The Socratic Inquiry Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 7 (2021)

V O L . 3 I S S U E 7 2 0 2 1 ( J U N 7 - J U L 4 )
The proponents give arguments such as keeping a person in a vegetative state on lifesupport
drains both the family and the patient emotionally and financially. However, this
claim gives a piece of stronger evidence for what I’m arguing. Once someone has
become dependent without any physical productiveness, it no longer remains a person.
What remains is someone who used to be a person. This view is utilitarian and to argue
against utilitarianism is a task for some other time. My argument hereby rejects any
utilitarian grounds or reasons that are given by the proponents of euthanasia.
It has been rightly said, “it is our duty to perform those actions which can provide the
basis of a universal law” (Kant & Gregor, 2012). To do that which we would agree to if
done to us. The moral worth of an action depends for him solely on the intention. The
intention to save lives and end suffering cannot result in practicing assisted suicide. It is
against the duty of doctors and the duty of individuals as humans. Even if the intention is
to end the long-term suffering by ending life at once, it cannot be a moral universal law.
Bringing in the case of ‘Noa Pothovon’ one more time where the teenage girl suffered
from sexual abuse during childhood and wanted to die. She argued in court that she is
only surviving and not living, therefore, she wants to cease this daily suffering by putting
an end to her life quickly. The court was right in declining this request. Those who agree
with this judgment agree because Noa was not in a vegetative state, her body parts were
working fine and she could be productive and useful to society. This will only lead us
back to the argument stated against utilitarian grounds.
Whereas, those who agree with this because Noa was young and could have led a good
life by getting proper psychological treatment will only fall prey to a contradiction. In the
cases wherein, the patient is in a vegetative state, the possibility of technological
advancements in the future is ignored. Several diseases did not have any cure earlier.
But, with the development and research in the scientific field, cures and extension in life
became possible. There was a time when even the common fever had no cure.
Furthermore, there are ongoing researches on various diseases such as Alzheimer’s,
cancer, etc., that give hope to those suffering from these diseases to be able to live a
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