GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

This paper reacts to the situation in Nigeria where loved ones to terminally ill patients, who are still medically fit and active face the possible precarious situation of their own life being untimely terminated owing to the challenge of continually caring for such patients. A situation which challenges the veracity of the belief in the sanctity of life as a ground for condemning euthanasia and which is behind the call against legalizing euthanasia in Nigeria. Using the qualitative method of research, this study analyzes texts on Singer’s utilitarian position on euthanasia which argues that euthanasia accords with the principle of utility to the effect that it stands to improve life than allowing terminally ill patients to continue in their suffering until they experience natural death. Although some of the arguments like valuing the lives of some animals than deformed humans and terminally ill patients, which Singer used to support his argument for euthanasia are not endorsed in this paper, it argues that, contrary to the position of his critics, his position is not against the belief in the sanctity of life. This paper argues that preserving the lives of loved ones to terminally ill patients, endangered by continually caring for the patients, accords more with the belief in the sanctity of life. Correspondingly, this paper calls for legalization of euthanasia in Nigeria arguing that the problem likely to be faced by the country if euthanasia is legalized is not abrogating the right to life of terminally ill patients but rather, upholding the right to life in a country where corruption has eaten deep into all its sectors. Thus, the moral problem to be envisaged is not reneging on the belief in the sanctity of life supported by the African culture, but that of Nigerians not living out this belief. While recommending legalization of euthanasia in Nigeria statutorily through legislative acts and interstitially through case law, this study also calls for Nigerians’ reappraisal of their conduct towards moral issues concerning life and death.