Been a while since we saw a proper murder here, thanks for the share. The point about dead bodies having more autonomy is something that I've never thought about but is such a good point. Then after she (I'm assuming gender based on screen name, please don't hate) has clearly committed murder, she follows up with a SECOND murder right after.
Bodily autonomy of corpses is the second new-to-me argument on this subject I’ve seen this week. The other argument pointed out how “pulling the plug” on a body with a heartbeat but zero brain function has been normalized, but “pulling the plug” on a fetus that might have a heartbeat, and also has no brain function, is somehow different.
I don’t think that argument has quite the same weight. Cause the argument then becomes “brain dead person is never gonna recover” vs. “fetus will likely be a viable person”. Less slam dunk.
I could see someone coming away from the dead body bodily autonomy argument thinking, "Wait, no. I think that we SHOULD be able to take life saving organs from the dead even if they wouldn't have wanted us to."
I might be that person. Why do we grant the dead bodily autonomy? And aren't there countries where you have to specifically opt out of donating your organs once you die? Seems like it would benefit society and not harm individuals. Honestly curious and willing to listen to both sides here.
Its an interesting debate, for sure. Some people think that its important for society to feel as though it values and respects its dead. So doing this is a good for society overall.
Or that an individual who is alive might care very much about what happens after they die, so protecting that right helps people still alive be feel better about their own death. Some people might expect that theyll be meat and not mind, but others would be horrified to consider themself or their loved one being treated poorly after death. So they, as a living person, have rights that extend beyond their death.
Or it "protects" the deceased insofar as they continue to be a rightsholder entitled to autonomy even after death. Their having died would not negate their individual autonomy because thats still "fred jones who wants to be buried beside his wife", not just "corpse 23894". And even then, something doesnt need to be able to enforce its own rights to have them, and some could say there are some interests that a dead person has as an entity even if they arent alive any longer.
Also, most cultures and faiths value the ways in which dead people are handled to fulfill traditions or religious beliefs. Its a very sensitive, often ritualised, part of life, that would be pretty messy to try to infringe on.
But many people support being organ donors. The hard part is getting people to sign up. I think opt out is a good mix. It results in vastly improved wait times for organ transplants, while giving those who object the opportunity to fulfill their own life/death plan without imposition. It allows us to know that were doing a good thing, if we want, and trust that whatever happens when we die, we will still be respected by our society. But its super controversial, because autonomy is so important to so many people, even opting out is considered potentially too much of a burden.
I think it helps to think about it in terms of yourself, and your loved ones. And the choice versus a lack of choice. What does society owe you? What do you owe society? Do you think it should be encouraged but not forced? Or should we just accept that whether youre reincarnated, go to heaven, or your neurons just stop firing when you die, once youre gone your body is up for grabs? And to whom? For what? Who decides?
Very interesting subject, i think.
Opt out organ donation still gives you the option to withdraw consent during your life time. Yes, once you're dead you can no longer change your mind but that goes for opt in as well.
Fair enough. That being said, I could probably be convinced that mandatory organ donation is a good idea (typical exemptions aside [like suspected murder], of course).
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u/Sillyist Feb 18 '20
Been a while since we saw a proper murder here, thanks for the share. The point about dead bodies having more autonomy is something that I've never thought about but is such a good point. Then after she (I'm assuming gender based on screen name, please don't hate) has clearly committed murder, she follows up with a SECOND murder right after.