around the patient such as the family, friends and the healthcare professionals, these negative effects would outweigh those of the patient.Kants ethical theory has a different perspective to utilitarianism. Kants theory on mortality rate derived from the Greek deontology, which means obligation. He didnt agree with the making of moral choices out of compassion or kindness. He believed in what was the right thing to do, and choosing to excite the dying process is more important than just simply ending it all because of suffering and pain.Kant felt that the intentions of and act was more important than the actual act itself.I think that euthanasia is one of the most manifold debates to date. Its very hard to say whether you are either for or against euthanasia until you are put in a position where you could choose to live or die.The only way I could possibly have an opinion on this matter would be to imagine if it was a member of my family wanting to die. If I thought that they were going to have no quality of life and there was no hope of recovering then maybe I would consider euthanasia if it was what they wanted, the only way I would do this would be with their consent.I do strongly feel it does depend on each situation and the mental state of the patient, as voluntary euthanasia could be made and easy option if someone was to have suicidal tendencies.