Question

Summarize: Gay-Williams, “The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia”

Answer 1

In the article of Williams " The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia" he rejects the perspective that if it's better to die than living in pain means if a patient is terminally sick and it's better to die according to the family members and doctors then the patient is let to die in view of euthanasia.

For Williams ,euthanasia is intentional killing not accidental killing or letting one die . According to him one does not intend the persons death - it is a foreseeable but unintended consequences. He present his perspective in view of three major points :-

.1. The argument from nature- we have a natural desire to survive and euthanasia violates that desire . The acts of euthanasia are a denial of human dignity and hence it is morally wrong.

2.The argument from self interest - the acts of euthanasia contains the possibility that we will work against our own interest ,hence it is morally wrong .

3. The argument from practical effects - cases of euthanasia could have a corrupting influence on doctors and nurses hence it is morally wrong.