Physician Assisted Suicide

In the medical field, there are often patients who are given minimal amounts of time to live, known as terminally ill patients. Terminally ill patients can have some of the most difficult times ahead of them, from the time they are diagnosed, to their last breath. While patients lay on their deathbed suffering from nausea, shortness of breath, and the inability to swallow, their families are also witnessing them struggle. With the use of medications such as morphine, the patient’s pain is eased in their last days and hours of their life, however, other options have been developed for patients and families to consider. Methods include ceasing treatment, and rather peacefully ending one’s life. While physician assisted suicide is controversial

The five states physician assisted suicide is legal in are California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, including Washington, D.C. Each state has their own set of rules and regulations to follow for physician assisted suicide, but they all have one rule in common; the physician has the option to participate. For physicians and patients alike, assisted suicide is a difficult process to endure. Every doctor believes the words, “do no harm”, therefore, ultimately killing their patients is a difficult task. However, physicians have a choice as to whether or not they will prescribe the medication that will terminate their patient’s

Justice, to most, is a type of fairness or equality that every individual is entitled to. In essence, an individual’s social status, income, or health status does not influence a patient’s care, but rather all individuals are treated fairly. Because every doctor accepts this virtue upon entering the field, physician assisted suicide is a topic that must be considered carefully. For example, patients who are ill have rights that include refusing treatment that may or may not lengthen the time they have left to live. When confronted with a diagnosis, patients are given various options to pursue, a decision independent of Physician’s wishes. Patients in these situations exercise their right make their own medication decisions. However, when the topic of physician assisted suicide is relevant, individuals suddenly view the option as cruel, or inhumane. It is important to understand that in order to consider this option, two physicians must agree that there is no other medical interventions that can help the individual. Likewise, if a patient insists on ending their life with the method of physician assisted suicide, they are ultimately choosing death only a short time before it would naturally