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The Major Conflicts Between Life And Quality Of Life

2124 Words9 Pages

The major conflict, in this case, is between the sanctity of life and quality of life.
The principle of sanctity of life holds that all human life is sacred and worthy of treatment. It is a universal concept and states that there is nothing more sacred than human life itself. This principle protects all humans at any stage of life: from fetuses to those in a persistent vegetative state. This ensures that protection of life is something entitled to all, no matter the quality that the life brings. Furthermore, the sanctity of life does not accept suicide no matter how diminished the value of a patient's life has become, but this principle conflicts with autonomy when the patient wants to discontinue (or not start) treatment. A doctor may want to continue attempting to save a life as it is valued by such high standards and refusing the treatment is morally wrong, but when the competent patient comes to the conclusion that their quality of life is being lowered and they want …show more content…

This would lie with the sanctity of life and believing that her life has value and the medical team is obligated to treat her. Additionally, this theory has a large focus on being human and having inherent worth, accompanied by the moral rule not to kill, which would be broken by removing Grace from the ventilator. However, the moral rule regarding murder can be made more flexible with the idea that if a rule is violated, it is “for a reason that we would be willing for everyone to accept, were they in our position.” (Section 1, p. 41). Therefore, allowing anyone in that situation to remove the life support, as anyone in the same situation might do to prevent a lesser quality of life, can minimize the conflicting duties. The Categorical Imperative states that a duty is provided to respect one’s autonomy and it is believed that only a good will has intrinsic

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