Philosophy Essay

On January 1, 2014, Brittany Maynard, of Anaheim, California, was diagnosed with brain cancer. By April, she was given just six months to live. Brittany wanted to have the option of ending her own life with the help of her doctor before the cancer became unbearable, so she moved to Oregon to take advantage of the state’s ‘Death with Dignity’ law. On November 1, 2014, surrounded by family members, Brittany ended her own life by ingesting drugs prescribed by her doctor.

 

Oregon is currently one of five states in which physician-assisted suicide is legal. In June 2016, California became the fifth state to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

 

 

Please write an essay on the following topics…

 

 

Do you morally approve or disapprove of California’s decision to legalize physician-assisted suicide?

 

 

Your paper should carefully address the following questions:

 

1. What is physician-assisted suicide, and how does it differ from active and passive euthanasia?

2. Using his article “The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia,” would J. Gay-Williams approve of California’s decision to legalize physician-assisted suicide? (Why/why not?)

3. Using his article “Active and Passive Euthanasia,” would James Rachels approve of California’s decision to legalize physician-assisted suicide? (Why/why not?)

4. Do you approve of California’s decision to legalize physician-assisted suicide? (Why/why not?)

 

 

 

**Your paper should be 4 typed, double-spaced pages and is due by 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, July 30th pacific time. Please upload your essay to Turnitin (on Blackboard). Late essays will be penalized 2 letter grades for each day late (e.g., A → C, B- → D-, etc.).