Is it ever morally right to kill someone? Perhaps in self-defence, when there is an unwanted unborn child, in terms of euthanasia or is it simply NEVER right? Following on from a student based discussion where we asked our fellow peers if they think it is right or wrong to kill someone, I would like to get a wider opinion by asking you, our blogging audience, on your views. I would like to ask you whether you think it is right or wrong to kill someone based on what I have to say by commenting below the blog.
Should one have the right to decide on life and death? There
are a number of factors that people may think about when killing or attempting
to kill somebody, are they protecting themselves, will this be for the greater
good for everyone else, are they putting someone out of misery? But then again
they may not think, they may not think about the people whom they are hurting
by this action, what good could possibly come out of it, are they even in their
right state of mind? All these factors must come into consideration when
looking into if it is ever right to kill someone.
When an individual is put under pressure to protect themselves
or others, could this be under the right circumstance when killing someone is
right? When in a situation such as a violent attack, where the only chance of
survival is to kill the attacker, could killing be deemed as right? In an alarming
situation it would be ones initiative to put them self before anyone else and
save them self from death, but when all is said and done, the initial victim
whom has killed could be deemed as a murderer and face prosecution, so does
this seem ethically right?
What about the idea of the death penalty? The death penalty is
the execution of one’s life as a punishment for a crime they have committed. This
would prevent criminals reoffending and give justice for the crime they
committed, however will taking the criminals life really make up for action committed,
what if they got the wrong person, should the criminal have the right to redeem
themselves? Should the death penalty be introduced in the UK as a form of
justice for criminals, encouraging others not to make the same crimes? Is it
right to kill a killer? Do two wrongs make a right in this sense, or should
criminals be able to live a life in confinement?
Euthanasia, another form of killing someone, has been a
widely discussed subject for years; it is the ending of one’s life that is in
incredible amounts of pain that cannot bear to suffer any longer. Can euthanasia
be justified; if an individual is never going to get better should they be
allowed to end their life? Could it help or hinder those close to them to move
on and prevent them seeing that person in pain? An issue that arises in
euthanasia is if the person is in the right state of mind to make the important
decision of whether or not to end their life, but if not could they take
actions to end their own life anyway? Letting someone die in not as much pain
could be better for them and the people around them, but should they be allowed
to make the decision to be killed? Should euthanasia be allowed to help people,
or is it simply not right as a way of killing someone?
There are so many debates which stem the rightness or
wrongness of killing someone, but who makes the decisions on what is right or
wrong? If everyone has different opinions, then to each self we are all morally
right as we all have our own set of moral values, but how far is too far when
it comes to the decision making of whether its right or wrong to kill someone?
From the points I have made, and from others that you may
know of, do you think it is ever right to kill somebody?
Please leave your comments in response to this ethical
issue.
C
C
I came across your blog when I was researching Euthanasia, and I have strong opinions when it comes to these subjects. I have my opinions depending on the circumstance the victim has fallen in. If a woman was to accidentally become pregnant and were in a poor quality of living then I can understand why the person would choose to abort if they couldn't give the child a standard life. Also when it comes to Euthanasia, why is it right for someone to allow a victim to live in pain day by day when they would rather die? If the victim can't move and is miserable each and everyday then they should be able to have their life ended. This becomes a type of torture for the victim and since when has that been allowed?
ReplyDeleteHi Yazz,
DeleteThank you for taking your time to read and comment on our blog.
You have made a good case in that you think it is right to kill someone in the sense of euthanasia and abortion. It is to take into consideration that when someone is not able to provide another human being with the right upbringing and care that it is questionable whether to bring a child into the world, however do you think that this person has other options for example putting the child up for adoption where others are able to provide them with a good quality of life, or do you think in all cases when parents are unfit to care they should take the baby’s life before born?
From your perspective on euthanasia, I can understand your point that when a person is in unbearable pain they should be able to take their own life to stop this. However, do you not think we must look at whether the person is in a fit and able state to make this decision? It must be ensured that the decision should be taken with great consideration whether this person may have the chance to get better and the people around them whom may be in pain if they take their life as some see it as the cowardly way out.
I hope you take the time to read and reply to my response, and think about the comments I have made so I can gain further insight into your opinions. Thank you.
C
I fight for a right to die in relation to assisted suicide (note this is different to euthanasia) and took to research and reasons why it should be allowed in the UK for my dissertation last year.
ReplyDeleteWhy should I have the choice to commit suicide yet someone like the late 'Tony Nicklinson' has the choice to commit suicide but physically is unable to. He was mentally sound and had made both his doctors, family and solicitors aware of his wishes. How can you justify making him live his life in pain.
Assisted suicide gives specialised doctors the authority to give the lethal injection which will end the sufferers life.
The UK would need a strict guideline procedure to follow in order to make this able to happen but other countries have proven it can be done successfully and correctly. (E.g. The Netherlands and outside of the EU, Oregon).
I do however disagree strongly with the death penalty. Ending a potential murderers life makes you just as bad as the murderer. Also what would be done if it is proved that person who has been given the death penalty was it guilty? It would be too late.
Hi,
DeleteThank you for viewing and commenting on my blog post. The fact that you have carried out thorough research on the topic makes your comment extremely valuable to our blog as we are able to get a greater insight into your perspective on the subject.
Your input regarding assisted suicide was interesting to read in particular using the case study of Tony Nicklinson, and I will definitely look into this further. Like you, in a situation where a person is in that much pain and is unable to commit suicide themselves, I too believe they should be helped in doing so. If other countries legally help and are successful in aiding assisted suicide, then why shouldn’t the UK too? I strongly agree that there would need to be strict guidelines in doing so like I have mentioned in the above comments (if you have read these).
The idea of the death penalty brings in many arguments, however I thought it would be interesting to bring into my blog as it such an extreme measure to taking a life, but is legal in some countries. Many like yourself are strongly against the idea of the death penalty, however some believe that is it morally right to kill criminals as a punishment so they are to suffer in the same way as the offence they commit. There are many points like you have mentioned why the death penalty would not be legally justifiable and therefore is not a good course of action to take.
I hope you take the time to reply to my comment as it would be interesting to see if you have any more views on this subject.
C
Hi C,
ReplyDeleteI found this interesting blog after I clicked on the link from your twitter page. At first I was not sure what to expect however I quickly became interested in the debate and would like to share my views if possible.
I think a yes/no answer to the overall question is extremely difficult as each example is different. Each account will have a different story behind it which is hard to comment on without knowing. However, my views on euthanasia have always remained the same. I believe that if an individual is unable to move at all, unable to communicate, cannot live there life as they wish due to an illness then it should be up to that person only to decide if they wish to die. Of course there are many different cases, and yes we do need to take into account family, but if the individual isn't happy then how can the family also be happy?
The debate of abortion I believe is down to the mother. If a woman believes she cannot bring up the baby in a healthy way then I think she can decide whether to terminate that baby's life. There can be many different cases, such as rape, accidents so I think the law is in a good place to let the mother decide.
However, I one hundred percent disagree with the death penalty. If a murder is committed, it is not right to kill the murderer, but to let them suffer in prison. The death penalty is an easy way out. Saying that, it seems at the moment that the service prisoners get is too nice and I do think that prisons need to remove all luxuries. Getting back to the subject...
Would like to read more blogs if you have done any.
Jessica Sinfield
Hi Jess,
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking your time to comment on my blog post.
I agree with your view on euthanasia as I too believe that if a person is in that much pain they should be able to end their life to withdraw suffering. I think that each family’s viewpoint on the situation would be different as some family members may believe the person might get better therefore may not want to end their life even if the person is in pain, whilst others may not want to see a loved one in pain and it may be hard for them to sit each day watching this person die. So it must be necessary to take each case different I believe.
I do slightly disagree with your point on abortion though as sometimes I believe that it is wrong for the mother to solely decide on bringing a child to life. What if the father is capable of looking after this child? As long as the mother can survive healthily through childbirth there can then be other options. However, if the mother is not fit from the start then I do agree that a baby should be aborted as it will not be brought into the world in the wrong environment and may stir a stable upbringing.
I think your viewpoint that “the death penalty is an easy way out” sums up many other views on the subject, which I too strongly agree with. I think that the death penalty should definitely not be brought into the UK as it would stem a whole host of arguments and they may convict the wrong person. I also believe that 2 wrongs do not make a right and therefore killing another person for the life of that they have taken will not help anyone. The luxuries prisoners do get nowadays is absurd, when they have caused enough wrong to be placed in prison why should they get services and goods for free that others on the streets could not even dream of. I’m surprised this doesn’t encourage many whom go without to commit crimes just to have the food, warmth and luxuries that prisoners obtain.
Do you have any other views on issues other than those mentioned in this blog that might be of interest to myself and other readers? They would be greatly appreciated.
I hope you take time to read my comment and reply back.
Thank you once again for commenting,
C
The point you raised about abortion has made me think that yes there is other options after childbirth, such as adoption which I think can be an amazing opportunity for women who cannot have children. Reading your blog back, I also believe strongly in self defence. Personally, I think that if someone steps into your house unwanted and is breaking and entering then you have the right to protect yourself and others around you. If the attacker goes to attack you and you get there first and it results in a killing, I do not think you should be prosecuted for this as you are only protecting yourself and if you didn't you would be killed yourself.
DeleteHowever, this is not a way to get around the law, as if there are no witnesses then it is difficult to say what went on.
Jess
Hi Jess,
DeleteIt's good to see that my comment has made you think more on abortion and the other chances this could give people in life if a child is not aborted.
I strongly agree with you on self-defence, I feel that in some cases when those trying to protect themselves or others should not be deemed as a murderer in self defence.
That is an extremely valuable point regarding the witnesses, because it is one alive man's word against the dead, this is probably why most victims in self-defence can face prosecution as they have no-one to back them up which can be very unfair. However, we must also think of the many who claim an attack to be self-defence when it is not, in this sense it is good that the laws can be so strict.
C
This blog certainly raises a lot of questions! Reading what other people have had to say about it has been very insightful.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of euthanasia, I feel that this should be legal if the particular case is deemed suitable. Sometimes the person suffering is living an extremely poor quality of life and I completely agree with Yazz Nash, it is most definitely a case of torture. We also have to remember that not only is the person in question suffering but also their carers and surrounding family. Looking after someone tremendously ill can have a very negative effect on their partner/carer mentally AND financially. So are we not only torturing the individual but also the people around them? Surely, this can't be justified.
Hi Paula,
DeleteThanks for commenting.
It seems that killing in terms of euthanasia has been quite popular on this blog, I too believe that it is right to end someones life who is suffering and in pain, their life could not possible get any better so they should end that persons life before it gets worse and others start to think bad memories of that person as they see them in so much pain.
Looking at the mental and financial concerns regarding a terminally ill person is tremendous, there are so many factors to take into consideration when thinking of euthanasia, and I think it needs to be looked at by the Government and doctors as a bigger problems.
It was great to read your views on this matter, I hope you take your time to comment back.
C
I disagree with your point about the death penalty!
ReplyDeleteI think that it should be brought back. Prisons are overflowing with inmates and prison sentences are getting lighter. There are so many cases of awful crimes where people have been released after only a few years just because they have been good in prison and got themselves an education. So really aren't we rewarding the offenders with an education that they most probably wouldn't have got had they not committed the crime?
I also feel that prisons are becoming highly dangerous places where the most high profile inmates have complete control and status over other, less threatening inmates. If the crime is serious enough and there is 100% proof of conviction, then death penalty should be considered, this could get rid of our recurring offenders and help to free up some prison space. Obviously, I don't agree that all murderers should be killed, some kill in self defence, I'm talking about serial killers and people who willing torture other people for self pleasure, these are the people our world needs to be rid of!
Hi Josie,
DeleteIt seems that you have very strong views on this matter which are greatly appreciated.
I definitely agree with your point made that prisoners should not be allowed to cut down their sentences for acting what is deemed as 'good' whilst inside. Who is to say they may be released and re-offend, it is simply not fair to those who have been seriously injured or effected by what this person has done before.
In regards to your point on education I think that it is unfair that they are getting the chance to learn, but do you think that this is to make themselves a better person when they get out in the hope they will not re-offend as they have managed to learn new skills to give them a better chance in life after?
Although how do we know when someone is a murderer in the sense of self-defence or if they are cold blooded serial killers, in a lot of situations we do not know what happened at the scene of the crime so are unable to find out what really happened therefore who should we kill and who shouldn't we? It is easy to say 'yes lets kill this person' but how much do we need to take into consideration? What about their family and close friends, they will be hurt and this may encourage them to do bad things to fight the Government and people back.
I hope you take into consideration what I have had to say and hope to hear from you soon.
C
I came across your blog and felt I had to leave you a comment. I work within the NHS and have a birds eye view of some very poorly patients that just want to die but unfortunately are being kept alive by doctors (it's there job I know) it is very unfair as these patients do not have any quality of life and many of them are left in either a coma or locked in their bodies unable to do anything for themselves. If it was me I would want to have the right to die. I totally believe in euthanasia for the purposes of practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteThanks for leaving your view on whether you think it is right or wrong to kill someone.
I'm not sure if you have read any of the comments above but quite a few people have had the same views on euthanasia. The quality of life would be awful for the patients who are in pain, it really isn't fair and it must be awful for the doctors too who are watching them suffer yet are unable to do anything about this yet dose them up with morpheme. Do you know how the doctors feel about keeping these people alive, I'm sure it is hard for them? Having someone close to you die is a very hard thing, but when you are watching them die I'm sure this is even worse.
Thanks for your views from a professionals perspective.
C