sub topic 1

Death with dignity and finding comfort in dying

Physician-assisted suicide to the terminally ill provides a comfort to many who experience great anxiety of an unmistakable deterioration and suffering before death. While many recent gains have been made in the improvement of end of life care-such as hospices and palliative treatment, as well as a larger universal acceptance of the refusal of life-sustaining medications-concerns about patients final days are still not adequately addressed.Patients with terminal illnesses suffer from life altering ailments that morph their body into an uncontrollable shadow of what it was when it was healthy. This forces them to rely on others for their every need. A near death becomes a certainty and both the patient and their loved ones suffer as the ill person slips out of life in pain and anguish. However with the option of physician-assisted suicide, people are provided with the comfort that if their disease becomes excruciating and they deem their life as no longer bearable they can put an end to the misery. This encourages many to at least attempt to live with the disease they obtain instead of committing suicide in a violent, traumatizing manner since they know that the option to end their life is available to them. It also allots them the reassurance that they will be able to end their life in a peaceful way surrounded by their loved ones as opposed to a prolonged and painful death that will leave their family with a distorted memory of what was a good life because of the depressing end. Physician-assisted suicide should be granted legally to terminally ill patients that deserve the right to die. When incurable diseases take over the life of patients, which have become "nothing but meaningless existence with no escape" despite their medicines to dull the pain, they are still suffering because of their freedom that has been taken away.The patients decision to end their own life is owed to them.

PRO vs. CON

Pro:

The pro side of the argument maintains that it IS the patients own “right to die.” This means that the people in favor of assisted suicide believe that it should be the patients own decision to end their life and that physicians should be able to help them do that. Proponents of the cause believe that patients have the right to a dignified death. It can put an end to the pain and suffering of ill patients who no longer have the will to live. Many people believe that one of the main reasons that these people wish to end their lives is that they suffer from a treatable case of depression. However, financially this treatment will cost more for the hospital and families to maintain then if they were to fulfill the patients’ wishes and end their life. Also it is difficult to question a patients true wishes and separate real feelings from side effects of depression.

CON:

People in opposition to physician-assisted suicide strongly believe that it is not right. Many members of the church condemn the practice and believe that only God and no man can decide to take the life of someone. They believe that there are alternative options to intentionally ending someone’s life, like therapy and treatment to cure depression and thoughts of suicide. Furthermore, many in opposition fear that if doctors are allowed the right to facilitate a suicide the practice will get out of hand and cause unnecessary death. Also, many believe it is the patients right to refuse treatment however it should not be anyone’s right to request to take treatment to end their life.

ME:

I believe that terminally ill patients whose death is inevitable should be able to receive a physician-assisted suicide. When patients are in severe suffering and horrific pain it should be their choice whether they want to live or die. Patients do legally have the right to refuse treatment however this would result in more pain whereas the treatment itself would just be prolonging death. It is my belief that terminally ill patients have a right to die with dignity instead of suffering and withering away in their last days. However i do believe that this law would have to be monitored. The patient should be required to receive multiple medical evaluations to confirm their deterioration and physical state, as well as request the procedure more than once to ensure the severity of their condition. I think that if a patient is in extreme pain and a hopeless situation they should have the right to obtain a physician-assisted suicide.

Overview

The issue that i have choosen to research is the controversy surrounding assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is the process in which an individual, who may otherwise be incapable, is provided with the means (drugs or other aids and equipment) to commit suicide. The issue at hand however is the legality of it.Aid in dying is legal in several jurisdictions, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and American states of Oregon (via the Oregon Death with Dignity Act), Washington (by Washington Initiative 1000), and Montana (through a trial court ruling). Many in favor of assisted suicde believe that physicians have an obligation to relieve pain and suffering and to promote the dignity of dying patients in their care and the principle of patient bodily integrity requires that physicians must respect patients’ competent decisions to forgo life-sustaining treatment. However those opposing believe that those who desire an assisted suicide while being medically treated are suffereing from slight, treatable depression and that most request to end their life due to pain however they already have a right to refuse unwanted medical treatment that results in this pain. The reason i choose this topic is purly because of interest. Ever since i watched a documentary on this issue i have been intrigued to know more. The question i will be disecting in my paper is: Should physician-assisted suicide be legalized for patients?