Social Sciences (Essay Sample)

1 Looking at the options given by Battin, what end-of-life options do you believe we should give to people in the US? Do you believe that euthanasia can be moral? Despite the growing tools that the United States has put in place to care for terminally ill people, death is the end outcome for these individuals. As a result, Battin considered it futile to use technology such as tube feeding, ventilators, and intervention lines to prolong the lives of terminally sick patients (299). According to Battin's reasoning, euthanasia is a moral and reasonable option to assist terminally ill individuals in dying (300). As stated in Beaudry, people suffering from degenerative disorders in their final stages have few odds of survival and are frequently in excruciating agony. As a result, euthanasia is an appropriate option when requested by individual patients or family members. Therefore, euthanasia should be legal for terminally ill patients suffering from non-communicable diseases, including cancer and incurable disorders. 2 Benatar et al. claim that "modern democracies aim to provide equal rights to a reasonable income, access to education for children and adequate healthcare facilities" (p. 642). How close is the US to achieve this standard? Do you agree that these qualities should be part of the definition of modern democracy? The goal of contemporary democracy is to increase citizen equality across race, socioeconomic class, and ethnicity. According to Benatar et al., democracy should seek to treat all individuals equally, without bias, and to provide equal opportunity to everyone (110). Kindergarten through grade 12 is free in the United States. Thus, providing equal access to education for all children (Ostrowski 377). The country has an excellent grassroots community health system, with health clinics and access points dispersed across the country. Furthermore, the nation subsidizes healthcare costs through insurance and medication programs. The United States has put measures that tend to breach the gap between the poor and the rich. For instance, supporting unionization, progressive tax, raising the minimum wages and salaries, and making education accessible are some programs used to fight wealth and income inequality (Siripurapu). To ensure that all people have equal access to state services, equality across all sectors should be included in the concept of democracy. 3 Is there something in particular that struck you as you were going through this week’s material that you would like to say something about/ discuss? Please share your thoughts. In most parts of the globe, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are considered immoral and unethical practices. However, after reading the lectures and attending the courses this week, I have recognized that euthanasia and physician-assisted death may be moral in some instances. For instance, Battin noted that putting terminally ill patients into a life-supporting facility is pointless even though the ultimate end is death. As such, euthanasia may be considered ethical and acceptable for terminally ill people suffering excr...