Busch-Jensen, Oskar Emil

Bøgh, Line Søgaard

Hemmingsen, Peter Kreiner

Petersen, Victoria Søndergaard

This paper seeks to examine whether euthanasia for people suffering from mental illness is morally justifiable. Focusing on three points of view that are dominant in the debate today, namely utilitarianism, the sanctity of life and autonomy, the paper seeks to explore how these three points of view argue for and against euthanasia for people suffering from mental illness. When examining utilitarianism, the paper focuses on Julia Driver, John Stuart Mill and Peter Singer and finds that the allowance of euthanasia would increase the overall welfare and therefore would be morally justifiable. The examination of the sanctity of life is based on Ronald Dworkin and Immanuel Kant. It is concluded that the arguments concerning the sanctity of life, both for and against euthanasia, are rooted in a respect for human life and the value hereof. Thereafter autonomy is examined through the works of Tom Beauchamp &amp; James Childress, Jonathan Pugh as well as Derek Bolton &amp; Natalie Banner. The analysis suggests that people with mental illnesses who are able to make autonomous decisions should be allowed euthanasia to honor and respect their autonomy. However, it is difficult, if not impossible, to know in what degree suffering from mental illness makes the decisions and desires of these people less autonomous or not autonomous at all. The concluding remarks state that the examined arguments predominantly suggest that euthanasia for people suffering from mental illness is morally justifiable.This paper seeks to examine whether euthanasia for people suffering from mental illness is morally justifiable. Focusing on three points of view that are dominant in the debate today, namely utilitarianism, the sanctity of life and autonomy, the paper seeks to explore how these three points of view argue for and against euthanasia for people suffering from mental illness. When examining utilitarianism, the paper focuses on Julia Driver, John Stuart Mill and Peter Singer and finds that the allowance of euthanasia would increase the overall welfare and therefore would be morally justifiable. The examination of the sanctity of life is based on Ronald Dworkin and Immanuel Kant. It is concluded that the arguments concerning the sanctity of life, both for and against euthanasia, are rooted in a respect for human life and the value hereof. Thereafter autonomy is examined through the works of Tom Beauchamp &amp; James Childress, Jonathan Pugh as well as Derek Bolton &amp; Natalie Banner. The analysis suggests that people with mental illnesses who are able to make autonomous decisions should be allowed euthanasia to honor and respect their autonomy. However, it is difficult, if not impossible, to know in what degree suffering from mental illness makes the decisions and desires of these people less autonomous or not autonomous at all. The concluding remarks state that the examined arguments predominantly suggest that euthanasia for people suffering from mental illness is morally justifiable

I don't live - I exist: An ethical examination of euthanasia for people with mental illness

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Roskilde Universitet