Dooing the Right Thing

Charlotte Lum

PHIL 200-30

October 25, 2014

Doing the Right Thing

I do not thing that Susan’s child would be compatible to fit the Groningen Protocols of active euthanasia because not all the five requirements were fulfilled following this criteria. Though this child’s condition and diagnosis appeared to be certain, it wouldn’t qualify for the first and second requirement for the Groningen Protocol which according to the story, nothing was said to prove that this child would suffer a great deal in the future, thus making the third requirement which explains that at least one physician must be able to confirm that this child’s diagnosis is certain and must be experiencing unbearable sufferings and hopelessness in life. The fourth requirement would be the only one fulfilled because both parents at least agreed and gave their consent in making the best decision for their child. The fifth requirement which demands that the termination of the child’s life must be done with the approval of a medical standard was not met because the child’s mother on her own deliberately mixed the child’s formula with a lethal dose which caused the child to die. Though she was actually doing the right thing, but she and her husband did not take the right procedure to give their child a peaceful rest.

The fact that the intelligence is normal, to me does not actually justify the mother’s action of kill the child, assuming that she would not have been able to live with her condition. When the mother stated that the daughter would have normal intellect, she was trying to point out that because the child would be aware of her situation, life would be more difficult than if she wasn't aware.  I don't think the injury of greater existence can be measured on the intellectual ability of the infant.  I do agree her condition could make life more painful psychologically, but it doesn't change the physical abnormalities and the lifelong suffering associated with those.  It doesn't seem right to...