Killing vs. Letting Die

Rachels: Rachels: “Why should anyone favor letting ‘dehydration and infection wither a tiny being over hours and days?’ The doctrine that says that a baby may be allowed to dehydrate and wither, but may not be given an injection that would end its life without suffering, seems so patently cruel as to require no further refutation.” (303)

It is morally wrong to prolong suffering. The morality of allowing someone to die when circumstances provide an out (e.g. Down syndrome baby with intestinal blockage) is predicated on the assumption that some lives are/aren’t worth living. Active euthanasia is not any worse than passive euthanasia. Euthanasia contradicts the natural goal of survival. Possibility of….mistaken prognosis, new procedures, spontaneous remission. Availability of euthanasia might cause people to not try hard to survive and cause doctors to not try hard to save lives.

“Everything naturally loves itself…(therefore) suicide is contrary to the inclination of nature.” “All animals are entrusted to their own prudence and skill for their conduct in the world, and have full authority as far as their power extends, to alter all the operations of nature.”

“By killing himself he injures the community.” “A man’s life is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster…A man who retires from life does no harm to society; he only ceases to do good; which, if it is an injury, is of the lowest kind.”

“Life is God’s gift to man…(therefore) whoever takes his own life, sins against God.” “There is no being, which possesses any power or faculty, that it receives not from its Creator, nor is there any one which by ever so irregular an action can encroach upon the plan of his providence, or disorder the universe.”

Terminal illness. Chronic physical pain. Chronic psychological pain. Boredom. Depression. Age. Family status. Social/economic status. Intelligence. Appearance.