The_Ethical_Dilemma_Of_Euthanasia

The Ethical Dilemma Of Euthanasia “In all our activities there is an end we seek for its own sake and everything else is a means to this end…Happiness is this ultimate end. It is the end we seek in all that we do.”(Aristotle, De Anima, bk.2, Ch.1.) This belief of Aristotle has validity for the pursuit of happiness. Most people live their life with this conviction; however, when happiness seems to be consumed by pain and suffering, some look for the gratification of their death. Today healthcare facilities are focusing their attention towards patient-centered care. This ultimately leads to patients demanding more independence when it involves their own mortality. Healthcare facilities along with state and federal governments are forced to review the current laws regarding euthanasia. In addition, physicians are compelled to obey the Hippocratic Oath, but are faced with certain cases of terminal illness; their ideals may be required to see alternatives. “I will follow that method of treatment which according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patient and abstain from whatever is harmful or mischievous. I will neither prescribe nor administer a lethal dose of medicine to any patient euthanasia, patient, death, end, life, suicide, people, one, healthcare, physicians, assisted, suffering, patients, die, act, states, feel, family, believe, wanted, terminally, should, passive, lives, ill, however, facilities, ethical, control, choose, two, time, suggest, seem, right