Physician Assisted Suicide

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Aid-to-Death
Julie and her husband got in a car accident and were rushed to the hospital. Julie’s husband is fine and only has a few scratches, but says that he is concerned because his wife fell asleep behind the wheel. Their doctors run a few tests on her to see what is wrong and find a brain tumor that cannot be removed. They also found out that she didn’t fall asleep behind the wheel, instead she had a seizure. They give her only weeks to live. In the weeks to come, Julie will lose all function in her arms and legs, lose control of her bowel and bladder, have more seizures, start drooling because of the pain medication, lose the ability to talk and feed herself, loose her memories and personality, and the person Julie’s husband loves and …show more content…

Physician assisted suicide ends the pain and suffering of an ill patient/family member. In most cases, when this procedure is used death has already been admitted as inevitable. Euthanasia terminology is a complicated procedure because of the multiple different options to have it injected. To be able to participate in euthanasia treatments and assisted suicides, the patient has to participate in a questionnaire and a statistical analysis to ensure that the patient has no other options and is mentally fit for this procedure. (Levy, Azar, Huberfeld, Siegel, Strous) Physician-assisted suicide is one of the biggest issues in the medical field. The Hippocratic Oath states “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.” This quote was one of the founding rules of western medicine. This rule originated in Greece because of their ancient promises to their gods of medicine and health. People believe that this procedure is against the oath. Physician-assisted suicide breaks the rule that physicians have been formed …show more content…

He believes that the procedure goes against all of his spiritual beliefs. (Reilly) Over 9,000 people have read the article “30 Logical reasons Against Assisted Suicide” by Jane St. Clair. Jane tells us that she believes that there is always a possibility to get better. She says that it is selfish for a patient to medically commit suicide because of their relationships with other people. Doctors can make mistakes. She completely disagrees with the suicide policies and in no way supports it. There are other ways to help a terminally ill patient other than suicide. If suicide laws are passed, she believes research on cures will halt unless the patient stresses to find a cure and will stop the positive advancement of medicine. (St

Physician Assisted Suicide Case study
929 Words | 2 Pages
Diane: A Case of Physician Assisted Suicide. Diane was a patient of Dr. Timothy Quill, who was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. Diane overcame alcoholism and had vaginal cancer in her youth. She had been under his care for a period of 8 years, during which an intimate doctor-patient bond had been established.
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Ethical Issues With Physician Assisted Suicide
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The discussion of physician-assisted suicide is frequently focused around the ethical implications. The confusion commonly surfaces from the simple question, what is physician-assisted suicide? Physician-assisted suicide can be defined as a circumstance in which a medical physician provides a lethal dose of medication to a patient with a fatal illness. In this case, the patient has given consent, as well as direction, to the physician to ethically aid in their death (Introduction to Physician-Assisted Suicide: At Issue,
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The Pros And Cons Of Physician Assisted Suicide
1385 Words | 3 Pages
Once physician- assisted suicide (PAS) is legalized, the Oath doctors take would be infringed upon. Allen states “Physician-assisted suicide is viewed as the most controversial types of euthanasia because it violates the Hippocratic Oath” (15). The oath consists of the doctors promising to keep the patients’ health and well-being first and try their best to keep their patients’ lives long and healthy until it is naturally their time to leave the world. (Allen 15). It is obviously a violation of the oath when doctors aid in the death of their patients. They do not help the patients pr...
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The Pros And Cons Of Physician Assisted Suicide
1112 Words | 3 Pages
The word Euthanasia comes from the Greek and means “good death” (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp) and in the range of this paper, it will be called physician assisted suicide or “active” euthanasia. The definition of “active” euthanasia is ending one’s life yourself or with aid of a doctor. It can be done in various different ways; however, the most common form is with a combination of drugs, usually given by a physician. ( http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp) The reason Physician Assisted Suicide (or PAS) is an important issue in this country and around the world is that there are many people out there suffering from debilitating, incurable and intensely painful diseases that would like to end their lives with dignity and without suffering. (Leo & Lein, 2010, The Value of a Planned Death)
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Physician Assisted Suicide Persuasive Speech
1080 Words | 3 Pages
Intro: The Hippocratic Oath clearly states, “I will not give a drug that is deadly to anyone if asked [for it], nor will I suggest the way to such counsel.”Steven Miles, a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School published an article, “The Hippocratic Oath,” expressing that doctors must uphold the standards of the Hippocratic Oath to modern relevance. Euthanasia continues as a controversial policy issue. Providing resourceful information allows us to recognize what is in the best interest for patients and doctors alike. Today, I will convince you that physician-assisted suicide should be illegal. The United States must implement a policy stopping the usage of euthanasia for the terminally ill. I will provide knowledge of
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Death with Dignity or Sanctity of Life: Who Gets to Choose?
978 Words | 2 Pages
The ongoing controversy about Physician assisted suicides is an ongoing battle among physicians, patients and court systems. The question of whether or not individuals have the “right” to choose death over suffering in their final days or hours of life continues to be contested. On one side you have the physicians and the Hippocratic Oath they took to save lives; on the other you have the patients’ right to make life choices, even if that means to choose death to end suffering. The ultimate question “is it ethical for a physician to agree to assisted suicides and is it ethical for a patient to request assisted suicide?
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Physician Assisted Suicide Case Study
1554 Words | 4 Pages
Dr. Teagle will clean out the artery to the brain and thus eliminate a major stroke or senility. He says that the chances for success are 80-20. He adds that Orval will be better off no matter how the surgery turns out. “If your father dies in surgery, it will be quick and painless, but if the surgery is successful, he will once again have the use of his kidney and will return to normal.” The doctor promises not to use any machines to sustain Orval’s life artificially for more than 5 or 6 days after the surgery. Jerry’s conversation with Dr. Teagle ends with Jerry saying that both he and Gwen are all for the surgery and that they will talk with Virginia. Jerry calls Gwen and discusses the fact that Virginia does not want Orval to have the surgery. They decide to go up to the hospital and talk with Virginia.
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Physician Assisted Suicide
515 Words | 2 Pages
gotten to the point where they feel as if there is no point in living.
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Physician Assisted Suicide ( Pas )
859 Words | 2 Pages
Imagine, if you will, that you have just found out you have a terminal medical condition. Doesn’t matter which one, it’s terminal. Over the 6 months you have to live you experience unmeasurable amounts of pain, and when your free of your pain the medication you’re under renders you in an impaired sense of consciousness. Towards the 4th month, you begin to believe all this suffering is pointless, you are to die anyways, why not with a little dignity. You begin to consider Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS). In this essay I will explain the ethical decisions and dilemmas one may face when deciding to accept the idea of Physician-Assisted Suicide. I will also provide factual information pertaining to the subject of PAS and testimony from some that advocate for legalization of PAS. PAS is not to be taken lightly. It is the decision to end one’s life with the aid of a medical physician. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary states that PAS is “Suicide by a patient facilitated by means (as a drug prescription) or by information (as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patient’s intent.” PAS is considered, by our textbook – Doing Ethics by Lewis Vaughn, an active voluntary form of euthanasia. There are other forms of euthanasia such as non-voluntary, involuntary, and passive. This essay is focusing on PAS, an active voluntary form of euthanasia. PAS is commonly known as “Dying/Death with Dignity.” The most recent publicized case of PAS is the case of Brittany Maynard. She was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in California, where she lived. At the time California didn’t have Legislative right to allow Brittany the right to commit PAS so she was transported to Oregon where PAS is legal....
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Physician Assisted Suicide
986 Words | 2 Pages
Physician assisted suicide (PAS) is a very important issue. It is also important tounderstand the terms and distinction between the varying degrees to which a person can be involved in hastening the death of a terminally ill individual. Euthanasia, a word that is often associated with physician assisted suicide, means the act or practice of killing for reasons of mercy. Assisted suicide takes place when a dying person who wishes to precipitate death, requests help in carrying out the act. In euthanasia, the dying patients may or may not be aware of what is happening to them and may or may not have requested to die. In an assisted suicide, the terminally ill person wants to die and has specifically asked for help. Physician-assisted suicide occurs when the individual assisting in the suicide is a doctor rather than a friend or family member. Because doctors are the people most familiar with their patients’ medical condition and have knowledge of and access to the necessary means to cause certain death, terminally ill patients who have made
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Patient Assisted Suicide
1881 Words | 4 Pages
One of the greatest dangers facing chronic and terminally ill patients is the grey area regarding PAS. In the Netherlands, there are strict criteria for the practice of PAS. Despite such stringencies, the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (1992) found 28% of the PAS cases in the Netherlands did not meet the criteria. The evidence suggests some of the patient’s lives may have ended prematurely or involuntarily. This problem can be addressed via advance directives. These directives would be written by competent individuals explaining their decision to be aided in dying when they are no longer capable of making medical decisions. These interpretations are largely defined by ones morals, understanding of ethics, individual attitudes, religious and cultural values.
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Physician Assisted Suicide
2508 Words | 6 Pages
The concept of physician-assisted suicide has been a topic of debate since the birth of medicine. Controversy even surrounds its name as the term “suicide” is associated with a form of mental illness and irrational behavior, both of which are to be prevented it if at all possible according to medical obligation (Quill and Greenlaw). Physician assisted death/suicide occurs when a physician provides a medical means of death and instruction to a patient but does not administer the actual cause of death (Lonnquist and Weiss 389-91). This is quite different than the concept of active euthanasia in which a physician directly administers the cause of death. Recognized as far back as the 5th century BCE in the ancient Hippocratic Oath, the origin of this practice cou...
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Physician-Assisted Suicide
796 Words | 2 Pages
Susan Wolf spent years questioning the ethical and legal aspect of physician-assisted suicide. “As I have before, I oppose the legitimation of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia.” However, life provided practical experience when her father became terminally ill with cancer and pneumonia. He became weak and dependent. He was left with three choices. He could stay in the ICU, go to the pulmonary care unit, or turn off the feeding tubes and IV hydration. Turning off the tubes was the most difficult choice, but it was the best choice he had. There was no point in prolonging his suffering because death was inevitable.
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Physician Assisted Suicide
607 Words | 2 Pages
Should physicians be able to assist patients who are terminally ill end their lives? Physician assisted suicide is a very controversial subject. In today’s society, people who commit suicide are known as “insane,” a person who takes prescription pills is known as a “drug addict” or “criminal.” However, when a doctor honors a patient’s request for a lethal dose of medicine, (which the patient will inject themselves) to end their life in peace is considered to be a murderer. However, when a physician unplugs a terminally ill patient who is on life support at the patient’s request is just doing their job. However, a person whose quality of life is nonexistent and are faced with a terminal illness should have the right to decide to seek physicians assistance.
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Medical Ethics
776 Words | 2 Pages
Physician-assisted suicide refers to the physician acting indirectly in the death of the patient -- providing the means for death. The ethics of PAS is a continually debated topic. The range of arguments in support and opposition of PAS are vast. Justice, compassion, the moral irrelevance of the difference between killing and letting die, individual liberty are many arguments for PAS. The distinction between killing and letting die, sanctity of life, "do no harm" principle of medicine, and the potential for abuse are some of the arguments in favor of making PAS illegal. However, self-determination, and ultimately respect for autonomy are relied on heavily as principle arguments in the PAS issue.
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Physician Assisted Suicide