James argues that it’s morally irrelevant whether physicians withdraw or forgo ventilators and feeding tubes, but the two actions certainly feel different to families and physicians. Are these feelings relevant to accessing the morality of letting die?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The feelings of families and physicians are indeed relevant when assessing the morality of letting someone die, even though James argues that the actions of withdrawing or forgoing ventilators and feeding tubes are morally equivalent. These emotional responses stem from the lived experiences and psychological impacts of these decisions, which can differ significantly between withdrawing support (actively ending life support) and forgoing it (not initiating it in the first place).
From a moral standpoint, the distinction between these actions is often tied to intentions. Withdrawing treatment could be seen as an active decision to end life-sustaining measures, whereas forgoing treatment might be viewed as allowing the natural course to unfold without intervention. This difference in perception can influence how individuals and healthcare professionals interpret the morality of these decisions. The psychological burden placed on family members, who may feel they are actively choosing death in the case of withdrawal, can complicate moral judgments.
The emotional and ethical discomfort around the idea of “letting die” (especially when compared to “killing”) plays a significant role in how these decisions are viewed. The discomfort might not change the objective morality of the situation, but it does shape the subjective experience of the decision-makers. Physicians and families often wrestle with the emotional weight of such decisions, which can be just as morally important as the objective facts of the case.
In this context, feelings are relevant because they reflect deep-seated moral intuitions and cultural beliefs about life, death, and the role of medical professionals. These feelings don’t necessarily change the moral principles underlying the decisions, but they can certainly influence the moral judgments of those involved in making these difficult choices.