BIOETHICS II

GROUP WORK I: Scenario-making

Date submitted:
May 14, 2022

Submitted by:
Group 11

Members:
ALESTE, Janus Ray A.

GANASI, Merill James G.

GANIR, Francis Michael D.

RAMOS, Yves B.

ABYADO, Kristel Stephanie O.

LIZADA, John Bernadette M.

SARMIENTO, Trisha R.

SERRAN, Aliya Zaine Z.

 CASE SCENARIO
Mrs. Dy, 49 years old, suffers from incurable brain and bone cancer. For the past two
months, she stopped taking her treatments, believing that the treatment only offers no real benefit
and adding a financial burden instead to her loved ones. Then suddenly, she asked her husband to
help her die by mixing lethal drugs in her food or drink that she obtained from a doctor who is
compassionate towards her situation. The physician prescribed the lethal dose of the medicine.
After an hour, the drug took effect, and Mrs. Dy died in the arms of the love of her life.

Discussion:

a) Determine the ethical issues the group is confronted with.

In the first part of the made-up scenario, the patient omitted her medical treatment and
wanted to proceed with natural death. The patient acted the orthothanasia, and in the viewpoint
of morality, it is considered a culpable homicide.

One of the ethical issues in the scenario is the autonomy of the patient, husband, and
physician. The patient can choose a peaceful death rather than bearing a life no longer worth
living. Euthanasia, or "mercy killing" that the patient wills, is considered suicide. At the same
time, the husband and the physician are free to feel sympathy and mercy towards the patient,
which makes them favor euthanasia.

However, God is the sovereign Lord of life; thus, mercy and compassion towards the
patient through an act of euthanasia is false mercy. In addition, the case showed a physician-
assisted suicide though, in eyes that favor euthanasia, the person who chooses this method of
dying is the principal cause of death while the physician is merely an instrumental cause.

b) Point what is the most crucial of the ethical issues.

The most crucial of the ethical issues in euthanasia is that it is considered suicide, and
euthanasia without a patient's consent is homicide. As a Christian, the decision to end one's life
deprives the patient of deciding about her eternal salvation. Additionally, we are not the owner of
our lives; we are only its steward. Thus, euthanasia is another form of suicide and is an immoral
act. It is essential to point out that no man is authorized and can ask for death whenever they
want to.

c) Discuss possible approaches, techniques, solutions regarding the most crucial

issue

In this scenario, the best intervention is to spare the patient from suffering unnecessarily.
Another intervention is to alleviate pain. Active euthanasia should be avoided, and instead, carry
out passive or indirect euthanasia to lessen the pain and suffering with the accompanying risk of
shortening life. This process includes administering drugs that can only modify or inhibit pain
but not lead to death. It is important to avoid killing for compassion reasons - this includes
suggesting suicidal euthanasia, positive euthanasia, homicidal euthanasia: mercy killing, and
social. Lastly, withdrawing life support or discontinuing treatments for terminally-ill patients
should be considered.

d) Cite the group's common stance on the issue in the scenario

The patient was suffering intensely because her condition was incurable. However, our
group believes that facilitating killing for compassion or euthanasia should be the last thing to do
in difficult situations. Instead, we suggest palliative medicine and clinics for pain management.
This management is a more humane intervention for the patient. It will also help the patient have
the spiritual services to die a peaceful death.