In the post by Huff Post, an old American couple commits suicide because they are unable to pay their accumulating medical bills. As the man explains to the police before he shoots himself and the wife, they have been struggling under the weight of medical bills they could not afford to pay. One thing that is made apparent by the incident is the fact that prescription drug costs in America continue to skyrocket. Thus, making out challenging for the old and retired American population to afford healthcare. This population category, identified as the American seniors, have had to withdraw from their savings to cover their healthcare expenses. Hence, their inability to enjoy their pension. The ethical dilemma presented in this case is the struggle to identify the murders as unlawful or an act of mercy killing to save the couple from further accumulating medical bills which would be an added expense on the part of the healthcare provider. The ethical dilemma question raised, therefore is, "is it unlawful for one to commit suicide to save themselves from accumulating debt expenses especially if these expenses, in the long run, will be footed by the taxpayer?"
The ethical theory presented in this case would be the deontological theory. It is essential to argue for the morality of the murders as either being right or wrong in the particular setting in which they occurred rather than factoring on the far-reaching consequences of the action. One would argue that given the prevailing circumstances which led to the couple's murders, perhaps suicide was the only viable option not only to save the couple from further sinking into debts but also save the taxpayer in the long run. In this scenario, suicide would have been the only way out, hence, the right course of action, although the American constitution criminalizes murder.
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