ACTIVE AND PASSIVE EUTHANASIA by JAMES RACHELS (1941-2003) Essay

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE EUTHANASIA by JAMES RACHELS (1941-2003) - Essay ExampleRachels also believed that the common arguments supporting resistless euthanasia were invalid.Rachels uses several stories to illustrate his arguments, the most famous of which is the man murdering his six-year old cousin in the bathtub and letting him drown by doing nothing. I welcome that argument ridiculous because both examples are morally wrongthey are both murder, and the guy should be prosecuted in both situations. It is a very contrasting situation than a doctor or family member allowing someone to die or participating in active euthanasia. I also find the brush ups syndrome examples unsatisfying. Rachels wrote his essay in the 1970s, and medical treatments for babies born with Downs has greatly improved since then.My problem with Rachels arguments is that it is obvious that he does not believe in the sanctity of life. If he did, he might have felt differently about giving doctors the right and abil ity to euthanize their patients, although it is true that many doctors already do so, especially when patients are experiencing terrible pain. I do agree, however, that it is immoral for doctors to withdraw treatment when they decide that a patient should die, and that it is the same as active euthanasia. For these reasons, I do not find Rachels arguments compelling or