Philosophy 320
Professor Galloway
10/17/2017
Response to: James Rachels
James Rachels discusses the differences between active and passive euthanasia in his
article written in 1975. He begins by addressing the need for medical professionals to
reconsider their opinions on the matter, and provides a statement endorsed by the House of
Delegates of the American Medical Association. It states that passive euthanasia, when a doctor
ceases medical care on an individual to allow them to die naturally, is acceptable. However,
Rachels disagrees strongly with this notion and presents several arguments to support his
rebuttal.
To begin, he suggests a situation where a cancer patient is dying of incurable cancer,
and would prefer death of living in agony. When the doctor approves of this passive euthanasia,
the patient may actually experience much more pain without the medical care while he is in the
process of dying, than he would have if the medical care had continued. In this case, Rachels
suggests that active euthanasia should be the preferred option.
The next example provided is one of a baby born with Down’s Syndrome and
additionally, with congenital defects that would require operations to keep the baby alive.
Sometimes, the doctors and parents decide not to operate on these babies, therefore, letting
them pass on. However, Rachels provides a quote from Anthony Shaw that describes these
baby’s deaths through infection and dehydration as an absolutely terrible experience for the
hospital staff.
Professor Galloway
10/17/2017
Response to: James Rachels
James Rachels discusses the differences between active and passive euthanasia in his
article written in 1975. He begins by addressing the need for medical professionals to
reconsider their opinions on the matter, and provides a statement endorsed by the House of
Delegates of the American Medical Association. It states that passive euthanasia, when a doctor
ceases medical care on an individual to allow them to die naturally, is acceptable. However,
Rachels disagrees strongly with this notion and presents several arguments to support his
rebuttal.
To begin, he suggests a situation where a cancer patient is dying of incurable cancer,
and would prefer death of living in agony. When the doctor approves of this passive euthanasia,
the patient may actually experience much more pain without the medical care while he is in the
process of dying, than he would have if the medical care had continued. In this case, Rachels
suggests that active euthanasia should be the preferred option.
The next example provided is one of a baby born with Down’s Syndrome and
additionally, with congenital defects that would require operations to keep the baby alive.
Sometimes, the doctors and parents decide not to operate on these babies, therefore, letting
them pass on. However, Rachels provides a quote from Anthony Shaw that describes these
baby’s deaths through infection and dehydration as an absolutely terrible experience for the
hospital staff.
