Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, Essay Example

Introduction and Thesis Statement

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are complex ethical issues that require many difficult choices to consider under a variety of circumstances. One important perspective to consider is that the physician plays a significant role in carrying out a patient’s or a family’s wishes, but that this is also an ethical dilemma that requires much thought and consideration. For those physicians that favor euthanasia or assisted suicide, there is no ethical dilemma to consider, but others find it much more difficult to make this decision without rational thought and consideration of the legal aspects of these dilemmas. However, the decision to carry out an act of this nature is often a blessing for the patient, as he or she will no longer suffer.

Analysis and Literature Review

The concepts of euthanasia and assisted suicide must be addressed in greater detail in order to determine how to best approach these circumstances from a physician’s point of view. Euthanasia is generally defined as “A doctor intentionally killing a person by the administration of drugs, at that person’s voluntary and competent request,” while assisted suicide is defined as “A doctor intentionally helping a person to commit suicide by providing drugs for self-administration, at that person’s voluntary and competent request” (Materstvedt et.al 98). In this context, the physician possesses a difficult choice in regards to whether or not to support the patient with this choice. In the case of euthanasia, the physician possesses a greater level of responsibility in the decision, because he or she is responsible for “pulling the plug” and enabling that person to die. In these cases, it is evident that a patient’s quality of life hangs in the balance, and that it may be very difficult to endure the pain that is felt during this stage of life. Therefore, a patient may ask a physician to assist in the death of the individual through the administration of drugs to end life earlier. Regardless of the circumstances, the physician’s role cannot be undermined, and is very relevant in shaping decisions regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide in different ways. It is only natural that some patients will benefit from these options as a means of removing them from a very difficult or painful situation.

Physicians facing the decision to support either euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide must explore their options with respect to how physicians view these outcomes: “The underpinnings of being a physician include the dedication of our professional careers to reducing human suffering and preserving life (Miller and Brody, 1995). The diversity of perspectives regarding how that concept is applied, however, varies substantially” (Pugno 217). It becomes very important for physicians to determine if euthanasia and assisted suicide are practices that they want become involved with. This is a highly individualistic decision, and it requires physicians to examine their own moral and ethical frameworks to decide how to move forward in supporting patients under these circumstances. When physicians support these options, they are examining the patient’s best interests above their own, and this is a positive reinforcement in supporting patient needs selflessly.

In some cases, the physician does not necessarily need to be the determining factor in a suicide. To be specific, “Patients, even those with severe illnesses, commonly have access to other modes of suicide should they be so inclined. Unless severely disabled, such common items as the aspirin bottle in the medicine cabinet, the pistol in the home or even the automobile on the highway can provide an effective means of suicide for desperate individuals. Simply because a physician provides a prescription for pain medication to a patient with a fatal illness does not equate to an encouragement or facilitation that the patient end their life” (Pugno 218). From this perspective, a physician does not necessarily need to be involved at all in a decision to end a life, but in cases involving end of life care or palliative care, this is perhaps the most feasible situation when a physician would be required to make such a decision (Pugno 218). Regardless of the circumstances, it is necessary for physicians to consistently recall their responsibilities as care providers, and to make decisions that will impact the well being of their patients above all other choices.

Nonetheless, it is evident that in some cases, there are significant factors that contribute to an individual’s desire to die at the hands of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. These decisions will undoubtedly impact an individual for the rest of his or her life, but in the end, this is ultimately his or her decision to make. How an individual might convince a physician to provide support in carrying out this request is very difficult, but it reflects an opportunity to explore different insights that will be used to determine if one of these options is attainable, depending upon the level of support that is provided. The physician’s point of view is particularly vulnerable, because this requires a commitment that could essentially change his or her life (Stevens 187). These alternatives may bring a sense of peace and an end to suffering for patients and perhaps their families, and physicians must do what is necessary to accommodate their patients as best as possible(Stevens 187).

Conclusion

Physicians possess a complex choice regarding whether or not to support a patient seeking to end his or her life through euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the extent to which physicians will participate in these activities. It is important to address these circumstances and their role in predicting how physicians might respond to these situations when confronted directly by their patients. This is a critical component of the decision-making process, and it requires an effective understanding of the challenges and consequences of these situations prior to determining if participation is the optimal choice for a physician. However, for a patient to consider euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, it is important for the physician to support this choice, and to take the steps that are necessary to achieve the desired outcomes. This is an optimal choice to make, and it reflects the ability of a physician to take the appropriate measures to effectively adapt to a given set of circumstances that may end a patient’s life. Knowing that this choice is in the best interest of the patient to end his or her human suffering is critical to making the decision without difficulty. This gives a physician the ability to create a set of circumstances that will enable a patient to be free of his or her human pain and agony.

References

Materstvedt, Lars Johan, Clark, David, Ellershaw, John, Forde, Reidun, Boeck Gravgaard, Anne-Marie Boeck, Muller-Busch, H Cristof, Porta I Sales, Josep, and Rapin, Charles Henry, 2003. “Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: a view from an EAPC ethics task force. Palliative Medicine, 17, 97-101.

Pugno, Perry A., 2004. “One physician’s perspective: euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Health Care Analysis, 12(3), 215-223.

Stevens, Kenneth R., 2006. “Emotional and psychological effects of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia on participating physicians.” Issues in Law & Medicine, 21.3, 187-200.