Pros And Cons Of Physician Assisted Suicide

The debate over whether or not physician-assisted suicide should be a legal option for dying patients has long been a topic for discussion amongst members of the medical community. There are pros and cons for each argument, however, at the center of this debate is the consideration of patient advocacy and well-being. Although every health care profession centers their profession around providing the best ethical care for the patient, the most important value to consider are the decisions the patient makes for themselves. Currently, patients are given many safeguards such as living wills, a durable power of attorney, and the option for do not resuscitate that act as guidelines for end of life treatment. Physician-assisted suicide should also

For instance, the cost to treat a cancer patient at the end of life triples in cost for inpatient care.1 The pressure of increasing medical costs will tend to pressure the patient to make a decision based primarily on financial reasons.2 Thus, potentially putting low-income groups at risk for hasty medical decision making. However, a study based on data collected from Oregon and the Netherlands concluded no evidence of heightened risk in the following groups: low educational status, the poor, physically disabled, chronically ill, psychiatric illnesses, and racial and ethnic minorities.3 Among the reported reasons for choosing physician-assisted suicide, the lowest on the list were financial problems at 3%, which provides stronger evidence to legalize physician-assisted suicide and allow patients the autonomy for end of life decision

Amongst those laws in other states and countries, there are many other qualifications and criteria which must be met before the medication is actually dispensed to the patient. In California, these strict limitations include the need of multiple physicians agreement, age of the patient, and the prognosis of death within six months.5 Moreover, there is a 15-day waiting period, three different timeframes of the patient request, both verbal and written, and be physically and mentally capable of self-administering the medications, as well as many other restrictions.5 Rather than leaving it to the individual to take their own life outside of medical supervision, the option to take a legal and humane route allows for there to be guidelines and safeguards in place which support the terminally ill patient up until the time of