The ethics of assisted suicide and euthanasia are exactly the same before the public eye. The constant drumbeat of media attention and Concerns about end-of-life monitoring continue to grow consider legalizing the practice. A public consultation was held centered on the desire to control time and manner death amid warnings of potential violence and harm overcoming long-standing social taboos against giving aid suicide or direct death of another person. Parallel to, but in many ways separate from, this public debate Because of this, assisted suicide and euthanasia are discussed in the medical and ethical literature. In this debate, some affirm Both assisted suicide and euthanasia are morally wrong should not be given regardless of the circumstances specific case. Others are believed to have assisted suicide or euthanasia It is ethically legal in rare and exceptional cases, but that professional standards and laws should not be changed allow any exercise. Finally, some lawyers helped There must be both suicide or assisted suicide and euthanasia are recognized as legally and ethically acceptable options for care dying or critically ill patients.(1) A historical perspective Philosophers and religious thinkers for thousands of years raised the ethical issue of suicide. These debates continue broad principles of duty to self and society fundamental questions about the value of human life. Many beautiful Western intellectual history thinkers contributed to it ————————————————- – —————– (1) Arguments are presented schematically in most of this chapter cd presented as “proponents” of legalizing aid opponents of suicide, euthanasia and their legalization practice. Each category brings together different viewpoints in order providing an outline of the debate marked by complexity and detail position. page 78 WHEN SEARCHING FOR DEATH The debate dates back to the ancient Greeks Plato and Aristotle Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Locke, Hume, and in more modern times Kant.(2) Some of the beliefs and practices surrounding suicide are rooted in them certain cultures and beliefs with little relevance modern society. For example, in a warrior society Vikings, only those who died violently could enter heaven, or Valhalla. The greatest honor was to die in battle; was suicide The second best version.(3) Similarly, the ancient Scythians believed When an individual was too old, it was a great honor to commit suicide their nomadic lifestyle, thus sparing younger members the tribe bears the burden of carrying them or killing them. In other eras and The debate about civilization and suicide touched on values Influenced and still resonates with trends in Western thought Contemporary views on suicide. Although the word “euthanasia” is of Greek origin, it is still used In ancient Greece, the term simply meant “a good death,” not practical to kill a person in good faith.(4) In ancient Greece. euthanasia was not practiced and suicide itself was common resented.(5) However, some Greek philosophers believed that suicide will be accepted in exceptional circumstances. Plato, for For example, suicide was generally considered a cowardly and dishonest act If an individual did such an act, it might be an ethically acceptable act immoral, irredeemable character and disgraceful conduct action, or loss of control over one’s actions due to grief or suffering. (6) ————————————————- – ——————– (2) The current debate about aid is noteworthy Even among academic commentators, suicide rates are extremely low from this rich history. For an excellent discussion See An Intellectual History of Suicide, B. A. Brody, “Introduction” in Suicide and Euthanasia: Historical and Contemporary Themes, ed. BA Brodie (Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1989), 1. For an interesting literary history A, Alvarez, Savage God on Suicide (New York: Random House, 1971). (3) Those who died peacefully in their beds in old age or the disease was forever removed from Valhalla and Alvarez. 54. (4) According to one writer, no Greek philosopher ‘cver euthanasia in our modern sense.” J. M. Cooper, “Euthanasia and Suicide in Greek Philosophers
