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Persuasive Essay On Physician Assisted Suicide

1175 Words5 Pages

The gift of life is undoubtedly a blessing from God. There is an expression “You never know when it is your time to die.” Should a person decide to end his or her life, to terminate pain and suffering caused by a severe ailment? “Simply stated, it just does not feel virtuous to participate in any patient’s deliberate and pre-meditated self-destruction (whether you describe it as physician-assisted dying or physician-assisted suicide)” (Duffy, 2009). An issue that has persistently been a discussion in the medical field is whether physician-assisted suicide is ethical or not. Physician-assisted suicide is something that numerous people will never come to an understanding because of their faith. Death at any age is a frightening idea and feeling for anyone. Frequently, the physicians are merely contemplating this idea when the patient is critically ill, and their discomfort is undeniably going to get worse. Philosophers depict a wide range of theories that are utilized to determine logic and reasoning beliefs. Deontologist states that it is a moral obligation to …show more content…

In Oregon, the patient must be a resident of that state and must have six months or less to live. Patient must also consent to a verbal and give a written notice to end life. Although the patient is offered more than enough time to make their decision, ending one’s life is a bigotry alternative, life is precious. However, “Phronesis suggests that the goal of medical care is not simply the removal of suffering but rather to support my patient in his attempts to discover a way through the suffering of life and death. In this regard, Aristotle’s reminds us that in situations where we are unable to discover the “Golden Mean” we should seek the lesser of to evils” (Duffy, 2009).Pain and suffering can be for the time being, so, why make a decision about life that rightfully belongs to

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Physician-Assisted Suicide and its Ethical Dilemma Alexandra N. Gionta California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Physician-Assisted Suicide and its Ethical Dilemma Introduction As an aspiring nurse in California, an ethical dilemma that I am likely to come across is that involved with patient euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS). In voluntary active Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, a doctor administers a treatment upon request of the patient that will initiate their tranquil death. This is usually done in the case that the patient is of a certain age and diagnosed with a terminal illness that causes them suffering. A common misconception is that PAS is the same as euthanasia, but there is a distinct difference between the two.

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Only those who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness or otherwise diagnosed with a condition that will inflict intense, debilitating, and chronic pain with very little to no chance of a cure should be able to volunteer for physician-assisted suicide. According to Lois Snyder-Sulmasy and Paul S. Mueller (2017), “Ethical arguments in support of physician-assisted suicide highlight the principle of respect for patient autonomy and a broad interpretation of physician’s duty to relieve suffering. Proponents view physician-assisted suicide as an act of compassion that respects patient choice and fulfills an obligation of nonabandonment” (p. 577). The premise here is that the death process has already been initiated in those that have a terminal illness or in those that are experiencing the worst pain imaginable. Because the process is irreversible, at least in the present day, physician-assisted suicide should not only be legalized, the terminology should be changed as well.

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506 Words | 3 Pages

There are many ethical and practical concerns that must be taken into account when considering whether to end a person's life, including questions of autonomy, dignity, and pain management. Simply asserting that some individuals have a duty to die is not enough to address these complex issues, and it fails to take into account the potential for unintended

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781 Words | 4 Pages

Physician-assisted Suicide and Ethical Principles The responsibility a physician has to his patients and society is established by medical ethics and is at a greater degree than the law (Sulmasy & Mueller, 2017). The ethical principles, beneficence, autonomy, nonmaleficence, and promotion of fairness and social justice, are the basis for a physician’s duties to his patients. He is a member of a profession with ethical obligations; he is not just a service provider, but a moral advocate. Both medical ethics and the law support the patient’s right to refuse therapy.

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1006 Words | 5 Pages

Should a terminally ill patient with only a few months left to live, dealing with excruciating pain, and unable to move from the hospital bed have a choice to end their life early? Depending on what state the patient is, that is most likely against the law. Physician-assisted death is illegal in the U.S in 45/50 states. Physician assisted death is when someone who is terminally ill and has been given six or fewer months to live makes a decision with help of a physician to end their life. Death with Dignity is a nonprofit organization that campaigns and advocates to expand the freedom of terminally ill Americans so they can decide their own fate.

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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

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814 Words | 4 Pages

Is suicide every okay? Most would say definitely not. But if a person has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and the only few months of life left that they have will be filled with hospital visits, medications and treatments that only bring more pain? If that person was able to die at home peacefully going to sleep in their own bed with their family, friends and loved ones by their side would that still be viewed as wrong or immoral?

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665 Words | 3 Pages

Many people will believe that this ethical issue should be legal all over the United States. Oregon, California, Colorado, Vermont, Washington, and D.C all have legalized the process of allowing a terminally ill patient painlessly end their lives with the approval of their doctor. Oregon runs a pro-assisted suicide group called “Death with Dignity”. According to their website, “The Death with Dignity process is robust: Two physicians must confirm the patient’s residency, diagnosis, prognosis, mental competence, and voluntariness of the request. Two waiting periods, the first between the oral requests, the second between receiving and filling the prescription, are required.”

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Committing suicide Should doctors ever help terminally Ill patients commit suicide? There are many people suffering from the terminal illness that feel as if they can no longer take the pain, but should they in such a distressed state of mind be offered the right to decide to terminate his or her life. One must ponder long and hard on this reality. Physician-assisted suicide should be an illegal practice in American society. By defining the emotional impact that suicide impacts on loved ones and the morality of this decision to terminate one’s life, by refuting those who claim suicide is right

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906 Words | 4 Pages

People often argue that a person should have a mental evaluation before making a decision as severe as physician-assisted suicide. Another argument one could make is from a moral standpoint, but most specifically from their religious beliefs. Most believe that life is the ultimate gift and one should never demoralize this precious gift. Above all, the most important argument one can make is a doctor’s stance against euthanasia. It is believed that physicians should not be involved euthanasia as a doctor’s purpose is to treat, maintain, and promote the patient’s well-being.

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937 Words | 4 Pages

The opinions on this subject are divided, but who are we, as human beings, to deny the basic choice of another? When a person’s health has an expiration date already on it, she should be able to make the choice to die with dignity. First of all, there are “three states that provide the physician assisted suicide, they are Oregon, Washington and Vermont” (Introduction to Right to Die: At

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753 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone’s life has a start point and an end point. We all feel love, sadness, pain and illness. Some are fortunate enough to never have to deal with a life threating or terminal illness. Others are not as fortunate and must deal with the daily struggles of that illness. On October 27th 1997, Oregon enacted a law that legalized physician- assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

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915 Words | 4 Pages

In a person's life they have many different choices. Some choices take very little thinking and then others do not. If you had the choice do have someone help you die in a difficult situation? Would you make another person go through the pain of losing a loved one and their last memory be killing you? Life is tough enough and each person has to go through so many trials medical assisted suicide is never the true answer no matter the pain of a person.

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462 Words | 2 Pages

“The current eligibility guidelines to be able to request a prescription for lethal medication in Oregon are that the patient must be 18 years old, an Oregon resident, able to make sound medical decisions and diagnosed with a terminal disease with six or fewer months to live” (“The right to die: Benefits of physician-assisted suicide”). As you can see, choosing to die through prescription medication isn't a decision any patient can make spur of the moment. “Most americans believe in end-of-life options” as well as I do (Romano), “A Gallup poll last May found nearly 70% of all americans agree”( Death with dignity’ laws offer compassionate option”).

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1325 Words | 6 Pages

Death is unavoidable from nature. Nature is defined as, “the world and its naturally occurring phenomena, together with all of the physical laws that govern them.” We cannot escape nature’s illnesses, but we should be able to have the right to choose to deserve to die with dignity. Although assisted suicide is appropriate for terminally ill people, it is still not a flawless law.

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