0

I made the following composition. It was meant to be a formal writing.

Most proponents of euthanasia say that it is allowed only when the patient is willing to receive it. However, when the patient's mind is not stable, i.e. he does not have a determined mind, the treatment will be problematic. He might strongly wish to be put to death because of his serious illness, or he might wish otherwise depending on a circumstance. No person can determine the will of a patient who is under such a condition.

Is my use of "he" appropriate? If not, how should I write instead of "he"?

Remark This is a translation from Japanese. It is not necessarily my opinion.

StoneyB on hiatus
  • 175,127
  • 14
  • 260
  • 461
Makoto Kato
  • 2,006
  • 5
  • 24
  • 31
  • 1
    "He" was used as the default pronoun before. But gender equality movements changed it. To make the statement gender neutral, you should make it plural. (i.e., "However, when the patients' minds... They do not have... They might strongly wish..") – shin Oct 01 '15 at 01:06
  • @shin To make the statement gender neutral, you should make it plural. What if it is impossible to make it plural? For example, you are referring to a specific person whose gender is unknown. – Makoto Kato Oct 01 '15 at 06:04
  • @Makoko, In that case, you may refer to the answer provided below by User3169. You may substitute it with "one", or "person". – shin Oct 01 '15 at 06:12
  • @shin Unfortunately the problem is not that simple. See, for example, http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Pronouns/faq0018.html – Makoto Kato Oct 01 '15 at 07:59
  • 1
    @shin It's not true that it was changed because of gender equality, it was changed before then due to natural language shift. And the singular/indefinite they has been used since Chaucer! – curiousdannii Oct 02 '15 at 08:31
  • @curiousdannii, I am not referring to singular "they". Kindly re-read the title of the inquiry. – shin Oct 02 '15 at 08:57
  • @shin You said that "he" was used as the default pronoun but the gender equality movement changed it, which is what I'm disputing. Nothing to do with the question really. – curiousdannii Oct 02 '15 at 09:00
  • @curioussdannii. Ah, yes. But the prevalence of its usage started when the demand for gender equality shook the sociopolitical arena. Wasn't the era before that mainly patriarchal? I don't think the intent of the usage (as to the period you are referring to) is for the purpose of gender neutrality. – shin Oct 02 '15 at 09:06

1 Answers1

1

I would write:

Most proponents of euthanasia say that it is allowed only when the patient is willing to receive it. However, when the patient's mind is not stable, i.e. does not have a determined mind, the treatment will be problematic. One might strongly wish to be put to death because of (a) serious illness, or might wish otherwise depending on a circumstance.

The i.e. phrase does not need "he", because it is describing "not stable".

The second "he" should be substituted with something gender neutral; I would use "one".
If that is not formal enough, just repeat "the patient".

The last two usages of "he" can be omitted.

user3169
  • 31,147
  • 2
  • 28
  • 57