The Effects Of Social And Cultural Ethnicities In Development Of Legal Assesses For Euthanasia

Introduction

The word euthanasia has its roots in Greece. The literal meaning of the word is good death. The word circumscribes multiple dimensions. These dimensions include active (introduction of death causing elements to the subject) or passive (withholding treatment that allows a subject to live such as life support), voluntary (by one’s own will) or involuntary (with consent from the guardian) and physician assisted (whereby doctors assist the subject through prescription medicine to cause death). For decades, euthanasia has contributed to several debates in the contemporary health care sector. This debate has multiple implications and cuts across convoluted arguments based on the ethical, human rights, religious, social and cultural aspects of a society. The current research draws upon literature review which associates research on this complex topic, focusing on the various social influences that affect a support of euthanasia. A sociological approach to euthanasia seeks to figure out underlying causes within a general society and factors that shape a groups belief concerning the subject. Using ethnographic research methodology is warranted as emotional and social environments will allow a better understanding of the respondent’s psyche.

Background

Over a long period of time, sociological assumptions have thrown very little to no light on specific practices surrounding death and life in general, let alone euthanasia. However, at present group of pioneering social anthropologists have noticed the discontinuities in this area of research. Surveys have shown that while most groups support passive euthanasia, the same cannot be said about active and assisted suicide. (Teno and Lynn, 1991). The findings of these surveys have called for an imperative need to re-examine the ethical and social status of euthanasia. Attitudes toward euthanasia and life and death are embedded socio-culturally and are specific to ethnographic groups and societies. A person’s ethnicity and cultural identity, which are all the collective values of a specified culture group, gives the members of the group a unique view of suicide and matters of life and death. The absence to date of any substantial socio-cultural research on euthanasia needs to address the diverse opinions on the topic. We have reached an age where there is a strong argument with issues of life and death. Technological advances have made it possible for the human body to continue existing even when the normal body has ceased functioning. In such a situation, members of the family are forced to face the trauma of their loved one’s suffering, in a way that the generations before them never had to. A collective effort towards use of technology through organ transplant, ventilators, dialysis etc shows a desire of mankind to use this technology to control abnormalities, diseases and life as a whole. This same modern technology has brought this issue to light and called for an active discussion on the topic.

Literature Review

Individual decisions and attitudes towards whether a person deserve to live or die in events of failure of the entire system that sustains life has become a topic of subjective interest in the society today, as deduced. This literature review aims to give an idea of the historical overview of the subject, arguments against the legalisation and the factors influencing these arguments. In order to understand the nuances of assisting someone’s death ethically, it is essential that the historical effects of the concept are understood. The proposals of legalising euthanasia assisted by physicians for the people who became incurably ill increased in number at the advent of 19th century (Worsnop, 1992). Worsnop, R. L. (1992). Assisted suicide. The CQ Researcher, 2, 147-164. The interest in euthanasia increased in Germany by a book called “The permission to Destroy life unworthy of life. ” This book suggested that under viable conditions a doctor may be able to assist the patient to his or her death. It is suggested by sociologists that the prominence of issues regarding decisions to take human life have increased over the years since the result of events of 1930’s and 1940’s which culminated into the dreadful holocaust. Laws such as sterilization of people with terminal and hereditary disease which could possible “infect” the future generations meant that the book had found a sinister shape to materialize (Hollander, 2001).

An apparent resemblance is made by certain demographics between the Nazi’s who justified them taking other people’s lives to those who argue that individual life must be assisted to death in the event of it becoming valueless. The impact of technological change has also impacted people’s view of life. The people alive today make sense of the world and form their own individual identities through their interaction with the internet and technology. Exponential changes have taken place in societies with high technological exposure. Cases of individuals alive due to technological advances whereby body has ceased to function have increased due to several tests that allow for early diagnosis and a better palliative care. This has reduced the effect of terminal diseases and made them furthermore chronic in nature. Patients with diseases that result in death such as cancer, AIDS receive better care and thereby dying a late death. Many supporters of euthanasia argue that physicians are unnecessarily prolonging the process of death making it more painful (Emanuel, 1994).

Over the years multiple cases have set precedents for assisted death. The case of Patricia Trumbull and Timothy Quill happened in 1991, when Dr Quill prescribed a lethal dose of anti-depressants to assist the death of Trumbull who was suffering from an advanced level leukemia. A criminal indictment against Quill was not returned by New York jury, which showed reluctance for punishment on sympathetic grounds. It can also be deduced that different regions and culture will have different perceptions about the concept of life and thereby assisted death. Religion is also associated with forming people’s belief of the world. This could potentially be seen to affect their ruling over taking someone’s life. Literature suggests that health practices have been affected by religious practices throughout history (Domino and Miller, 1992). However, the studies that compare religious behaviours and attitude towards euthanasia show a negative relation between religious attitudes of people and their support of voluntary death. However, it was noticed that people with a stronger religious sentiment are more likely to think that the life is not owned and therefore it shouldn’t be in the hands of an individual to take one’s life. Age has also been a factor of review.

Research reveals that older people have less fear towards the subject of death than the rest of the age groups. There is a trend of old people more accepting of the idea of euthanasia than younger people that can be deduced from research. Gender also plays an important role in the attitude of an individual towards euthanasia. Women have appeared to be less accepting of the idea than men (Ward, 1980). Gender is a variable that is consistent when you compare anxiety caused by death and fear of death. (Robbins, 1989). Education also plays an important role in defining demographics considering the topic of euthanasia. A less educated person would be less likely to accept assisted suicide (Ward, 1980). It is widely accepted that demographics do play a big role in decisions about an individual’s perception and the decisions he or she makes in various stages of life. These factors thereby contribute to a person’s belief in whether or not an individual should decide how a person should die. With regard to looking for an answer to current proposal, previous research and methods were studied. It has been shown from research that a relative behaviour was registered among people from the same ethnicity towards their view of euthanasia (Macdonald W, L, 1989). A relationship has been established through previous research between variables such as religion.