An intentional action committed to ending someone’s pain or suffering is euthanasia. This term is known as ‘mercy killing’ or ‘physician suicide.’ It is possible to divide it into two categories: voluntary euthanasia and involuntary euthanasia. Euthanasia is classified as either voluntary or involuntary, depending on whether or not the patient gives their agreement before the procedure (Brouwer et al. 2). The debate of whether or not euthanasia has persisted over time, and various theories support this position. Therefore, this essay will argue that severely disabled children should not be euthanized.
Based on ethics and morality, euthanasia is a practice that cannot be accepted at all. The concept of human value extends beyond the suffering an individual is now enduring. For children born with disabilities, such as skin breakage, for example, the worth of the child’s quality of life should be prioritized over the child’s pain and suffering (Brouwer et al. 2). Unitarianism supports Mercy killing because it increases the amount of happiness in society and decreases the amount of suffering, although it is vulnerable to physical criticism.
Many people believe it is cruel and unusual punishment to put severely disabled children to death. They believe these children have a right to live and should be given every opportunity. The fact that these children are still people with rights, even though they cannot live independently, is the main argument opposing euthanasia (Unbelievable). If they cannot live independently, they can no longer make decisions for themselves and must be taken care of by others, which can cause problems for society. Furthermore, it is also difficult for families who have a disabled member to cope with their situation and deal with their grief when someone close dies naturally. It is much more difficult for them if the person who dies is very young or has significant disabilities.
In conclusion, mercy killing is never an option, regardless of whether a person can consent. No matter the circumstances, it is imperative to protect human life because of its inherent value. A single human life is more significant than the happiness of a family or society. Therefore, the answer to this question concerns what people value in society. If they believe life is sacred and that all humans should have the same rights and freedoms, they probably agree that killing disabled individuals is unacceptable.
Works Cited
Brouwer, Marije, et al. “Should pediatric euthanasia be legalized?” Pediatrics 141.2 (2018).
Unbelievable, Premier. “Should We Euthanize Severely Disabled Children? Peter Singer Vs Andy Bannister.” YouTube, Web.