...Should Physicians Be Allowed to Assist in Patient Suicide Ethical Issues in the Biomedical Science Jennifer Ricardo PHI 352- PK Barry University Introduction The issue of physician-assisted suicide has come to be one of the most controversial legal issues in recent history. In my opinion I think that the law is designed to lay out guidelines for the social conduct of individuals in society. Yet, within this definition there are extremes on both ends of the spectrum in which the law encompasses. The question of whether or not physicians can legally prescribe and administer lethal doses of medication to mentally competent patients who suffer from the issue of physician-assisted suicide has become a heated topic. Whether or not physicians can legally prescribe and administer lethal doses of medication to mentally competent patients who suffer from untreatable pain is not an easily conclusive issue. Rather, the question of the ethics is the pressing legal matter. Some may argue that life should be ended in its due time and not tampered with, yet I cannot agree with this. I strongly feel that mentally competent adults who are in a constant state of suffering and who know, and have been told that death is inevitable have the right to commit suicide with the aid of a physician. If the person so wishes to end their life it should not lay blame on the physician who assisted in the matter. Medically Ethical Behavior Ethical behavior is defined my moral principals or value...
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...Active and Passive Euthanasia Active and passive euthanasia have been debatable topics for years. The word “euthanasia”, derived from the Greek “eu-thanatos” simply means “a good death” (Perri, 1996). Passive (voluntary) euthanasia occurs when a terminally ill patient expressed his/her wish to remove life-supports and the patient is permitted to die “naturally” or “as a consequence of the disease.” Active (involuntary) euthanasia—that is the bringing about of a person's death without the consent of the person—it is almost always treated as homicide, even when the act can be recognized as producing a "merciful death" (Larue, 1999). It is often argued that doctors are justified in allowing their patients to die by withdrawing or withholding treatment, but are not justified in killing them. Although, active and passive euthanasia might seem generally accepted by the medical profession, at the same time, it is still broadly debated. As it is directly derived from the Rachels’s article, the debate revolves around the following statement: “it is permissible, at least in some cases, to withhold treatment and allow a patient to die, but it is never permissible to take any direct action designed to kill the patient” (364). There is a debate as to whether there is really any difference between active and passive euthanasia. In the minds of some, the removal of life-support, or passive euthanasia, is defined as "doing something to terminate life" (Larue, 1999). At the same time, "passive...
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...Euthanasia, as a social phenomenon generates in Poland as in any other country disapproval from some and acceptance from others. Euthanasia is a controversial matter, becoming a bigger issue with high profile cases like Diane Pretty's a woman suffering from Motor Neurone Syndrome who lost her battle to have euthanasia legalized and died of natural causes in 2002. One of the questions that arise within this debate is whether euthanasia is a violation of the right to liberty. Although not expressly allowed by statute, the Netherlands allows voluntary euthanasia (VE) - a doctor performing euthanasia will not be prosecuted if the request is voluntary and the patient is undergoing pain. European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) finds this lawful. Hence, it is argued that any country signatory to the ECHR must ensure that their laws uphold this right. In Poland, performing euthanasia is a criminal offence punishable by up to six years imprisonment under Art 148 of the Penal Code. Poland could adopt the ECHR’s approach by increasing the power of the Prosecutor’s Office, thus allowing it to waive its obligation to prosecute for assisted suicide in cases of VE, and this would not contravene the ECHR. The central case in favour of legalising VE is that the freedoms prescribed in the ECHR are equally applicable to all individuals. People have the right to control their own lives and this includes a choice as to how and where to die. Thus, if a person believes in a right to VE, this right should...
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...End-of-life Choices: Euthanasia and Others Fact Sheets Prepared by: Dr. TSE Chun-yan Society for Life and Death Education Dr. CHAN Ho-mun Associate Professor Department of Public and Social Administration City University of Hong Kong November 2009 Fact Sheet 1 - Setting the scene: Euthanasia is a frequently debated issue in the community. However, there is often confusion in the concepts and terminologies involved. Different people have different definitions for the terms used in the discussion. Euthanasia could be defined narrowly or broadly. In the medical and legal field, when the term is used without qualification, euthanasia usually signifies “voluntary active euthanasia”. According to the Professional Code of Practice of the Medical Council of Hong Kong, euthanasia is defined as “direct intentional killing of a person as part of the medical care being offered”. Euthanasia is illegal throughout the world with the exception of Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. However, in public debates and in bioethics literature, the term euthanasia often carries a broader meaning. Forgoing life-sustaining treatment (LST) is often considered as one form of euthanasia, labeled as “passive euthanasia”. Different ethicists define “passive euthanasia” differently. Some define the term as all forms of forgoing LST, while some define it as forgoing LST with the intention to shorten life. It should be noted that, legally and medically, forgoing LST is distinct...
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...In Margaret Battin’s article, ‘Euthanasia: The Fundamental Issues’, she argues for the right of a painless killing for those suffering from medical conditions. She suggests that there are three moral principles: mercy, autonomy, and justice, which favor the legalization of this practice. Battin’s arguments will then be critiqued further by issues such as the Hippocratic Oath and physician’s abuse in power. This paper will conclude that moral justification for euthanasia on the same grounds of mercy, autonomy and justice cannot be reached. Active euthanasia involves directly stopping bodily processes that otherwise would have been capable of sustaining life, providing direct help for the patient to die (Battin, 321). Unlike passive euthanasia, which is the act of allowing the patient to die...
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...University April 26, 2013 Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Part 1 Voluntary and assisted euthanasia have been and will continue to be one of the most controversial ethical debates in the medical field. Euthanasia stems from the Greek language: eu meaning good and thanatos meaning death. The practice of voluntary euthanasia is when the patient requests to die but someone else has to perform the act, for example removing the patient from all life-sustaining equipment or giving a lethal injection. Where as the definition of assisted suicide is a physician prescribes a lethal dose of medication and the patient on his or her own will have to perform the act of consuming the medication to cause death. There are many ethical implications that arise from either option. “In the balance are crucial issues: personal autonomy, dignity, compassion, ending suffering, protection of the vulnerable, promotion of good palliative care, and redefinition of the role of the physician in death and dying” (Van Norman, (2012). It is imperative for nurses to be conscious of their obligations professionally, educated on the laws surrounding the issue, who the stakeholders involved are, the impact on social values/morals, and the ethical theories and principals involved. Nursing Obligation According to the American Nurses Association nurses are never allowed to have any part in euthanasia, such actions would be a direct violation of the Nursing Code of Ethics. “Nurses have an obligation...
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...Voluntary /Physician-Assisted-Suicide (Euthanasia) has been one of the most debated and controversial issues in the healthcare system for decades now. Its practice was not widely supported by healthcare providers because of the need to retain trust in society and their patients at large. It was banned as a practice two thousand years ago, as it was viewed as a murder. Nevertheless, some modern societies no longer see it as a crime, but rather as an individual choice regarding how to end one’s life. Although, euthanasia remains banned in many countries worldwide. The act of euthanasia has adverse ethical implications in nursing, as nurses are prohibited from participating in assisted suicide because it violates the code of ethics for nursing practice (ANA, 2001) which states that a nurse’s ethical goal and obligation is to provide humane and compassionate care to patients and respect their rights. This includes the provision of support to patients and families, ensuring that all options are exhausted to alleviate the pain and suffering associated with death. (ANA, 2010a)....
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...Controversies Surrounding Euthanasia Name of Student: Institutional Affiliation: Controversies Surrounding Euthanasia Euthanasia is one of the most exceptional controversies of this century. Keown (2011) asserts that “it involves ending an individual’s life in order to release them from, intractable pain.” This act can also be called “mercy killing.” Euthanasia may take two forms. Voluntary Euthanasia happens when family members or medical practitioner take the life of a sick person after receiving consent from the sick individual. On the other hand, involuntary Euthanasia occurs when a person decides to take the life of a sick individual without their acquiescence. Criminal execution, for instance, falls under the category of involuntary euthanasia. The moral, religious, and ethical issue surrounding euthanasia forms the basis of many social and legal discussions. The main controversy, consequently, is whether to legalize euthanasia or not. Legal research by Manning & Willis (2012) confirms that any form of killing falls in the group of criminal cases. They show that all homicide cases are proved illegal is every nation. Hence, any person who takes part in taking another individual’s life should be charged with aiding and abetting a murderer. These individuals should be charged with second degree murder. From an ethical stand point, they argue that it disproves the “do not kill thy neighbor” rule. An excellent neighbor offers support during...
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...and the patient performs the act. Euthanasia is where the physician performs the intervention defined as the “act of bringing about the death of a hopelessly ill and suffering person in a relatively quick and painless way for reason of mercy (as cited in Mosser 2010). Physician Assisted Suicide has grown to be a controversial issue and one of the major disputes is; can an incurable ill patient be able to choose Physician assisted suicide? This phenomenal dilemma has risen debates on rather to legalize PAS or keep it illegal because of the different issues concerning the different religion, moral and ethical views people have on the topic. In this essay I will discuss issues of why many people and I believe assisted suicide should be legalized. There are different laws around the world concerning physician assisted suicide and only a few states that has legalized the procedure. In 2005, there were only four places in the world that open and legally authorize assistance in dying patients: “Oregon (since l997, physician-assisted suicide only); Switzerland (1941, physician and non-physician assisted suicide only); Belgium (2002, permits 'euthanasia' but does not define the method and the Netherlands (voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide lawful since April 2002 but permitted by the courts since l984.)(Assistedsuicide)” Since then there have been more places that became aware of this controversial topic that we are not aware about. More...
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...Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma NRS 437V December 11, 2011 Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Euthanasia, sometimes referred to as mercy killing, is an act by a third party that causes a patient’s death. Such acts include administering a lethal dose of medication by way of injection or mask, usually to a seriously ill patient. This analysis will discuss the ethics of euthanasia as it relates to nursing, laws, society, and the stakeholders involved in the scenario. The American Nurses Association (ANA) believes that the nurse should not participate in Active euthanasia because such an act is in direct violation of the Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements, the ethical traditions and goals of the profession, and its covenant with society. (Task Force on the Nurse's Role in End-of-Life Decisions, 2011) While patient advocates should be vigilant for providing diligent care, they should perform their tasks with respect, support and due commitment towards their care. In healthcare practice, in order to relieve pain and suffering, there is an obligation to promote dignity and autonomy of patients. Euthanasia is a complex issue in which nurses are uncomfortable determining the life and death of a patient. Nurses have to practice ethical principles of beneficence, which maximize benefit and reduce potential risk and harm to the patient. Non-malfeasance is another ethical issue in which a nurse should do no harm. A competent nurse in this scenario is faced with an ethical...
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...Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Grand Canyon University Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Euthanasia is considered “assisted suicide” (Ethical key issues- Euthanasia., 2011). Terminally ill, old age, and poor disease prognosis’s are some population of patients that research euthanasia. Euthanasia is currently illegal due to many ethical implications. Euthanasia is an ongoing ethical dilemma that affects nursing as a profession, has legal implications, and stirs up ethical debates over social values, morals, and norms. “Standard 7, under the heading “Standards of Professional Performance,” reiterates the moral obligation of the nurse to practice ethically and to provide care “in a manner that preserves and protects healthcare consumer autonomy, dignity, rights, values, and beliefs” and “assists healthcare consumers in self determination and informed decision-making”” (ANA position statement, 2013). Nurses in all healthcare related settings play a key role in patient care at end-of –life. Nurses’ care for the physical and spiritual needs of patients and their families while, also collaborating with all members of the interprofessional healthcare team. Nurses witness the devastating effects of life-threatening diseases. It is difficult to balance amongst saving a life and the enabling of a dignified death. Nurses need to keep their own feelings in check because they could have an influence on clinical decision making. “It is within the framework of the Code for Nurses and...
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...Physician Assisted Suicide Jason July 9, 2012 Most states in the United States make euthanasia, also known as physician-assisted suicide, a felony crime, punishable by years of imprisonment. Euthanasia is a very notorious issue within the medical and legal systems; which has been in debate for almost two million years. The word ‘euthanasia’ comes from the Greek origin and means “good death, or easy death.” (Pozgar, 2010) When considering a physician acting in the best interest of the patient, the “legal system must ensure that the constitutional rights of the patient are maintained, while protecting society’s interests in preserving life, preventing suicide, and maintaining the integrity of the medical profession.” (Pozgar, 2010)Euthanasia is a highly controversial issue, especially when patients and their families recognize the quality of life being greatly decreased, with no end to the pain and suffering, the real problem occurs for both the patient and family, but for the health care professionals as well. Surely we all remember Dr. Jack Kevorkian, one of the most controversial and most publically followed physicians held liable for his actions in physician-assisted suicide. The medical staff is trained to save lives, preserve life, treat illness, and bandage wounds, so it would be considered very unethical for any medical profession to aid in euthanasia. “The prohibition against killing patients ... stands as the first promise of self-restraint sworn to in the...
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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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...per year (Beck, Wallace, Starks & Pearlman, 1996). While some people believe that the ability to end life in those cases is critical for preserving human dignity, PAS is still a controversial topic because others do not consider assisted suicide moral. The main argument against PAS is that it is contradictory to traditional religious beliefs and philosophical systems. For example, suicide has been considered a sin by the Catholic Church because the people believed God was responsible for creating life and was therefore the only one who had the right to take it (New York State Task Force on Life and the Law [NYSTF], 1994). Although that belief cannot be proven in science, some social groups still consider that God is the only one with the right to take life, and their personal beliefs must be respected. In Ancient Greece, suicide had also been regarded as an abandonment of duty, but current trends are starting to favor individual well-being over compliance to social norms and expectations. Some physicians also believe that using anesthetics should be considered a duty for all medical personnel because patients should have the right to choose to end their suffering (Euthanasia, 1873). Therefore, while the opponents of PAS argue that physicians cannot be granted the right to end life and value social/religious norms over individual desires, the proponents argue that individual conviction and the right to end one’s life is more important...
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...The words “euthanasia” and “assisted suicide” are often used interchangeably. However, they are different and, in the law, they are treated differently. Euthanasia is defined as intentionally, knowingly and directly acting to cause the death of another person (A New Zealand Resource for Life Related Issue). There are two types of euthanasia: passive and active. Passive euthanasia is an act of hastening the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting nature take its course, for instance, removing life support equipment, stopping medical procedures, or stopping food and water and allowing the patient to dehydrate or starve to death. Active euthanasia involves causing the death of patient through a direct action, in response to a request from the patient. A well-known example of active euthanasia is the mercy killing injection to Thomas Youk, a patient suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, by Jack Kevorkian. Assisted suicide is defined as intentionally, knowingly and directly providing the means of death to another person so that the person can use that means to commit suicide (A New Zealand Resource for Life Related Issue), for example, providing a prescription for a lethal dose of...
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