Question

Dr. Jim Witcher was a 57-year-old retired veterinarian who owned a horse farm in Louisiana. He had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease), which was gradually causing him to lose muscle control. He had been active on his farm and enjoyed caring for his horses but was now wheelchair-bound in a power-assisted chair. He could, with assistance, get out on his farm but was losing the ability to feed himself. He worried about his gradual decline and loss of control. He also worried about the enormous costs that were depleting the resources set aside to support him and his wife during their retirement.

His wife provided around-the-clock care. She resisted suggestions that she place her husband in a nursing home or even hire help for his care. Their children were grown and occupied, raising their own families. Dr. Witcher knew the burdens on his wife were enormous.

Dr. Witcher realized that he would soon lose all ability to consume food and medicine unaided and anticipated the day when he would not be able to hold his grandchild or even breathe on his own. He knew what he did when one of the horses under his care developed an incurable disability. One day during a routine visit with his internist, he raised the question of why humans could not get similar assistance to quickly end their misery when their suffering and disability became unbearable.

              

               d) Out of all the ethical principles covered in the course thus far, which should be applied here to yield the most ethically acceptable decision? Provide justification for your response.

               e) What is the strongest objection to the view that you defended in part (d)? Describe this objection and respond to it in defense of your view.

Answer 1

d) Most ethically acceptable decision in this situation is sanctity of life one of the ethical principle which says all forms of life including mere biological existing should take precedence over external criteria for judging quality of life.Because in this case it can't be said that dr witcher want to die , though he said he doesn't want to live but because he felt he will become a burden on his wife and no body like to burden his life on his/her loved one . This is the only reason i feel of him thinking this way as he has lost hope from his disease and thinks that he will only end up causing difficulties for his wife and her future too due to care he may need and financial crisis respectively . But actually he didn't really want to die , nobody wants to die untill they lose hope and in this case too he need to know how important he is in his wife's life and there wouldn't be any meaning of her life without him and she would love to take care of him as much possible as its only reason of her to live as she too love him the way he does and he is not a burden on him infact a reason for which she can live.

e) Strongest objection on my view will be automony and respect for person which all meant that every individual has right to decide what is good and what he wants , entails an ability to make choices without external constraints.

But I didn't think the same way because autonomy and respect of person is not for this case because i strongly feel that Dr witcher is becoming hopeless and because of his condition he is too depress to feel that he will become burden on other and didn't think that he can't bear the pain he is having , infact felt that he is becoming burden that is not a true fact but a person may feel this way when he is depressed and a depressed person's decision shouldn't be considered as autonomy and right to person because his decision can be reform by explaining him how his life is connected to his wife and give him hope by making him to come up with his thoughts and clear his view on his life with his wife as she may not be feeling the way he is feeling and need to be consulted . Thus autonomy is a strong objection to my view but I didn't think it is case of autonomy , it is case of hope for life that should not be lose by health care members , family and not even patient and even if losing then right way is to be shown.

Please Upvote if you find it satisfactory. Comment if any doubt.