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The Pros And Cons Of Assisted Suicide

881 Words4 Pages

Assisted suicide is becoming a common medical practice around the world--now making its way into the United States--the practice will become even more conflicting with medical professionals as the practice spreads. Assisted suicide: the choice to die by a lethal injection from a medical professional. The intentions of assisted suicide is to alleviate the following: pain, suffering, and financial instability caused by severe illnesses. However, many doctors refuse to prescribe the drug to a patient because doctors believe they are participating in legal murder. Some doctors face losing their jobs as a result of refusing to prescribe the drug. In order to receive the drug a patient must go through a legal process to request for euthanasia, (CC) …show more content…

Many doctors deem the act of prescribing this drug as legal murder. Unfortunately, some terminal patients request to be euthanized because they have lost hope, (CR) which puts doctors into an uncomfortable situation. Euthanasia conflicts with many doctors because their interest in the career comes from wanting to help people not aid them in death. ‘“Our doctors have been, I would say, incredibly disturbed and distressed by this because they are being put in a position where they have to choose between their conscience and their careers,’ said Larry Worthen” (Grant, 2017, p.1) The doctors are disturbed and terrified by the new practice because it conflicts with their morals, and some: with their religion. It is horrific to expect doctors to have to choose between their career or their morals. Although, doctors could lose their jobs by refusing to prescribe the drug, many doctors have refused to prescribe the lethal drug to their patients because they want to help suffering patients, not assist them in death. Karlamangla (2017) states, “Some doctors are still uncomfortable with the practice, and many patients' families reported struggling to find a doctor who would write such a prescription” (p. 1). The practice is deemed immoral, and many doctors refuse to prescribe it even though it could cost them their hard earned …show more content…

depression), (IP) as a side effect of their severe illness; (CA) therefore, this issue can cause them to make a suicidal decision. Mental illness influences people to make irrational and spontaneous decisions. “The law does not require an attending physician to refer the patient for psychological assessment. It thus does not allow for screening for possible coercion, or for underlying mental conditions that could be behind the suicide request” (Dreisbach, 2017, p. 1). Euthanasia is too easily requested for, especially under severe medical conditions that affects their mental state. When terminal patients are presented the euthanasia practice they are more willing to accept because of their severe suffering and distress, (CC) and even some of the strongest willed patients may consider assisted suicide under extreme conditions. Hanson (2017) states, “I'm a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of Iraq. I've been through a lot in my life and always resolved never to give up, but there was a moment after my diagnosis when I felt despair. In that moment, had assisted suicide been an option, I might have taken it. With my family's support, I came through that depression. But not everyone is lucky enough to have that kind of support” (Hanson, 2017, p. 2). As stated, some people do not have the support others have, (CC) and as a result, they end their lives believing there is nothing left to fight for. In patients’ current conditions

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