Question

analyze one of the issues dealing with allowing someone to die utilizing one of the major ethical theories. Evaluate the same issue according to a different moral theory. Did you reach your answer? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Analyzing the issues dealing with allowing someone to die can be considered from two major ethical theories i.e. the utilitarians and Kantians. According to the utilitarians weighing the circumstances and stating that the right thing to do is the action that would result in the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people who are involved. Thus if fewer family members objected than those who agreed and the person himself also wants to die, and, the mercy killing should be allowed. However, if more family members objected to mercy killing that is should not be carried out. However, according to the Kantian ethics mercy death will be regarded as a murder due to the categorical imperative. I will go for the Kantian ethics as I want to make sure that things are left to the will of God, rather than a physician. There have been cases where people have revived even after the removal of the life-supporting systems.