Essay The Physician-Assisted Suicide Argument - 985 Words

A policeman witnesses a man trapped underneath a burning truck. Desperate and in pain, the man asks the policeman to shoot him and save him the pain of dying a slow and insufferable death. As a result, he shoots. The policeman’s dilemma is commonly referenced in support of physician-assisted-suicide, or PAS. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are interchangeable terms which both lead to the death of an individual. Voluntary PAS is a medical professional, usually a physician, who provides medication or other procedures with the intention of ending the patient’s life. Voluntary PAS is the administration of medicine with the explicit consent from the patient. In terms of this paper, we focus on voluntary physician-assisted suicide in the†¦show more content†¦In the Netherlands, 2.1% of those who requested assisted dying were those who were between 65-74 years old. The elderly who experienced Alzheimer’s, chronic illness and physical handicaps did not have a he ightened risk of PAS. The vast majority of PAS were requested by 18-64 year old. Therefore, there is no current evidence to support the so-called slippery slope concern about the risk of abuse towards the elderly in physician-assisted suicides. Other slippery-slope claims are that the legalization of voluntary PAS will result in non-voluntary PAS and many PAS request are due to mental illness and depression (Boer 2007). Neither of these claims is supported by evidence and is false (Boer 2007, Battin 2007). 20% of PAS requests came from depressed patients; 0% progressed to PAS (Battin). Overall, the mere possibility of abuse towards the elderly is a extremely weak argument. The legal system is built upon placing restriction in order to avoid a slippery slope (Rubin 2010). Another claim is that increase in hospice care or palliative care will result in fewer requests of PAS (Boer 2007). Hospice focuses on the care of the terminally ill, while palliative is medical care focuses on re lieving pain and unnecessary suffering. Palliative care can address most, but not all, end of life pain (Quill 2012). 95.1% of individuals who request PAS currently receive hospice care (Campbell). Therefore, hospice does not affect the desire forShow MoreRelatedThe Argument Of Physician Assisted Suicide925 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running† Groucho Marx. The argument that physician-assisted suicide would dampen the value of life can go both ways. How is life valued when a patient doesn’t have much life to live? For a patient to be eligible, as stated earlier, they must be diagnosed with a terminal illness and six or less months to live. So though assisting these patients’ results in dying a premature death, the question is how much value is there in these last months of theirRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide : An Argument Of Semantics And Hypotheticals3266 Words   |  14 Pages Physician-Assisted Suicide: An Argument of Semantics and Hypotheticals Jacqueline Aragon Drexel University Physician-Assisted Suicide: An Argument of Semantics and Hypotheticals Physician-assisted suicide is a prominent topic of discussion in the bioethical community. The main concerns of these discussions are the different types of euthanasia involved in physician-assisted suicide, as well as the legality of a physician’s right to aid in the death of a patient, and the patient’sRead MorePhilosophy And Death : An Argument For Physician Assisted Suicide1172 Words   |  5 Pages PHILOSOPHY AND DEATH: AN ARGUMENT FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE EMILY BEDFORD 10107525 Submitted to: Robert Armstrong PHIL 259 Monday, December 7, 2015 Introduction As humans, we have the right to life. In Canada, in section 7 of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians can expect â€Å"life, liberty and security of the person.† This means not only to simply exist, but have a minimum quality and value in each of our lives. Dying is the last important, intimate, and personal momentRead MoreRichard Doerflinger s Argument Against Physician Assisted Suicide1465 Words   |  6 Pages1) Compare and Contrast †¢ a) Richard Doerflinger is the first author and is against physician-assisted suicide. In his article he starts by saying that killing an innocent person is against the Jewish and Christian worldviews. He argues that those in favor of assisted suicide put less, if no, value on human life. He quoted an advocate of assisted suicide, Attorney Robert Risley, who stated that a life of suffering â€Å"racked with pain,† is â€Å"not the kind of life we cherish.† Roerflinger says that advocatesRead MoreEssay about Arguments against Physician-assisted suicide1173 Words   |  5 Pagesthis is true in terms of physician-assisted suicide. The ongoing struggle between those in favor and those opposed to this subject has ravaged the medical field, bringing into question what is morally and ethically right. The fact of the matter is that physician-assisted suicide is neither morally nor ethically acceptable under any circumstance. Not only is it a direct violation of a docto r’s Hippocratic Oath, but it is not constitutionally binding. Physician-assisted suicide would also lead to unnecessaryRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legal935 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscusses the ethics of physician-assisted suicide. In the process of physician-assisted suicide, a doctor purposefully provides a terminally ill patient with the means to take their own life. This is often confused with active euthanasia; however, they are not the same thing. In euthanasia, the doctor administers the lethal drug to the patient, but in physician-assisted suicide, the patient must take the lethal drugs themselves. There is much debate over physician-assisted suicide today. Some peopleRead MoreEthical Considerations in Dealing with Changes in the Healthcare System929 Words   |  4 Pagesconsideration that creates controversial discussion is the subject of physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicide is described as the act in which a physician provides the means necessary for the client to perform the act of suicide. The issue of physician-assisted suicide is viewed through many different perspectives. The topic of physician-assisted suicide has been debated since the development of medicine. Physician-assisted suicide was first legalized in the United States in Oregon in 1997.Read MoreAssisted Suicide And The Death With Dignity Act803 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) occurs when a physician facilitates a patient’s death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act (e.g. the physician provides sleeping pills and information about the lethal dose, while aware that the patient may commit suicide). [Carter, 2015]. According to Death with Dignity.org, Oregon, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington and California along with Montana who administrated the Death with DignityRead MoreThe Progressive Case Against Assisted Suicide1413 Words   |  6 Pagesunder physician-assisted suicide. Unfortunately, she had to relocate from California, where her friends and family lived, to Oregon in order to fall under the â€Å"Die With Dignity† act. According to euthanasia.procon.org, only four states in the whole country have legalized assisted suicide. Unfortunately, there are many like Maynard, who have to relocate and leave their home or go through a long and stren uous court battle to receive this treatment plant. This is due to the disapproval of physician-assistedRead MoreWhat Is Physician Assisted Suicide?939 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is Physician assisted suicide? Requests to end suffering through physician assisted suicide have occurred since the beginning of medicine. This technique to end ones life is very controversial and some argue that it should be legal while others argue otherwise. There are multiple advantages and disadvantages when it comes to physician assisted suicide. In physician assisted suicide, the physician provides the necessary means to end a patient’s life, but the patient themselves performs the act