This is an argument analysis concerning the issue of euthanasia.

Essay by satanakiUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, April 2002

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Argument Reconstruction

1.If a right creates a net benefit to society and is not morally incorrect, then it should be made legal. (IM; Oracle: Common Knowledge)

2.Voluntary euthanasia refers to a doctor's right to kill a terminally ill patient to his/her request. (IM; Oracle: definition from www.euthanasia.com)

3.If voluntary euthanasia is not a moral transgression and euthanasia creates a net benefit on society, then present legal prohibitions against voluntary euthanasia ought to be lifted. (LI from 1,2)

4.It is considered a moral duty to kill a pet that is suffering due to incurable illness. (IM; Oracle: Common Knowledge)

5.If it is a moral duty to relieve a suffering pet with incurable illness from its' suffering by killing it, performing euthanasia on willing humans that are terminally ill cannot be a moral transgression. (IM; Oracle: tacit knowledge)

6. Performing euthanasia on willing humans that are terminally ill is not a moral transgression.

(LI from 4,5)

7.Terminally ill patients use scarce medical resources. (IM; Oracle: Common Knowledge)

8.Euthanasia would increase the number of terminally ill patients that would willingly die. (IM; Oracle: Common Knowledge)

9.Patients stop using medical resources once they die. (IM; Oracle: Common Knowledge)

10.Euthanasia would create an increase in scarce medical resources not used by terminally ill patients. (LI from 7,8,9)

11.Other patients will use the scarce medical resources that are not being used by terminally ill patients. (IM; Oracle: Tacit Knowledge)

12.Euthanasia would thus create an increase in scarce medical resources that will be used by patients that are not terminally ill. (LI from 10,11)

13.Patients that are not terminally ill benefit from medical resources more than terminally ill patients. (IM; Oracle: Common Knowledge)

14. Scarce...