Death and Dignity, Article Critique Example

If there is one thing that people cannot run away from, that is death. Relatively, humans known that somehow, somewhere, sometime, they are going to die and this is a fact that cannot be avoided no matter what one tries to do. This is probably the reason why there exists some notions that since life is so short then it should be lived fully and with full accord to one’s desires of satisfaction. On the other end, scientists and other health experts try the best they could to prolong whatever life span human individuals are subjected under today.

However, there are instances when death is not the matter that some individuals run away from; on the contrary, they have tried the best that they could to choose death over life. Individuals who face consequential situations about their health are at times lead to believe that continuing their life is of no value anymore. In Fitzpatrick’s article, he defines such condition to be relatively connected to euthanasia. In his article, he tried to define euthanasia through the use of history and how it has been first coined to distinctively separate the desire to live from the desire to die. In relation to this, he notes that even in ancient years, the desire to die was respected especially in the Grecian culture. The introduction of the term euthanatos or ‘good death’ has then become a source of debate that assumed the capacity of a person to decide when or how he would die.

Would a death caused by a personal decision be considered moral and dignified or should it be recognized as a crime as well? This particular question looms over the head of moralists and ethicists around the world. True, while some culture like that of the Greeks’ recognize the need to respect one’s decision in dying, other cultures do not perceive the said matter in the same manner. The fact is, most cultures see such situation as rather desperate and rather disrespectful of the life that they have been given in the first place. Life is a gift, and deciding to end, even one’s own life, is considered a neglect of the value of the said gift. Disrespect to the creator, this is how others see the assumptive value of euthanasia especially in relation to those who decide on their own on whether or not they should die.

To know why some view euthanasia as morally acceptable, it is important to understand their point of view on the matter. One, most of those who consider euthanasia as the final resolve to their issue, believe that they are better off dead than alive because of the ailment that they may be suffering from. To them, they see the idea of continuously living under the support of a medical operation would not only burden them but would also put several emotional and financial pressures on the ones they love. At some point, some cases involve individuals who believe that even though they intend to endure the pain and the agony of the treatment they would not be given a hundred percent chance of being cured in the end anyway. These individuals decide that it is much better for them to die early than to suffer all the pain and specifically be tortured with no full hope of being cured at all. In a way, these assumptions of the situation present the individuals rather selfish and are simply trying to escape the pain.

On the other end, there are those who think of nothing and no one else but that of their relatives who become burdened of their situation. Given that they know that others are already having a hard time dealing with the matter, they decide to let go. This way, they would be able to dignify not only themselves but also that of the others who are willing enough to give their time, effort and even their lives just to support the one who is sick and dying. True, in life, there are instances when one feels that he is already becoming a burden and that the burden he is putting upon the shoulders of others might not provide future relief in anyway. In this case, he begins to see himself as worthless hence making a decision to specifically end the pain and the pressure that ‘his life’ is pressing on him and on his loved ones. Euthanasia seems to be the best case’s resolution.

Questionably though, Fitzpatrick tries to increase argumentative possibilities in relation to his topic through pointing out that even though the decision to die could be considered justifiable at times, a person still do not have the right to put into end something that is not his. The life that is given to one is still owned by God. Fitzgerald specifically points out how respect of such life is also a sense of respect for the one who has given it. Would it then mean that if one decides to undergo euthanasia, he then shows direct rebellion against his creator?

The article of Fitzpatrick could be considered properly defined especially in relation to how he tried to correlate history with religion and religion with ethics. Issues on life and its value are indeed becoming a great source of tension both for medical and law enforcers. People wanting to escape pain, agony and pervasive pressure from a devastating ailment are respected of their decision to stop whatever it is that brings them sadness, nevertheless, they are also asked of their position in respecting what God has given them, their life. Overall, the information presented in the article is indeed helpful in pointing out what euthanasia is, how it is administered and why it is chosen as a sense of resolution by several individuals who may be feeling and experiencing particular health-defined difficulties. This approach to the matter makes this article by Fitzgerald rather helpful in providing useful information about euthanasia and a good source of assumption on whether or not it should be accepted as a fair decision in relation to the need of respecting life and its value for a person and for the people living around the said individual. This article could have been better though if it did explore more on the need to explain the side of those who decide to consider euthanasia as the ultimate solution to their life’s issues.

Reference:

Fitzpatrick, T. Of Life, Death and Dignity. http://texashotcountrymagazine.com/display_article.php?id=1089549&_width=. (Retrieved on April 8, 2013).