John Stuart Mill Assisted Suicide Analysis

Previously mentioned, Shklar believes how the limited power to the state is the solution to individuals freedom and liberty not being in danger. She also believes that the liberalism of fear is not similar to anarchism. Anarchist’s tend to believe that people do not need state power or any rules of law to live peacefully, but Shklar suggests that rules are significant to liberalism in various ways because the rules of law will protects ones individual

The second reason is that the duty of not killing someone is dischargeable. Third, if we do not succeed in saving a dying individual, we essentially leave open the possibility that someone else might come along and save them. Lastly, some philosophers consistently believe that letting someone die is not as bad as killing because of the difference in the intention behind the two kinds of actions (James Rachel, Killing and Letting Die). Rachel’s argument towards both Active Euthanasia and Passive Euthanasia is accurate in the sense that Active Euthanasia is morally wrong and in some cases Passive Euthanasia is acceptable.

Kateb 's solution is to abandon the principle in favor of almost unlimited

What will be the affect on society in exploiting the vulnerability and desperation of a drug-addict? What happens to those patients who are not seeking permanent birth control as a means of preventing reproduction but for the cash, $200? In the circumstances, who is liable for the damages should the procedure fail the purpose of birth control?

The argument of ending life being a slippery slope can be dispelled to a certain degree when it comes to ethical reasoning. Proponents see assisted suicide as a risk to the elderly and uninsured who may feel compelled to request assistance to end life to avoid being a burden to family and or society (Ersek,2004, table 2). Protocol can and would be in place that would assure measures are taken to those seeking to die on their own terms can do so. This choice is done freely without consequence to themselves or by the doctors assisting by determining factors that would safeguard against abuse of the choice to end

Neutrality is avoiding being see as picking a side. It also emphasises the need to avoid any political, racial, religious or ideological controversies that may allow people to perceive the humanitarian actions as not being neutral. An organisation may not disclose their funders or use their sponsor to ensure the safety of their workers and show that they are following the principle of

The practice of personal autonomy is respecting the choices a person makes in their life and regardless of how others feel, they should not intervene on their course of actions. So in respect to personal autonomy, Father Bayhi should act how he feels is necessary. If he wants to break the seal of confession to report this one case of abuse, he can do so. If he does not want to break the seal of confession, but may be intervene and help the girl by providing advice, he can do so. However, either way he decides to act on this situation, it should be solely up to him on what he decides.

Unless of course, this expression is inciting violent or illegal behaviour, or threatening others, in which case it is directly harmful and should therefore be prohibited. I think J.S. Mill would agree with me on these points as he states “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.” (Mill, J.S.,1978). Joel Feinberg, who also had very influential views on the Freedom of Speech debate, may respond to Mills view and propose that the Harm Principle is not enough: “In some instances, Feinberg suggests, we also need an offense principle that can act as a guide to public censure. The basic idea is that the harm principle sets the bar too high

Individualism means a person who acts without reference to others. He felt that individuals should live a simple life, a life where one can focus on themselves and their goals. He writes, “It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right”(109) This means that people should be able to live their lives freely and do what they think is right as long as they don’t endanger others.

Exercising Autonomy: people have a right to control their lives and choose their own means of dying. The idea of autonomy, which literally means self-rule, is a foundational component of a free society. So long as my actions don’t harm others. A criticism of this argument is that, while autonomy is an important moral ideal, no one has full autonomy. Our actions are always restricted by competing interests of society.

Should it be illegal or legal? There are many questions that have to be asked about assisted suicide, but it is not as simple as it seems. These questions affect real people’s lives and happiness. Shouldn’t we be the ones that decide what to do with our own lives? Shouldn’t the only person that knows and has to live with the pain and suffering be the only voice that matters?

Mill argues that each individual can exert his freedom so long as it does not harm anyone else (Mill 1863). What a person does in his life is his business, and I can express disdain or aversion to his actions. If neither of us infringe on one another’s liberty, we cannot act in a way that would limit or remove each other’s liberty (Mill 1863). Contrarily, for self-defense, society and/or the victimized individual can impede on the perpetrator’s liberty if the perpetrator has impinged on someone else’s right to liberty (Mill 1863). Harm to someone’s liberty, whether done actively or inactively, therefore should be legally condemnable (Mill 1863).

Mill is correct to say that everyone should have the right to their own choices, regardless of how it may affect themselves. So long as it does not determent the legal obligations one has for others, an activity such as choosing one’s own course of death would not have a direct effect on those around them. In addition, the entirety of having a criminal prohibition on physician assisted deaths is unlawful under the Charter. It is far more inhumane to allow one to be put through pain and agony rather than the peaceful and painless death through other methods. This prohibition essentially tells others how to live the end scope of their lives, which takes away that individual’s right to their own life without any interference from the state.

The fact of suicide is un-describable and usually frowned upon and never talked about. Suicide has many opinions that deal with religion, family, or politics. Assisted suicide is something that is very much talked about in society. This is also known as euthanasia or mercy killing. Assisted suicide is when another person takes the life of a struggling person with the person's permission.