Physician Assisted Suicide Utilitarianism

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Should people that have non-life threatening illnesses be offered physician-assisted suicide? Many people in this world are suffering from something that might not kill them, but they feel that they difficulties that come along with it is too much to live with and they want to give up and die. Whether it is physical pain or mental pain, people have their reasons for not wanting their life to go on. Some might say that if they don’t want their life to keep going, then they should just kill themselves and for most of these people, the thought has probably crossed their minds a few times. However, some of these people are unable to do this because of their ailments or they are not able to go through with it themselves. This is where physician-assisted suicide comes into play. Physician-assisted suicide is when a medical professional euthanizes a patient per their request and for the right reasons. Based on utilitarian views, which intends to bring forward the greatest good in a situation, the best possible chance for them to find happiness is to have a physician assist them into the afterlife. In this essay, I will discuss how the utilitarian perspective is the best way to look at the situation at hand along with going over a common objective to it and how the utilitarian perspective overrules their thoughts.
People are often confused at the term "utilitarianism" and most people are unsure of how they can practice it once they learn …show more content…
(2001). Ethical issues in the social worker's role in physician-assisted suicide. Health & Social Work, 26(3), 160-166.
Mill, J. S. (2008). Utilitarianism, In J. Bennett (Ed. & Rev.) Early Modern Philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/pdfs/mill1863.pdf
Mosser, K. (2013). Understanding philosophy [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
Singer, P. (2003). Voluntary Euthanasia: A Utilitarian Perspective. Bioethics, 17(5/6), 526.

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