Physician Assisted Suicide
Assume that a patient is terminally ill, and has given consent for the
physician to use one of three physician assisted suicide methods: that
a physician may inject him with a death-hastening dosage of morphine,
that a physician may unplug him from a life-sustaining respirator, or
a physician gives him a prescription for a drug that he (the patient)
plans to use to commit suicide. In no way is it conceivable to hold
two of these methods morally permissible, while holding the third
morally impermissible. The only thing that one could say to make the
three of these methods differ is that in the third, the doctor has
only prescribed the medicine. There is still the chance that the
patient will decide not to take the medicine, or in the middle of the
dosage quit, and still be able to be helped. But in the first two
methods, once the patient gives the word, there is no going back,
because by the time he decides that he would like to live, the doctor
has already killed the patient. In considering this, one must realize
that the three methods are all still methods that all stem from the
same idea: a sick patient whom probably cannot think straight, is
probably unable to do anything physically, and most likely does not
fully understand how far away they might be from recovery or how much
better or worse the pain might get. Even more importantly, there is
always the chance the doctor makes a mistake.
A person could very easily ask well what if the person has a
terminally ill disease, and has been suffering for years and it has
gotten to the point where they feel as if there is no point in living.
It would therefore make sense for the patient to decide that he would
rather be unplugged from a respirator, for example. This is because
the respirator is a life extension, not a life saver, and it does not
The history of physician-assisted suicide began to emerge since the ancient time. Historians and ancient philosophers especially had been debating over this issue. Thus, this issue is no longer new to us. However, it seems little vague because it has not yet been fully told. The historical story consists of patterns of thought, advocacy, and interpretation on whether to legalize assisted death. "Only until June, 1999, the United States Supreme Court issued decisions in two cases that claimed constitutional protection for physician-assisted suicide, Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacoo v. Quill, by a single 9-0 vote covering the case (Bartin, Rhodes, Silver, 1). They also say that this decision mark the beginning of long period debate, which will not be fully resolved (1). Hence, the debate began by professionals from different aspects, especially the physicians themselves.
Diane: A Case of Physician Assisted Suicide. Diane was a patient of Dr. Timothy Quill, who was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. Diane overcame alcoholism and had vaginal cancer in her youth. She had been under his care for a period of 8 years, during which an intimate doctor-patient bond had been established.
For example, Victor, his parents, and his uncles hold onto painful events and memories that hinder their productivity and cause them to lack the skills needed to grow emotionally. This is a clear indication that they suffer from poor emotional health and coping skills. This is most likely the reason that they all drink alcohol and party on a regular basis. This is also why small issues in their household can blow up into huge arguments and ultimately result in cursing and fighting. Continuing to drink under the circumstances Victor and his family live in only worsen their emotional health. A viscous cycle repeats over and over until a hole is dug so deep that none of them can gain traction to pull themselves out of the misery that’s been created. Victor witnesses this cycle and locks each incident in his mind for safe
Depression shifts ones focus off the necessity to belong in life onto the thinking one never can.
The article discusses the tragedy of young Brittany Maynard, who was only 29 years old when she has to choose between, not life and death, but whether to prolong her suffering until the bitter end. Maynard was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor that would kill her in a grueling, painful way. Unable to face her harsh reality, Maynard decided she would end her life on her own terms, when she felt “the time was right. “She did so through Physician-Assisted Suicide on November 1, 2014. The article labels her as one of the 750 people who have already taken advantage of Oregon’s “Death with Dignity” law, passed almost 2 decades ago. Like others who have taken her route to death, her passing was the subject of another Right-to-Die debate around the country, many opposing her decision to shorten her life even more than it already was. Advocates on the other hand strongly emphasize the right a dying person has to take their own life in order to cease their torment and anguish. The Oregon originating law, moreover outlines many guidelines for someone to be able to qualify to taking their own life with a physician’s recommendation, such as: being 18 or older, being a competent patient that possesses a
Imagine, if you will, that you have just found out you have a terminal medical condition. Doesn’t matter which one, it’s terminal. Over the 6 months you have to live you experience unmeasurable amounts of pain, and when your free of your pain the medication you’re under renders you in an impaired sense of consciousness. Towards the 4th month, you begin to believe all this suffering is pointless, you are to die anyways, why not with a little dignity. You begin to consider Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS). In this essay I will explain the ethical decisions and dilemmas one may face when deciding to accept the idea of Physician-Assisted Suicide. I will also provide factual information pertaining to the subject of PAS and testimony from some that advocate for legalization of PAS. PAS is not to be taken lightly. It is the decision to end one’s life with the aid of a medical physician. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary states that PAS is “Suicide by a patient facilitated by means (as a drug prescription) or by information (as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patient’s intent.” PAS is considered, by our textbook – Doing Ethics by Lewis Vaughn, an active voluntary form of euthanasia. There are other forms of euthanasia such as non-voluntary, involuntary, and passive. This essay is focusing on PAS, an active voluntary form of euthanasia. PAS is commonly known as “Dying/Death with Dignity.” The most recent publicized case of PAS is the case of Brittany Maynard. She was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in California, where she lived. At the time California didn’t have Legislative right to allow Brittany the right to commit PAS so she was transported to Oregon where PAS is legal....
Physician assisted suicide (PAS) is a very important issue. It is also important tounderstand the terms and distinction between the varying degrees to which a person can be involved in hastening the death of a terminally ill individual. Euthanasia, a word that is often associated with physician assisted suicide, means the act or practice of killing for reasons of mercy. Assisted suicide takes place when a dying person who wishes to precipitate death, requests help in carrying out the act. In euthanasia, the dying patients may or may not be aware of what is happening to them and may or may not have requested to die. In an assisted suicide, the terminally ill person wants to die and has specifically asked for help. Physician-assisted suicide occurs when the individual assisting in the suicide is a doctor rather than a friend or family member. Because doctors are the people most familiar with their patients’ medical condition and have knowledge of and access to the necessary means to cause certain death, terminally ill patients who have made
One of the greatest dangers facing chronic and terminally ill patients is the grey area regarding PAS. In the Netherlands, there are strict criteria for the practice of PAS. Despite such stringencies, the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (1992) found 28% of the PAS cases in the Netherlands did not meet the criteria. The evidence suggests some of the patient’s lives may have ended prematurely or involuntarily. This problem can be addressed via advance directives. These directives would be written by competent individuals explaining their decision to be aided in dying when they are no longer capable of making medical decisions. These interpretations are largely defined by ones morals, understanding of ethics, individual attitudes, religious and cultural values.
"With the stroke of a pen, California Gov. Jerry Brown made it legal for physicians in the state to prescribe lethal doses of medications if their terminally ill patients wish to end their lives. Brown signed the "End of Life Act" into law on Monday, and in doing so California joins four other states — Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana — where patients' right to choose doctor-assisted death is protected either by law or court order."
Susan Wolf spent years questioning the ethical and legal aspect of physician-assisted suicide. “As I have before, I oppose the legitimation of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia.” However, life provided practical experience when her father became terminally ill with cancer and pneumonia. He became weak and dependent. He was left with three choices. He could stay in the ICU, go to the pulmonary care unit, or turn off the feeding tubes and IV hydration. Turning off the tubes was the most difficult choice, but it was the best choice he had. There was no point in prolonging his suffering because death was inevitable.
Physician assisted suicide Physician assisted suicide, a suicide made possible by a physician providing a patient with the means to kill themselves, and euthanasia, the kindness of taking individual life by the physician, is an extremely debatable topic. Nonetheless, I am certain that there are some basic agreements that argue both for and against Physician assisted suicide and euthanasia, and when they are evaluated against each other there is a much solider case for prohibiting the Physician assisted suicide than for legalizing them. To begin, though, it is important to point out that prohibiting the practice in our society requires greater effort and argument than letting one.
People who are hating their life should always look around them and they will learn that they are not the only people suffering and learn to recover from people with similar experience; because people with similar experience could become the best teachers for the individual.
Johnson, S. M., Cramer, R. J., Conroy, M. A., & Gardner, B. O. (2013). The Role of and
to survive and are left waiting for a person or thing to depend on for
...eaming. They also possibly cannot deal with real world such as working, school and cleaning. Coping with these effects can be over whelming. Survivor may ultimately turn to alcohol or drugs to substitute the pain that they have.