Euthanasia Or Physician Assisted Suicide

When talking about either Euthanasia or Physician-assisted suicide it is considered taboo and it is not with a so-called normal and sane persons reasoning. The issue is that we really don’t know much about it or what pain that the person who has chosen one of these path to come to the decision to end their life on what can be on their own terms. I personally never been affected this or known anyone who has been affected by the controversial subject. When it comes to how I might personally feel about the issue, I am always pro-choice. People should have the right to make their own choice if they are mentally competent in doing so. Not all choices might be good choices but this is where helping services come into play. Euthanasia is a deliberate
intervention or omission with the express intention of hastening or ending an individual’s life, to relieve intractable pain or suffering (Sanders, K, Chaloner C., 2007). Euthanasia is also known as Physician-assisted suicide and it can bring up some ethical issues due to the concerns of physicians and nurses being asked to participate in a patient deciding to speed up death. It can have some moral implications on the person being asked to assist with the demands of the patient. Questions can arise such as “ What are the limits of professional obligation for doctors and nurses and how valuable is human life? (Sanders, K, Chaloner C., 2007).” Patients that request euthanasia are asking that their life be taken by the hand of the physician instead of the disease that they are suffering from takes their life. This act is given the patient somewhat control of their own expiration and relief from suffering. The background of the name is derived from the physician’s participation in the death of the patient and the patient deliberately ends his or her own life. There are legal issues that surround Euthanasia and there are a few countries and states within the United States where it is legal for physicians to assist in the death of a patient.The legality lies within the types of euthanasia that is permitted by law. Voluntary euthanasia is conducted with the consent of the patient and this is legal in countries Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the states of Oregon and Washington. There are other countries and states where euthanasia and or physician-assisted suicide are legal. Involuntary euthanasia is done without the consent of the patient. This is a decision made by another person because the patient is incapable of making this decision him or herself (Nordqvist, C, 2016). There are different views to the issue of Euthanasia that is based on a religious standpoint.
Most religions disapprove of euthanasia and there are those that forbid it. The Roman Catholic Church is one of the most active at the opposition of euthanasia. There are many reasons for religions to oppose euthanasia. There are religious views such as God has forbidden it; Human life is sacred and special. Hinduism and Buddhism see life as part of a cycle in which we are born, live, die and reborn over again. The goal is to be liberated from this cycle and every time you reset the cycle you are making progress towards liberation. This issue has a big relation to the field of social work because there will be times when you will have to step in when a client is considering physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. Since there are not many states that this type of action is legal, you as a social worker will have to give the best care possible. I believe that there will questions ask about this issue and maybe you will not feel that it is your duty to help a client in end his or her life. Being a social worker you will have to put your own views and beliefs aside in order to give the best care
possible. We all come from various backgrounds that foster different cultures and traditions. There is a case of euthanasia that was challenged in European court of Diane Pretty. Diane who was 43 had motor neurone disease. This is a progressive degenerative illness, and there is no cure or hope of recovery. She would have died a horrific and humiliated death and even euthanasia was decriminalized but she was unable to commit suicide herself due to the affects of her disease. Diane wants the courts to grant permission for her husband to preform the act without being charge with a crime.
European court held this ban for assisted suicide in order to protect those that are vulnerable. There were cases of husbands assisting with suicide and they were not prosecuted but Mr. Pretty did not want to risk. In English law a person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another can receive a punishment up to 14 years in prison (Freeman, M. 2002). Unfortunately, Diane died from her illness before the decision could be made. When counseling a person who has decided to end their life by physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. There are a few things as a social worker you want to cover in order to give proper care. I would take steps like finding out the legality issues with this type of decision since there are states that it is illegal to perform and the state that currently resides in it is not legal. Evaluate the mental state of the client to ensure that the client is capable to making this type of decision. I want to stay neutral with this type of case and I want the client to make the right choice for him or her if they are deemed competent and
capable.