________________
doctor gives lethal injection has himself caused patients' death. If he merely ceases treatment, the cancer is the cause of death. "let die" is a kind of action that one may perform by way of not performing certain other action e.g. insulting by not shaking hand but morally it is type of action. Wise, or unwise compassionate or sadistic right or wrong, but motive is there.
If doctor deliberately let a patient die who was suffering from a routinely curable illness, the doctor will certainly be blame if he had needlessly killed that patient. Charges against him would then be appropriate & it would be no defense at all for him to insist that he didn't, do anything. He would have done something very serious. Fixing the cause of death may be very important. From legal point of view to determine whether criminal charges are to be brought against him or not. It is considered bad to cause someone's death.
Active Euthanasia is condemned in many societies intention or motive behind any crime or killing is examined before any verdict in judicature, or in ethics. Can doctor act of ceasing life prolonging treatment as one involving intentionally bring about death of patient? In Netherland various forms of Euthanasia have been practiced without major difficulties Physician assisted suicide has advantage of keeping things under a physician's scrutiny also gives patient a greater range of autonomy. In Germany physician assisted suicide are succeeded but active Euthanasia is not allowed.
Carl Becker debate Buddhist perspective unlike westerners Buddhist don't regard death as an evil, or even as something to be avoided. Buddha has said to have praised certain persons who committed suicide. For Buddhist what is most important is that person be mentally & physically prepared to die then only morally relevant question concerns how these persons can best die with dignity. To keep someone alive who is prepared to die is generally considered inhuman in Japan where Buddhism is very strong.
Refusal to save one's life is euthanasia; but when medical resources are scarce & person is refused of medical help is not Euthanasia; as there is no consent. John Harris asks, what would be wrong if one person were killed so that his organs would be used to save two other people who would otherwise die? He argues it may be justified to kill this person & morally unobjectionable for selecting those to be killed in some form of lottery but insoluble to decide who should die in lottery? Euthanasia & physician assisted suicide such practices are condemned by medical profession. Medical ethics are to save life at any cost & fight to save life till last breath.
Jain Education International
122
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
