Questions-Answers: Criminology

1. Do you support or oppose the death penalty? Explain in detail how you came to that conclusion.

Death penalty is a severe issue which includes numerous moral, ethical, and community values. However, considering the well-being of the people united by certain norms and rules, it seems to me that the death penalty is justified. An individual who committed heinous crime should pay the equal price to maintain justice and order in the community. Thus, without any doubts, I support death penalty as the highest measure of punishment.

Since people live in society, death penalty is needed for maintaining order, justice, and safety of the other citizens (Hood & Hoyle, 2015, p. 103). Personally, I came to such a conclusion by analyzing what effects elimination of death penalty could have on the justice system. Despite all moral and ethical dilemmas, I believe that person who committed murder could not be judged using moral and ethical principles. The murderer lost the chance of any compassion and pardon. To show that justice system works properly, such a person should be executed. This action would show the respect for the system of the moral and human law.

Additionally, regardless its cruelty, the death penalty serves as a good example to people who have the intention to commit murder. It emphasizes that justice system will judge the criminals according to the severity of their crimes. On the other hand, the elimination of capital punishment could spread the doubts in the society regarding the proper work of justice system. In such case, many criminals could expect that the highest punishment would be the life sentence. This would increase the rates of the most heinous murders.

To conclude, I support the death penalty as it prominently shows that the murderer should pay the price equal to the committed crime. Capital punishment is the measure that shows that justice system works appropriately and respects the human and moral laws. The elimination of death penalty could lead to the severe consequences for the society.

2. Do you believe doctor-assisted suicide should be allowed when a person is terminally ill or suffering from a painful disease?

Every person should be able to choose when he/she wants to die. Doctor-assisted suicide helps a terminally ill person die without pain and sufferings. Certainly, the opponents of such method argue that it is immoral and unlawful. However, this approach does not consider physical and emotional condition of the patients who suffer from painful diseases. Therefore, I support physician-assisted suicide as a part of the contemporary healthcare responsibility.

One of the most important statements which is a guideline in the healthcare practice claims that doctor could not act in the way that harms patient’s physical and psychological conditions. Moreover, according to the European Declaration of Human Rights, every person has the right not to be forced to suffer (Battin, Rhodes, & Silvers, 2015, p. 42). Considering these legal aspects, it appears that the doctor-assisted suicide should not be treated as a negative action but rather as an approach that satisfies the patient’s rights and desire. Therefore, I believe that the doctor-assisted suicide should be allowed.

Furthermore, I am convinced that the health care system is obliged to respect the choice of the patient who is terminally ill and experiences pain. Moreover, if a patient gives his/her consent, the doctor is not able to question such choice. Thus, the physician-assisted suicide is perceived as the regular procedure aimed at satisfying the patient’s right.

In addition, the prolongation of the life of the patient who is terminally ill or experiences pain violates the statement ‘do not harm’, which is a main guideline in the healthcare practice. In such case, doctor-assisted suicide would be treated as a facilitation of the patient’s sufferings. Hence, considering such an approach, I am convinced that the physician-assisted suicide should be allowed.

To conclude, I strongly support doctor-assisted suicide as a regular procedure in the healthcare system. Since every patient has the right not to suffer, doctor-assisted suicide should be perceived as an approach that satisfies the right of the terminally ill patient. Furthermore, in some cases, physician-assisted suicide is treated as a part of the guideline that claims ‘do not harm’.

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