Passive Euthanasia & Down's Syndrome Infants

The topic for this research paper is "Passive Euthanasia: Is it Immoral to Allow Down's Syndrome Infants With Congenital Defects to Die?"

The thesis statement is that it is not immoral to allow a Down's 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: "active euthanasia is morally preferable to passive euthanasia" (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 "Passive Euthanasia: Is it Immoral to Allow Down's 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, "active euthanasia is morally preferable to passive euthanasia" (p. 198). Rachels brought up the example of the infant with Down's 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

Category: Medical - P