Why I Support Medically Assisted Suicide, Essay Example

Medically assisted suicide should be regarded as a right.  According to the American Medical Association (2007), physician assisted suicide is incompatible to the role of the physician, and that other options are given to relieve pain and discomfort.  However, it is a form of relief and even that of the term “treatment:” according to Marker (2010), Oregon and Washington have made assisted suicide legal in light of it as a medical treatment.  In this light the right to medically assisted suicide can be seen.  Although some believe assisted suicide is morally wrong, pro-choice for assisted suicide will eliminate physical and emotional suffering, give the patient a choice to personal dignity, and reduce the medical costs to the patient and family.

Debate

There are several objections to assisted suicide.  Looking at primary arguments, one is made relative to economic justifications.  It basically states that some individuals make this decision in haste in the economic repercussions of continued care.  However, this can be avoided by personal and professional manners.

The other major objection which is not directly treated in the upcoming discussion is that of religion.  Some religious views do not believe in suicide in any case, and some view it in the same light as murder.  However, in addressing an issue such as this, this is something that an individual must discuss with his or her family and support system.  It should not jeopardize the choice of others in this situation furthermore.

Elimination of Physical and Emotional Suffering

Foremost to the discussion is the physical and emotional suffering of the patient.  Undoubtedly these are the focal points to the need for medically assisted suicide, in order to relieve the patient of his or her suffering.  This suffering is founded both in the physical and emotional effects of the pain.

The physical pain is often first seen in the patient.  It is of course difficult to generalize the average pain of a terminally ill or otherwise suffering patient, yet the physical effects of the condition are carried by the patient.  In response to the characterizations of the condition of the patient, he or she is often left to bear the trials of the physical pain.  This and the effects of medications certainly wear on the patient.

As it must be stressed, the physical pain endured by the patient may take many forms.  Of course, there is the direct physical pain of the condition in which the patient is involved.  While not all individuals who desire medically assisted suicide have a terminal illness of sorts, this is commonly the cause.

There are many types of secondary physical pains involved in the suffering of the individual.  As stated previously, the individual may be on medications, which can incur a number of lasting side effects.  Often these side effects are extremely detrimental to the patient’s suffering.  For instance, it is well known the extent of some side effects for cancer treatments and other treatments with serious illnesses and conditions.  Unfortunately, the pain and implications of treatments often takes its toll physically on individuals.

Emotional pain is often a much deeper effect.  In can be seen dependent or independent of the physical effects of the condition or medication.  The physical pain can have emotional implications in the pain of the patient.  Likewise, the emotional pain of the patient may be linked to the length of the condition, lack of promise of getting better, or many other possible reasons that can weigh on a patient’s spirit.

The reality is that many conditions and illnesses are long term.  Certainly terminal illnesses are inescapable for patients, like many escalated types of cancer, and so forth.  Additionally, many individuals who are dealing with psychological illnesses and states of being are also affected by the length of the condition.

Individuals also must face the lack of positive results.  In reference again to the many possible types of conditions that may draw an individual towards medically assisted suicide, many of these individuals do not find positive results.  The enduring individuals are tested emotionally, where they must take on this large task.  Unfortunately, it is not this easy, and the emotional pain can become too much.

Overall, there are many forms of pain that the patient must endure.  Physical and emotional pain are unfortunate effects of an individual’s condition who is considering medically assisted suicide.  The overwhelming effects thus lead an individual to consider ending his or her own life.

The Choice to Personal Dignity

Personal dignity often comes into question if a patient is expected to suffer.  As suffering is involved in the final days from a patient, medically assisted suicide can be seen as a humane answer to the pain, according to the University of Washington School of Medicine (1998).  A patient becomes compromised, where patients are often not allowed to choose such a human option in regards to their suffering.

The compromised situation is a significant point to consider.  Individuals have the right to live their lives as they so choose, although there are of course distinctions, such as the rights of others.  Yet in these distinctions the argument against this compromised situation is not seen.  The ability for a patient to choose to end his or her life does not highlight any outside implication.  A patient should have the right to end his or her own life in this regard, as the patient should not have no option in this compromising situation, faced with enduring pain from the individual and his or her family.

Many patients who choose medically assisted suicide are unable to perform daily functions.  In these cases the foundation of the human being is often come into question of those affected.  Thus, as the personal dignity of the patient is come into question in regards to being able to live normally, such individuals are often unable to rid themselves of such a situation, which only adds to the pain and lack of dignity.

In this addition we see the further pain that is caused when personal autonomy is lost.  Patients who are unable to perform daily tasks further suffer when faced with this realization.  Unfortunately, the loss of daily functions tends to degrade over time in many conditions, which further complicates and adds to the loss of autonomy.

The overall situation results in a lack of respect.  The patient loses respect for oneself in regards to the condition and continued pain, in that and in the loss of daily functioning.  In addition to this, those close to the patient often lose respect, as there are direct and emotional manners in which it is difficult for family and friends of the patient.  Undermining this situation, the patient is unable to respectfully end his or her life.

This undermining web of respect represents the unfortunate situation as a whole.  Complicated by the implications of these moral elements is the pain endured by the patients and families.  Patients should not be directly or indirectly degraded when faced with these barriers to personal dignity.  Patients should have the choice to end their own life when faced with these pains and loss of personal dignity.

Reduction of Medical Costs to the Patient and Family

Medically assisted suicide reduces the overall medical costs to the patient and family.  Additionally, it can relieve costs for institutions, as it has been expressed: according to Messerli (2007), terminally-ill patients do not agree that the use of the medical staff is not appropriate, according to those who would rather die.  Quality of care could be increased for other patients in the case of medically assisted suicide.

Thus it can be seen how the medical bills and cost become a factor in this discussion.  Medical bills and costs in general can be quite high.  Of course, when we consider the lack of quality medical coverage of some patients and families, these costs are extremely high.  As stated previously, these medical costs could be cut so that medical staffs could attend to those who would like to continue living.  Especially from the point of view of the patients in this discussion, medical bills and costs should not be incurred on their account.

The medical bills and costs are thus relieved for the patient.  These incur lesser implications on the patient’s assets, which may be called for payment.  Here the patient would be protected in the form of his or her assets, as the care for patients who would like to end their life is not desired.

The patient should not have to pay for something that is not wanted.  Obviously, those who do not wish to continue their life should not have to incur and pay for, at least in some way, their medical expenses.  Related to the next point, these individuals of course do not want to simply “pass on” their medical expenses to families or those responsible.

At any rate it is unreasonable to suggest that patients who would rather end their life incur and pay for medical expenses.  This forces the patient to pay for something that he or she does not want.  As the option to end one’s life is taken away, the patient has no choice but to keep increasing numbers on medical bills.

The resulting situation is quite unfortunate.  As patients are forced into increasing their medical bills against their will, this causes more emotional pain.  This additional stress can only take away from the quality of life for the patient.

Loved ones will also be relieved of the unfortunate financial burden.  For patients who choose medically assisted suicide, loved ones would not have to step in to help with the related expenses of medical bills and costs.  This would lessen further burdens apart from the difficult situation and loss of the loved one.

Loved ones who are responsible for financial expenses of the individual would thus be relieved.  Again, it would be unfortunate to see loved ones willing to pay and support the patient when this is not desired.  This should be a choice from the point of view of the patient.

The result of this finds an unfortunate place in the discussion.  Medically assisted suicide should be the choice of the individual, where he or she should have the right to live or end one’s life.  It is not about expenses, yet unfortunately, they must be considered in listing the many drawbacks to objecting to medically assisted suicide.  As a result, we see one further strain and source of pain for the patient and his or her loved ones in the discussion of medically assisted suicide.

Conclusion

Medically assisted suicide importantly relieves the patient of significant physical and emotional pain.  This pain should not have to be experienced, especially in the case of those who would rather end their life.  As a result, patients would be able to accept or decline this option for their life and for their treatment of physical and emotional pain.

There are also other benefits to medically assisted suicide.  Ethically the patient’s dignity would not be undermined, in the situation of the loss of daily functioning and the general loss of respect of the overall situation.  It can also relieve the financial burden of health costs.  Conclusively, medically assisted suicide will eliminate physical and emotional suffering of patients, give patients a choice to personal dignity, and reduce medical costs.

Medically assisted suicide should be implemented.  Care can be taken in order to guard against objections to assisted suicide, such as counseling in order to make sure the decision is made on moral grounds (and not economic or relative to stress, for instance).  In light of the many benefits for medically assisted suicide, this is something that should be implemented accordingly.

References

American Medical Association. (2007). Physician Assisted Suicide. American Medical Association. Retrieved from: http://www.wrtl.org/pdf/ama_phys_assisted_suicide.pdf

Marker, Rita. (2010). Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Frequently Asked Questions. International Task Force. Retrieved from: http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/faq.htm

Messerli, Joe. (2007). Physician Assisted Suicide. Balanced Politics. Retrieved from: http://www.balancedpolitics.org/assisted_suicide.htm

University of Washington School of Medicine. (1998). Physician-Assisted Suicide: Ethical Topic in Medicine. University of Washington Ethics in Medicine. Retrieved from: http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/pas.html#ques2