Essay related to healthcare suicide

Healthcare treatment and procedures have recently become a very contentious and captivating topic for society at large. The recent COVID- pandemic has illustrated the divergent and often confusing healthcare policies that impact consumers around the country. Here, each state often has different rules, regulations, and policies related to healthcare treatment options. These issues have been exacerbated by the recent rise in healthcare costs, which has brought with it a comprehensive review of applicable healthcare policies and procedures. In addition the innovations of telehealth and telemedicine has also provide a much more thorough review of not only healthcare services, but how these services are being administered. One such process is that of physician-assisted suicide. This has become a much more contentious topic since the COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in overall healthcare related deaths. Research conducted by O’Carroll found that physician assisted suicides increased nearly 30% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Admittedly, these figures are from a very low base as assisted suicides are very rare and uncommon. However, having them as a viable healthcare service solution is warranted under certain circumstances. Although controversial, assisted-physician suicide should be allowed throughout the United States. However, there should be strong controls and safeguards to alleviate many of these concerns expressed by the opposition

To begin, physician assisted suicides should be allowed as it provide a service that is demanded needed by society. Although rare, there are instances where a person may elect to use the physician assisted suicide option. Here, an individual patient may be experiencing such an inordinate amount of pain, that they require the use of physician assisted suicide. In this circumstance, the patient may not want to burden the family with higher medical bills or costs. This is becoming much of a prominent element in the decision process as a healthcare costs continue to soar for a litany of reasons. Currently healthcare costs as a percentage of GDP currently stand at 18%. The future expectation of analysts is that the healthcare costs could potentially rise to 20% of GDP by the year 2030. If this occurs, healthcare costs will be roughly $5 Trillion dollars or about $12,000 per person. This is an unsustainable path and one that contributes to the decisions of physician assisted suicides. Although difficult to discuss, parents may elect for an physician assisted suicides if their condition is untenable. If the likelihood of life is so minute or destitute, it may be of benefit to society and to the loved ones that the patient engages in physician assisted suicide. It has even been documented that those who elect to take the procedure, have donated their organs, blood, and other essential body parts to others in need with a higher chance of survival. In addition, their children are not burdened with high amount of credit card or other forms of debt required to help keep the individual in question alive. physician assisted suicides provides patients with the rights and liberties to best determine the mode of their death. Although uncomfortable, this does provide patients with a higher degree of flexibility as it relates to their overall treatment options.

In addition, physicians have a moral duty to relieve suffering. The prior statement, by itself, can be interpreted a number of different ways. For one, what does the term “relieve suffering” mean and to what extent will the healthcare community go to do? Likewise, this obligation must be adhered to within the context of a number of different residual elements that could impact the life of the patient. These elements include children, family, community, society and so forth. As it relates to physician assisted suicides however, that are terminally should have the option to remove their suffering if they so choose. It is wrong to have a terminally ill individual suffer in life, when they would like a more seamless transition into death.