Essay on Euthanasia Assisted Suicide Debate

Submitted By raye10
Words: 1057
Pages: 5
Open Document
Euthanasia Assisted Suicide Debate

Rachel Clark

HCA322: Health Care Ethics & Medical Law

Professor: Joan Chambers

November 5, 2012

Euthanasia Assisted Suicide Debate

Euthanasia and doctor assisted suicides is an issue that I have by no means had any personal experience with. My research on the question was appealing and enlightening, but did not change my initial feeling on the topic. Throughout this paper I will talk about my belief that euthanasia active and passive, which I consider is necessary when the euthanasia is voluntary and more parties should be concerned with involuntary euthanasia. My belief becomes more difficult as it pertains to particular groups, such as the disabled, infants, the elderly, minorities, the poor, or women. The paper will close by addressing the state laws regarding euthanasia and physician assisted suicide in Missouri, the state in which I consider my home.

Euthanasia is a practice that has been performed and debated throughout time. Death not only involves the person, but also loved ones, health staff, and lawyers. All the parties concerned play a role when a decision needs to be made concerning life or death. I feel euthanasia both active and passive is acceptable when the patient openly consents to the practice, well-known as voluntary euthanasia. Active euthanasia, which “is commonly understood to the intentional commission of an act, such as giving a patient a lethal drug that results in death”, while passive euthanasia “occurs when lifesaving treatment (such as respirator) is withdrawn or withheld, allowing the terminally ill patient to die a natural death” (Pozgar, G. D., & Santucci, N. 2010, p.93, 94). I strongly think anyone should have the right to choose how and when they pass away and ought to be allowed to ease awful or terminal illnesses or diseases.

When the euthanasia is involuntary I think the practice requires extra concentration from the law. Seeing as the patient cannot be honestly involved to accepting, the choice should be made by medical staff, loved ones, and/or law officials. I believe every case should be looked at from different individuals whom are not linked to the case to make sure the patient’s best wellbeing is being practical. With involuntary euthanasia it seems several more ethical and lawful issues come in to play. There needs to be a third party involved to make sure the medical staff or the loved ones are making this decision for the patient and not for a profit to themselves or other planned reason. Also to protect those considered special groups, such as the disabled, infants, the elderly, minorities, the poor, or women.

Special groups of people are more of a fair matter to me because these individuals might not be mentally able or convinced to make a decision. “The ProCon.org Website addresses the debate of legalizing physician-assisted suicide endangering people with disabilities, the elderly, the poor, minorities, and women” (ProCon.org, 2011). I believe these people have some possibility of becoming endangered, but in the end I feel they can be protected by laws pertaining to more care being used with these special groups. I think one can look at the data of such a state as Oregon, where the practice is lawful and see how these special groups are protected. For instance the ProCon.org Website quotes Susan Okie, MD, Contributing Editor of the New England Journal of medicine wrote referring to the justification of physician-assisted suicide “There is no evidence that it has been used to coerce elderly, poor, or depressed patients to end their lives…” furthermore the Website states “Only 2 of the 208 patients who died by means of lethal medication were uninsured” (ProCon.org, 2011, Para 8). The health care facilities ought to have different staff to glance over each case to be certain the practice is fair and serves the greatest concern of the patient. Several states
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Euthanasia Assisted Suicide Debate

To Err Is Human Summary

in favor of physician assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. Respect of autonomy, gives individuals self-governance and the right to choose one’s own path. In the article the authors explains autonomy as being a concept of bioethics. They make note of the similarities between the definitions of freedom and autonomy. Sjöstrand, Helgesson, Eriksson, and Juth argue that using respect for autonomy as an argument to legalize physician assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia is a contradiction. Autonomy…

Words 711 - Pages 3

Doctor Assisted Suicide In Canada Essay

For many years, there has been a debate on the topic of doctor assisted suicide in Canada. The debate question is if a terminally ill person decides they wish to end their life, is it acceptable for others to assist them? Some are against it because of religious and moral reasons. Others are for it because of their respect for the dying. Physicians opinions are also mixed on the issue, they have different beliefs that separates relief from dying. Suicide is universally accepted to be a preventable…

Words 1588 - Pages 7

Why Is Euthanasia Ethically Wrong

The debate over the legality and ethicality of euthanasia and/or physician-assisted suicide in America was stimulated in the late 1900s by the coverage of Kevorkian’s story in national media. The increasing knowledge of euthanasia led many Americans who might've never heard of the term or the stigma surrounding it to voice their opinion either for or against the procedure. Many pro-euthanasia groups gained popularity around this time including Death with Dignity and The Hemlock Society, these organizations…

Words 420 - Pages 2

Arguments Against Assisted Suicide

Assisted Suicide The assisted suicide rate of deaths has increased in the world since 2012. Five countries were surveyed, Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Germany had the highest rate of assisted suicide deaths. Me personally, based off of the facts and information I have researched, I am strictly against Assisted Suicide. There are three main points of view and circumstances I focused on in this essay that supports my decision. They include, Assisted Suicide basics and…

Words 640 - Pages 3

Essay On Physician Assisted Suicide

Physician Assisted Suicide Physician assisted suicide is willfully and deliberately providing an individual with the information and means or both required to commit suicide, including education about lethal doses of medications, prescribing such lethal doses or providing the drugs (Schafer, 2013). Physician assisted suicide is currently a thoroughly controversial topic of debate within the healthcare community; causing professional and personal dilemmas. The purpose of this paper is to critically…

Words 775 - Pages 4

Pros And Cons Of Assisted Suicide

The topic of ‘Assisted suicide’ is a very controversial and hotly debated topic. ‘Euthanasia’ generally means the bringing about of a good death - 'mercy killing,' where one person, A, ends the life of another person, B, for the sake of B in order to end pain and suffering and grant them a dignified death. There are 2 features of euthanasia that distinguish it from other forms of killing. Firstly, euthanasia involves the deliberate taking of a person's life – Secondly, the life must be taken for…

Words 438 - Pages 2

Annotated Bibliography Essay

"Physician-Assisted Suicide." Congressional Digest 77.11 (1998): 257. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. This article examined how the advancement in medical technology has had an impact on patient’s decisions related to health. It really focused in on issues such as the legality of physician-assisted suicide. As well as the legality, how physician-assisted suicide is carried out is dependent on Supreme Court decision to prohibit assisted suicide. Certain circumstances in which assisted suicide is considered…

Words 1518 - Pages 7

Legal Euthanasia Essay

Euthanasia: Should People Have the Right to Die Gabriella Esposito Professor Luzky Sociology 181-06 November 18, 2012 According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, euthanasia is defined as “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless ways for reasons of mercy…by taking less then complete medical measures to prolong life.” Euthanasia is legal in very few places around the world. In the United States, Oregon…

Words 2464 - Pages 10

Legalizing Assisted Suicide Persuasive Essay

ends one life is a symptom of depression. Legalizing assisted suicide will greatly relieve family members from the burden of caring for their relative in a horrific health state. My view and understanding of this topic are simple. We human cherish to preserve and protect life, but we also need to recognize the right for all human to choose the end of their life. Also, understand that this act is accomplished with the feeling of giving a euthanasia to the doomed…

Words 1054 - Pages 5

Why Is Euthanasia Ethically Wrong

The word Euthanasia comes from the greek word eu thanatos, which means dignified death. Many can argue that the act of this assisted suicide is drastically different from a dignified death, but more along the lines of a murder. The following subject is a very frequent topic in today’s society, and is something that many people have different views towards. Euthanasia is the act of allowing a physician to take a patient's life due to immense suffering. This is illegal in many states, but is on the…

Words 1908 - Pages 8