Preview

Assisted Suicide Arguments Against Euthanasia

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
959 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Assisted Suicide Arguments Against Euthanasia
In recent years, assisted suicide has become a rather controversial topic regarding whether or not a dying patient has the right to die with the assistance of a physician. While some are against it due to moral beliefs, others support it as a result of their respect for those suffering. However, physicians remain divided on the issue, being torn on the difference between relief from dying and murder. After analyzing the issue in depth, it is clear that terminally ill patients should be granted the right to assisted suicide in order to end their suffering, reduce financial burdens placed upon their families, and preserve the right of individuals to determine their own fate when facing death.
Despite advanced medical technology that has successfully saved and prolonged the lives of patients, it is just a means of prolonging suffering for the terminally ill. While medicine aims to alleviate any pain a patient endures, the only assistance medical technology provides terminal patients is continual agony. Therefore, individuals like Kathy Myers reach out to doctors in hopes of receiving medication. After a decade
…show more content…
A terminally ill patient agreeing to physician-assisted suicide is fully aware of a doctor’s job to alleviate any pain possible. Thus, giving consent reveals a great deal of trust between the two. Additionally, opponents insist that terminal patients might be forced to choose assisted suicide due to their health situation. However, the choice of assisted suicide is made in the best interest of the patient and the competent patient can easily decline the offer if they do not wish to accept euthanasia. Therefore, it is evident that the right to assisted suicide is not forced upon any patient, rather an option for those who wish to die in dignity instead of living every day in pain and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    There are times when life takes an unforeseen route, and one is faced with an obstacle or situation that was not expected. Many people are diagnosed with terminal diseases, have accidents and are left with severe impairments, and suffer horrendous complications from medical issues. One has the right, according to law, to make medical decisions about their care and treatment options. But should one have the right to end their life? Assisted, or voluntary euthanasia, is the direct administration of a lethal agent to end one’s life at the request of…

    • 1466 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Not all terminally ill patients will choose this option, but it should be available for those who want it. Coping with the diagnosis of a terminal illness is difficult for both the patient and the patient’s loved ones and it only becomes more difficult as the disease progresses. Being given the ability to decide when to die allows the patient to feel a sense of dignity and control during a time when he or she may not have control over anything else in life. Not only does physician-assisted suicide provide a sense of relief to the patient, it provides relief to family and friends. Watching a loved one die is one of the most challenging things to endure in life. It only becomes more challenging when forced to watch a loved one die a slow and painful death. Physician-assisted suicide can provide closure to everyone involved in a situation dealing with a terminal illness; therefore, it must become legal in all fifty…

    • 575 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician-Assisted Suicide

    • 2570 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Pain and suffering is unique to each individual. Even with excellent care, symptom management sometimes falls short in alleviating the suffering at the end of life. Only the individual can determine if he or she is able or willing to endure that suffering. In order to provide full autonomy and spectrum of choice for patients, physician-assisted suicide that is legal with standards of care to protect all parties should be in place.…

    • 2570 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rapid and dramatic developments in medicine and technology have given us the power to save more lives than was ever possible in the past. Medicine has put at our disposal the means to cure or to reduce the suffering of people afflicted with diseases that were once fatal or painful. At the same time, however, medical technology has given us the power to sustain the lives (or, some would say, prolong the deaths) of patients whose physical and mental capabilities cannot be restored, whose degenerating conditions cannot be reversed, and whose pain cannot be eliminated. As medicine struggles to pull more and more people away from the edge of death, the plea that tortured, deteriorated lives be mercifully ended grows louder and more frequent. Californians are now being asked to support an initiative, entitled the Humane and Dignified Death Act, that would allow a physician to end the life of a terminally ill patient upon the request of the patient, pursuant to properly executed legal documents. Under present law, suicide is not a crime, but assisting in suicide is. Whether or not we as a society should pass laws sanctioning "assisted suicide" has generated intense moral controversy.…

    • 877 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physician-assisted suicide is the intentional end of one's own life by the organization of a deadly substance with the immediate or backhanded help of a doctor. Some people support Physician Assisted suicide while others do not. In order, to develop a better understanding of this trending issue, we must first look at different perspectives and viewpoints while approaching the topic. These viewpoints are moral, practical, and legal.…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia is a widely debated and controversial topic in our society. It is believed that the principle of PAS and euthanasia portrays, “merciful acts that deliver terminally ill patients from painful and protracted death” (page 477, column 2). In the paper, “Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Tragic View,” John D. Arras discusses the subject and states that while he agrees with patients making decisions, implementing laws supporting PAS and euthanasia is a huge threat to our social order. However, John D. Arras also concludes that he does not disapprove with the possibility of having a legislative policy in favor of PAS/euthanasia, only if there is “sufficient evidence of reliability of various safeguards” (page 477, column 2).…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physician assisted suicide is a highly controversial ethical dilemma that is receiving a lot of press in society recently. The issue is an emotional debate whether a terminally ill or disabled person has the right to end their existence with the support of their physician, which affects not just the patient, but their families and health care providers. Physician assisted suicide has legal ramifications as well. One argument in favor of Physician assisted suicide alludes to that the patient has the right to end their life with dignity. An opposing argument is if a physician participates in assisted suicide this goes against the “American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics”. A physician and nurse are respected within the community to…

    • 1996 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Supporters of assisted suicide believe that this act benefit terminally ill patients by relieving their suffering. This is probably one of the reasons why Netherlands court determined that a physician is allowed to prevent severe and irreversible suffering, even if it reduces patient’s life (Bosshard et al, 2002). The act of assisted suicide or active euthanasia is allowed in Netherlands, Switzerland and Oregon under different conditions and legislations. The situation can be seen differently in places, where by moral and legal discourse; assisted suicide is interpreted as the freedom or right of the individual as in Switzerland and some states of US. From the ethical perspective, patient’s choice of suicide represents an expression of self- determination and while exercising self- determination people take responsibility of their lives and for the kind of person they become. They have a right to refuse the life- sustaining treatment if they don’t want to suffer anymore and according to law, physicians must respect their decisions to forgo life- sustaining treatment that are capable of making their end of life decisions. By refusing life- sustaining treatment, terminally ill people know that they are going to die soon and in order to avoid suffering or pain they ask physicians for assistance to end their…

    • 2855 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physician-assisted suicide is one topic that many countries have yet to tackle. Considering the many complex issues and underlying controversies, there is no doubt that the idea of taking one's life with medical collaboration is one of many criterias. There are many benefits for those individuals affected by terminal illnesses and irreversible damages to their health (i.e. AIDS or Parkinson’s Disease), such as removing the pain from their lives and allowing their families to be at peace knowing that they are no longer in harm’s way, but suicide in and of itself is a difficult challenge to defend. The act of taking one’s life is one that has been fought against for years, and…

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The topic of Physician Assisted Suicide has become a well-known issue. But the fact is, for terminally ill and for those that cannot recover, Physician assisted suicide is not completely misguided. It gives those who are in a lot of pain a chance to save their loved ones the torment of seeing them so feeble. It also strengthens the possibility of saving those who can still be saved.…

    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is always a choice of physician-assisted suicide if the patient is breathing and of sound mind. Moreover, a patient having a less than ten percent chance of living, physician-assisted suicide should be an option. Physicians are healers of disease and injury, preservers of life, and relievers of suffering. Determining the ethical responsibilities of physicians when patients wish to die requires a close examination of the doctor’s role in society (JAMA, 1992-vol 267, No. 16).…

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician assisted suicide is a highly controversial bioethical issue that has been increasingly debated in recent years. Advocates of physician assisted suicide argue that it champions patient autonomy and reduces suffering while opposers suggest the benefits outweigh the risks and that there are other acceptable alternatives to the practice. This paper attempts to demonstrate the permissibility of physician assisted suicide as a regulated, medically reliable end-of-life option that can help end the suffering of individuals struggling with terminal illnesses. This will be achieved while still providing a comprehensive view of both opponents’ and supporters’ perspectives on the issue, specifically regarding the nature of the death that comes…

    • 1640 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Euthanasia the assisted killing of a terminal patient is a controversial topic that medical professionals cannot avoid. Many health professionals face the ethical dilemma of whether or not they should end a patient’s misery. Patient’s rights are always the top priority, doctors are taught to find every possible way to treat and cure the patient, but the possibility of the patient being irremediable to what extent is the health care professionals willing to go to give the patient their wishes?…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Assisted suicide is an issue that has prompted discussion on the “right to die” and whether or not it is an inherent right in the Constitution. Those against assisted suicide say those who assist should be incarcerated for murder and medical professional should have their licenses revoked and integrity questioned. They believe this goes against the Due Process Clause in the Constitution, stating citizens should not be “deprived of life. liberty, or property.” Proponents of assisted suicide argue that Due Process protects their rights to personal choice and should be an option for those who are terminally ill and suffering. The novel (and upcoming movie) “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes explores this debate.…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bioethicist

    • 2126 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The end of life matters have become a huge debate recently in the world of medicine and there are two sides to every topic. Assisted suicide has risen in this century, as people are living longer and may come to a point when their quality of life is unhappiness. They may be living with terrible pain or be suffering from a disease, in which their loved ones struggle to watch them slowly die. By being assisted to die, they are relieving pain early on, from both themselves and their family. In this method, they can choose their point of death, which in a sense allows them to die with dignity. While assisted suicide could have a potential to become out of hand, as seen with Kevorkian1, in a controlled state, as seen in Oregon, it is regulated so that the person will go through psychological evaluation and cool down period before they can receive the pills to end their life. However, a major question on the minds of most people will be the rationality behind an assisted death. If a person is not so near death that something could be done for him or her, is it wrong to allow them to end their life when it could be saved? While it is true that people should not be forced to suffer, there is palliative care in which a patient’s pain could alleviated and allow them to live a little longer in peace. Lastly, the whole idea is contradictory to the ideals of medicine, which it is always about helping…

    • 2126 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays