Pop Culture Paper 2
Questions for discussion.
Throat example—
Would it be wrong to allow the person to die a very painful death such as the case of throat cancer.
Even if pain management can control some pain, there are cases where an anesthesiologist has no ability to help given the condition. In these cases what do you think should be done?
One strong argument for allowing active euthanasia is the claim that it is the merciful thing to do. Do you think this is a good reason to allow it? Why or why not? How does the virtue of mercy tie in with other virtues like justice, being law abiding etc.
Pain medication and hastening of death via narcotics
It is commonly known that treating pain via narcotics also reduces breathing function. High dosage can lead to death. In many cases the reduced breathing hastens death if it does not cause death immediately. Do you think that Doctors that practice this are in some way practicing active euthanasia and running against the AMA position?
Hospice movement
The hospice movement has as its policy that it will neither hasten death or prolong life. A requirement for entering it, entails no aggressive treatment of diseases but focuses strictly on palliative care—care for pain relief and comfort of the patient and family. Do you think that the argument that Rachels makes against the AMA position would also apply to the hospice movement?
What do you think of the Smith and Jones case Rachels uses to argue for his position?
Do you find the example persuasive? Why or why not?
Are hypothetical cases like these good ways to reason about ethics?
Aristotle would say that it is real experience not hypothetical thought experiemtns that produce phronesis (common sense) and practical wisdom? If you had to choose between Rachels form of reasoning and Aristotle’s would you favor one over the other? Can you say why you favor one more than the other?
