Dakota College at Bottineau Criminal Justice Ethics Essay

I’m working on a law discussion question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Matthew Donnelly, a physicist, worked with X-rays and, perhaps through too much exposure, contracted cancer and became blind. He was told that he had about one year to live and was in constant pain. He decided he did not want to carry on living in that condition and begged his three brothers to kill him. Two refused, but the youngest brother, Harold, brought a pistol into the hospital and shot Matthew to death.

Do you believe that Harold’s act of taking his brother’s life is immoral? What would a utilitarian approach be to this scenario? In other words, if the utilitarian view is that any action is moral if it brings about the greatest happiness for everyone affected by the action. Articulate your reasonings.