End-of-life care and its elements, specific euthanasia, are associated with many ethical issues because it is not always clear whether euthanasia is necessary and whether the patient wants it. An exemplary case is the story of Terri Schiavo, a woman who had irreversible post-coma unresponsiveness. The case took seven years to end with the decision to remove the feeding tube since Terri’s legal guarding and husband were for it while her parents wanted their daughter to live artificially. However, the final decision to remove Terri’s feeding tube was reasonable and justifiable because her life was not worth living it. Many people worldwide believe euthanasia is reasonable when the patient has no chance of recovery.
Euthanasia was not developed to hurt people in any way, and its only purpose has always been to serve medicine as any other treatment or medication does. According to Kullolli and Hysa (2018), euthanasia is an individual’s way of self-determination to avoid suffering and escape the life that brings only pain. Terri’s life was not even life as she was comatose for many years. Moreover, euthanasia is widely accepted globally as most people from many countries support its legislation (Levin et al., 2020). Although Terri’s parents’ will is understandable, it is evident that in situations similar to Terri Schiavo’s case, euthanasia is the best available decision.
Furthermore, euthanasia is associated with doctors’ roles in the medical context since medicine intends to help people by all means possible. For instance, the English philosopher Francis Bacon believed that medicine must ease the pain and suffering of the patient (Kullolli & Hysa, 2018). Bacon said that medical help is not only associated with improving health but also should “serve to make a straightforward and upright transition to death” (Kullolli & Hysa, 2018, p. 143). Therefore, the decision to end Terri Schiavo’s life was reasonable and justifiable from a medical viewpoint.
References
Kullolli, B., & Hysa, A. I. (2018). Law and society – euthanasia and criminal law. European Journal of Social Science, 5(2), 142-150.
Levin, K., Bradley, G. L., & Duffy, A. (2020). Attitudes toward euthanasia for patients who suffer from physical or mental illness. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 80(4), 592-614.