Passive Euthanasia & Down's Syndrome Infants

The thesis statement is that it is not immoral to allow a DownÆs syndrome infant with congenital defects to die.

Some of the bibliography reviewed thus far point out the controversy surrounding this topic. Legal considerations of the issue are presented by Fuch-Berman (1983), and Rachels (2002) Steinbock (2002) discusses active and passive euthanasia.

Fuch-Berman (1983) noted that a Missouri bill required the institution of lifesaving measures for newborns that were handicapped. The Handicapped infants Protection Act stated that to deny treatment of food to a handicapped newborn is a felony and parent wishes are not considered. Rachels (2002) presented the view that there is no difference between letting someone die and killing them, and therefore there is no difference between active and passive euthanasia. Rachels concluded: ôactive euthanasia is morally preferable to passive euthanasiaö (p. 198). Alternatively, Steinbock 92002) stated that there is a distinction between active and passive euthanasia and further noted that deciding not to operate on a child is not neglect and waiting for a child to die is not difficult for the child. This points to the possibility that passive euthanasia is not immoral.

The following research paper presents the topic of ôPassive Euthanasia: Is it Immoral to Allow DownÆs Syndrome

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sustaining treatment to be sure that they are distinguished from other reasons. This is an important point since as Yang et al. (2002) noted, there may be reasons such as race or ethnicity that are related to euthanasia decisions. Rachels (2002) presented the view that there is no difference between letting someone die and killing them, and therefore there is no difference between active and passive euthanasia. Rachels stated that when a doctor actively disconnects a machine and patient dies, this is considered active, however when a doctor lets a patient die, this is also an action. Further this author stated that in some cases it is more humane to kill someone than to let them die. Thus, Rachels concluded, ôactive euthanasia is morally preferable to passive euthanasiaö (p. 198). Rachels brought up the example of the infant with DownÆs syndrome who also has congenital defects such as intestinal obstructions. An operation is required if the infant is to live and at times, parents and the doctor will decide not to operate, which lets the infant die. Next the issue of whether the infant should be aloud to die slowly due to dehydration and infection or whether the infant should be given an injection hastening death, must be c
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Garrard Wilkinson, Defects Dieö, Summary Conclusions, Protection Act, Statistics DownÆs, According Hopkins, Care EAPC, Alternatively Steinbock, passive euthanasia, Considerations Fuch-Berman, YangáRasmussen Friedman, downÆs syndrome, active passive, active passive euthanasia, active euthanasia, passive active euthanasia, passive active, congenital defects, legal considerations, euthanasia immoral, rachels 2002, syndrome infants congenital, distinction active, infants congenital defects, distinction active passive,
Approximate Word count = 1422
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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