ETHICS CONFLICTS AND EUTHANASIA: HOW TO MEDIATE A VALUES CONFLICT

Abstract

The term Euthanasia can be defined as the act in which an individual’s life is ended by medical procedures with consent of that person to provide him relief from the suffering. This term is also known as assisted suicide. The relevance and legalisation of euthanasia has attracted a significant debate among scholar across the globe. The presented research work is also directed to highlight some of the critical and ethical conflicts related to the relevance and legalisation of Euthanasia. The presented research also aims to mediate a values conflict related to Euthanasia by analysing the arguments of the two contradicting values namely individual autonomy (which supports Euthanasia) and Human life dignity protection value (which opposes Euthanasia). In order to explore these two perspectives in the most effective manner, the presented research has undertaken both qualitative and quantitative data in the study. The quantitative and primary data has been collected with the help of survey through questionnaire method, wherein the secondary and qualitative data has been collected with the help of library research method. For the survey, a total of 40 Ireland-based participants are included in the survey or primary data collection process through the application of purposive sampling strategy. For this study, online survey has been conducted and views of the people on the rationalization of euthanasia have been collected in the quantified form. As a results of the study, it has been depicted that majority of the Irish people believe that Euthanasia is a good option to relieve a patient's suffering" as it can be medicine of incurable disease. However, the primary data has also reflected that before legalizing Euthanasia, there is a need of establishing proper monitoring and evaluation on this and in this regard, the role of mediators becomes quite high. The research work has also found out that there is a need of a well trained mediator who can assess the case and provide better counselling to the patient and his family members so that requests for euthanasia can be minimized.