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Assisted Suicide, or called Euthanasia, is an issue that has long been debated whether it should be acceptable and made legal, or not. The concern that many delivers as to whether or not Assisted Suicide should be made legal is this question that many poses -- Is it ethical and moral to help someone who suffers from a terminal disease to die earlier?
In medical practice, Assisted Suicide is the process of helping a patient who suffers from a terminal disease to end his sufferings. This is done by terminating any system which supports and sustains the life of the patient. Thus, causing the patient to die. There are two types of Assisted Suicide that is medically considered in countries where the practice is legal. These are voluntary and involuntary suicide.
Involuntary Suicide is practiced to patients where there is no more hope to live due to the physical state of unconciousness, particularly to those who are in Persistent Vegetative State. On the other...
However, sometimes, there are patients of terminal diseases who really suffer from pain and wish to end their life than to prolong their sufferings. This is the reason why Assisted Suicide is sometimes considered and made legal to some countries. One of which is the Netherlands where the practice of Assisted Suicide has been legal for some years now. Assisted Suicide in this nation has been quite controversial because of the unreasonable application of the practice to some patients. This is proven by some studies and researches. Following is an instance of information from a Dutch report.
Two Dutch government reports, conducted in 1990 and 1995, found that, on average, 26% of euthanasia deaths…
Bibliography
Earll, Carrie G. Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia.
2001. Focus on Social Issues Online. 2004.
http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/bioethics/euthanasia/a0027997.cfm
B.A. Robinson. Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: All Sides
http://www.religioustolerance.org/euth1.htm
http://www.linacre.org/newsle~1.htm
Ethical Issues of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia The ethical issues relating to assisted suicide and euthanasia have captured the attention of the public. The topic of Euthanasia is a contentious one and it inescapably incites strong emotional argument and gives rise to tough beliefs that do not straight away lend themselves to consensual harmony. It is improbable that a decision can be reached which will meet with universal support whenever such
(Foley, 54; Braddock and Tonnelli). This again, is an argument based more on conjecture rather than solid evidence. While it is true that depression may accompany many serious and terminal diseases and there are anecdotes about patients who changed their minds about suicide after treatment; no credible studies are available about how often it happens or even if antidepressant treatment would make patients requesting death, change their minds. (Angell,
Physician Assisted Suicide in Patients With Unbearable Suffering or the Terminally Ill One of the most hotly debated issues today is physician-assisted suicide. Recently, California became the fifth state to legalize physician-assisted suicide, and there is an increasing likelihood that other states will follow suit in the foreseeable future. The purpose of this study is to determine if the factors chosen have any bearing on those who choose to end their
In an article in the British journal Lancet, the doctor stated that he liked Helen right off the bat, and then issued this statement: The thought of Helen dying so soon was almost too much to bear… on the other hand, I found even worse the thought of disappointing this family. If I backed out, they'd feel about me the way they had about their previous doctor, that I had
Ethical Dilemma of Assisted Suicide "In the care of patients with terminal illness, arguably the singular purpose should be safe, effective treatment and relief of pain and suffering," yet it is within this context that a heated debate about assisted suicide exists (Goslin 2006 p 2). Overall, the public seems to support the individual's right to choose. This has been deeply ingrained within American culture in the presence of staunch individualism.
This has sparked many debates in social and political arenas in regards to personhood, self-determination and human autonomy. Any time a person wants to intentionally end his or her life, it is considered suicide. Suicide, in itself is now legal (Manning, 1998), but proponents of euthanasia argue that suicide may not be an option for the terminally ill, the hospitalized or physically disabled. These people may not have the strength