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Doctor Assisted Dying Pros And Cons

1714 Words7 Pages

Haley Price
Phil 203
12-3-15
Prompt 2

The right to doctor assisted dying is a compelling topic that comes with much debate. The debates that take place go back and forth about whether a patient should have the right to die with assistance of a physician or if this aid in taking one’s life should not be permissible. Some are against it because of moral or religious beliefs, and others are for this type of dying because of the respect and compassion they have towards death. I believe that if a patient is given no chance of survival, and are tired of the countless medications that are only making them more miserable, they have come to terms with their condition and have already said their goodbyes, and death is imminent - time is the only factor …show more content…

This act makes doctor assisted dying permissible; nonetheless, there are many obligations a patient must first meet before they are granted their wish of assisted death. The first requirement is that the patient is an adult, so they have to be over the age of 18. Second, they must be able to make and communicate health care decisions. This requires that the patients physicians, and psychiatrists or the court, have the opinion that the patient can make informed decisions on their own health care. Third, the patient must have a terminal illness as confirmed by their physician. Once these requirements are met they are eligible to request a prescription for lethal medication from a licensed physician. Fourth, they must twice orally express that they would like medication to end their life, spearated by at least fifteen days. Fifth, they must also make a written request for medication that will help end their life, signed with witnesses. All of these requirements must be met in order to qualify; they do not meet qualifications solely based on age and disability. Also, it is requited that the doctor recommend counseling, and inform them of the risks and probable results as well as feasible …show more content…

This view is to be respected. However, the choice of assisted suicide is in the patient’s best interest, and this interest can include the financial situation of a patient’s relatives. Competent terminal patients can easily see the sorrow and grief that their families undergo while they wait for death to take their dying loved ones away. The choice of assisted suicide would allow these terminally ill patients to end the sorrow and griefof their families as well as their own misery. The choice would also put a halt to the financial worries of these families. It is in the patient’s interest that the families that they leave will be subject to the smallest amount of grief and worry possible. This is not somuchas “duty to die.” It is a caring way for the dying to say, “Yes, I am going to die. It is all right, please do not worry

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