...Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide debate Mary Gundersen HCA 322 November 18, 2013 Linda Hoppe Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide debate Euthanaisa and assisted suicide are heated battle, in which lines have been drawn between warning social, religious, and political groups. Several individuals want this controversial institution erased from the volumes of lawful medicine, but others say that should be able to choose our fates in extreme cases. Either the law makers, neither the country, nor the citizens could find a solution to this debate without causing an intense opposition and the possibility for an end to this war of ethics seems very far in the distance. The definition of euthanasia is a painless killing, especially to end a painful and incurable disease; mercy killing. This intentional termination of life by another is at the request of the person who dies because like so many other religious, social, and political terms, euthanasia has various meanings. The passive euthanaisa is defines the hastening of death of a person by withdrawing several types of support and letting nature take it is course, instance of his are, removing life support systems, stopping medical procedures, stopping food, and water, not delivering CPR and letting the patient’s heart stop. The several common form of passive euthanaisa is to give a person large doses of morphine to control pain despite the likely hood that the pain killer would suppress respiration, thus causing death earlier than normal...
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...THE CHURCH, EUTHANASIA and ASSISTED SUICIDE Euthanasia also known as “mercy killing” and assisted suicide are worldwide controversial issues. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word euthanasia comes from Greek, meaning easy death (eu: easy, thanatos: death). Euthanasia means to end the life of a person who is terminally ill or suffering from severe pain, in a deliberate way. At the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) webpage, in the section Ethics guides, under the title of Forms of Euthanasia, Religions and Death? (2009), different types of euthanasia are described, such as indirect, active, passive, voluntary, involuntary and non voluntary. On the other hand, assisted suicide is usually performed with the help of a health professional; that is why; it is usually called Physician Assisted Suicide (or PAS). The main controversy is over the different opinions on whether it is the sick patient’s decision or if it is a legal, ethical or religious issue to be considered by a third party. In order to practice assisted suicide in a country where it is legal, many factors should be present, such as the moral and religious beliefs of the patient and the physician or the patient’s family and the physician, as well as the legislation of the country where it is going to be carried out. At present, in countries where euthanasia is not legalized yet, it is very difficult to obtain legal permission to practice it. As regards the ethical...
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...2011 Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide Is Not Murder! My personal opinion is that euthanasia or assisted suicide is not murder when a person is already suffering and dying. Euthanasia is translated from Greek as “good death” or “easy death.” Euthanasia occurs when one person ends the life of another person for the purpose of ending the killed person's pain or suffering. Assisted suicide is closely related to euthanasia. An assisted suicide occurs when one person gives another person the instructions and means to commit the suicide themselves. A few proposals to legalize euthanasia were made in the United States and Germany during the latter portion of the nineteenth century. Now, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg are the only jurisdictions in the world where laws specifically permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. The strongest argument made on behalf of legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide is that it, like abortion, is a “choice issue.” It is a persons ultimate civil right. The possibility of a predictable escape from suffering if it becomes overwhelming is important to many patients. To deprive a mentally competent, terminally ill person who wants to end their suffering in a peaceful way is disrespecting their civil rights. Over 90% of people with terminal illness will endure their situation, but between 5 and 10% find it intolerable and request euthanasia. Have you ever watched a person...
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...“Self-Deliverance,” “Euthanasia,” “Assisted Suicide” – whatever name people refer to it as, one thing is very certain: it is one of the most passionately debated issues confronting people today. People are generally either for the legalization of physician assisted suicide under very specific conditions or against any form of it altogether. Both sides of the debates present arguments that take into consideration the oral, medical, and ethical implications of their decisions. In the United States, it is not a crime to take one’s own life. But the question is: is there a point when it should be legal for a physician to assist someone in taking their life? Physician Assisted suicide should be a legal option for terminally ill patients....
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...Euthanasia is assisted suicide by physician or doctor and even known as mercy killing, which means to deliberately end someone life with expressed intention from unstoppable, incurable suffering. Many interpret euthanasia as ending life painlessly. Passive euthanasia is when treatments (stronger pain medication) that could be lifesaving are withheld. Eventually more medication could be toxic for the patient, in many cases most would argue that passive euthanasia is happening more often than not and the doctors action are viewed as passive. According to law and court of justice passive euthanasia is normally accepted. The decisions are based on facts of a specific case. In spite of the difference in the definition of both passive and active euthanasia the results are the same. Active euthanasia is intentionally ending life by force or lethal matter. Active euthanasia can be done by someone else or patient. If the patient commits the act it is called a suicide, but if another person assists with causing death can be facing criminal charges for accessory of suicide. Active euthanasia is more controversial than passive euthanasia because people take into consideration for their morals, religion, and sympathetic controversy surrounding the problems....
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...Physician-assisted Suicide,Euthanasia or Living? How to Die in Oregon is a movie directed and produced by Peter Richardson. It presents a case of death with dignity which it successfully achieves. Though Richardson tends to over-rely on emotional effect and additional interviews which do not give the facts about euthanasia, the movie drives the point home. Mr. Richardson focuses on one family decision, and Oregon law that mandates physician-assisted suicide for the critically ill is the Centre of discussion. Cody Curtis, a 54-year-old mother of two, suffer from liver cancer. She goes through the worst moments of her life as she struggles with unstable emotions and humiliating symptoms that appear as a result of this disease. She reaches a point where one morning she tells her husband that she doesn't wish to live and see another night like that in her life. Over ten months she suffers from this ailment which slowly causes deterioration of her health. Even as she injects herself with large doses of morphine, the pain does not seem to end. These sufferings create her one day to decide and swallow a lethal dosage of Seconal, a barbiturate (Richardson,2011). Physician –assisted suicide involves performing lethal means available to the patient so that he or she will use at the time of his or her choosing. By contrast, euthanasia means the physician participating in carrying out the patient's request, which mostly is administering the lethal drug. Physician-assisted suicide is less...
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...Euthanasia Euthanasia is an assisted suicide, also known as mercy killing. In other words, it is the act of killing someone who has a painful incurable disease. Actually, euthanasia is a very controversial issue. Some people claim that it is a solution for patients who are terminally ill. However, I totally disagree with this kind of solution. 3.1 Autonomy People's autonomy or self-determination is an important concept in the debate on legalizing euthanasia. Proponents argue that the ban on euthanasia imposes too great a limit on the individual's scope for controlling the end of his or her life and what shape death will take. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that self-determination would be false autonomy with respect to euthanasia, or...
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...What is voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide? Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are similar. Forms of assisted suicide involve the guidance and supervision of a licensed physician. There is a difference between euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicides’ preparation is when, “A doctor’s helping their distressed patient to commit suicide at the patient’s autonomous appeal” (Varelius, 2013). Euthanasia, on the other hand, “consists of administering lethal medication to the patient,” by the licensed physician (Varelius, 2013). There are countless numbers of questions and concerns about an individual’s quality of life. Under no circumstances, suicide is never the ideal way for an individual to die. However, if physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia were legal and regulated in all states, then the United States Constitution may salvage lives by giving people the right to elect how they wish to die. This is a matter of legal issues, moral issues, and...
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...First I would explain the difference between active euthanasia and then I would explain patient assisted suicide their similarities as well as the distinctions between the two. Active euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is defined as ending one’s life in a deliberate and peaceful manner. It occurs when a doctor is the one that gives his/her patient lethal medication to purposely end their life and to relieve the unstoppable pain and suffering that their patient is enduring. There is also another form of euthanasia, and that is passive euthanasia. Passive euthanasia occurs when medical professionals either don’t do something necessary to keep the patient alive or stop doing something that is necessary to keep the patient alive. Morally...
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...Euthanasia is the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient's intolerable and incurable suffering. Physician-assisted suicide occurs when a physician facilitates a patient's death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act (AMA Policy on End-of-Life). Due to the fact that this is a controversial subject, it is not widely accepted by many. As of right now, euthanasia is only legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg, and assisted suicide is only legal in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Albania and in the American states of Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico Washington, and Montana. We control the course of our own...
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...EUTHANASIA: The intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his alleged benefit. (If death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia) ARGUMENTS FOR EUTHANASIA: It provides away to relieve extreme pain It provides a way of relief when a person’s quality of life is low Frees up medical funds to help people It is another case of freedom of choice ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA: Euthanasia devalues human life Euthanasia can become a means of health care cost containment Physicians and other medical care people should not be involved in directly causing death There is a “slippery slope” effect that has occurred where euthanasia has been first been legalized for only the terminally and later laws are changed to allow it for other people or to be done non-voluntarily. Opposition overcomes 48 point deficit to defeat assisted suicide - Ballot Question 2 in Massachusetts 1 1 0 Google BOSTON, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In a stunning upset, the voters of Massachusetts soundly defeated Ballot Question 2 on Election Day. Dealing a significant setback to the expansion of the assisted suicide movement throughout the United States by Compassion & Choices (the organization formerly known as the Hemlock Society), a diverse coalition of disability rights organizations, medical associations, nurses' groups, community leaders and faith-based organizations united in this effort. "Tonight was a huge victory for those of us in the...
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...Psychological Effects of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia on Participating Physicians Kenneth R. Stevens, Jr., M.D., FACR* Abstract: This is a review and evaluation of medical and public literature regarding the reported emotional and psychological effects of participation in physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia on the involved physicians. Materials and Methods: Articles in medical journals, legislative investigations and the public press were obtained and reviewed to determine what has been reported regarding the effects on physicians who have been personally involved in PAS and euthanasia. Results and Discussion: The physician is centrally involved in PAS and euthanasia, and the emotional and psychological effects on the participating physician can be substantial. The shift away from the fundamental values of medicine to heal and promote human wholeness can have significant effects on many participating physicians. Doctors describe being profoundly adversely affected, being shocked by the suddenness of the death, being caught up in the patient’s drive for assisted suicide, having a sense of powerlessness, and feeling isolated. There is evidence of pressure on and intimidation of doctors by some patients to assist in suicide. The effect of countertransference in the doctor-patient relationship may influence physician involvement in PAS and euthanasia. Conclusion: Many doctors who have participated in euthanasia and/or PAS are adversely affected...
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...patient's suicide. However, despite ethical and legal prohibitions, calls for the liberalization of this ban have grown in recent years. The medical profession should articulate its views on the arguments for and against changes in public policy and decide whether changes are prudent. In addressing such a contentious issue, physicians, policymakers, and society must fully consider the needs of patients, the vulnerability of particular patient groups, issues of trust and professionalism, and the complexities of end-of-life health care. Physician-assisted suicide is prominent among the issues that define our professional norms and codes of ethics. The American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM) does not support the legalization of physician-assisted suicide. The routine practice of physician-assisted suicide raises serious ethical and other concerns. Legalization would undermine the patient-physician relationship and the trust necessary to sustain it; alter the medical profession's role in society; and endanger the value our society places on life, especially on the lives of disabled, incompetent, and vulnerable individuals. The word ‘euthanasia’ is derived from the Greek work for ‘good death’ and originally referred to intentional mercy killing. Applied to our society, euthanasia is the merciful ending of life to release a person from unendurable pain and suffering, a terminal disease, or an undignified death. The act of euthanasia can be...
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...Physician Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia: Shouldn't We Have That Choice? Everest University Online – Tampa/Brandon Abstract Physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia has been a heated debate amongst many people and physicians since the 5th century. Most people do not think about their death or how and when they would like to die, if they were terminally ill. Until people start speaking up about their wishes about how and when they want to die, they will continue to slowly fade away and be in pain during that process. There really needs to be someone to step up and finish where Dr. Kevorkian was forced to stop helping people. There are hundreds, if not thousands of people that die every single day, and those people end up suffering because there is nothing, except conventional pain medications, that ease their pain while dying. While these pain medications do help sometimes, people are still suffering, waiting, and dying a slow death. This is why doctor assisted suicide/euthanasia should be legalized because at the end of their lives, most people do not want to suffer. Shouldn't we be Able to Choose how and When to Die? Have you ever thought about the way you would want to die if you were terminally ill? Most people do not think about things like that. However, if you could actually choose how and when you wanted to die, what choice would you make? If you had a terminal illness and knew that you were going to die very soon, would you want your family to watch you be in pain...
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...Nitschke’s visit to Hong Kong, we make the following declaration: We object the promotion of suicide, and do not support euthanasia in Hong Kong We support rational discussions on euthanasia in the community, so people could understand issues of human suffering as well as the importance of good and adequate end-of-life care. However, Dr Nitschke is promoting more than "euthanasia" or "physician assisted suicide" for the terminally ill patients. In other parts of the world, he is promoting to the public various ways to commit suicide, including how to use a bag to suffocate oneself, and how to buy lethal drugs from Mexico. Although we respect an individual’s autonomy, it is unethical to promote suicide to the public. As an expression of our objection, we do not participate in dialogue with him. We object the promotion of suicide, and we do not support the practice of euthanasia in Hong Kong. Here, euthanasia means the direct intentional killing of the patient as part of the medical care being offered. The gravity of euthanasia far exceeds that of an individual choice. The far-reaching societal consequences of legalizing euthanasia, including the social issues induced, the impact on societal values, the negative implication on the chronically ill and the vulnerable groups, and the possibility of going down the slippery slope should be taken seriously. Requesting euthanasia or a wish to hasten death as expressed by patient is more often a quest for attention to and...
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