Physician assisted suicide is a topic that may be considered sensitive to many due to their religious beliefs or moral. This method of termination of life consists of doctors providing terminally ill adult patients with the meaner to end their own life. They give the patient a prescription of a lethal dose of barbiturates. While I do understand the negatives to this matter, I will argue that physician assisted suicide should be available for individuals who request it. Some individual’s health complications are too painful to think of prolonging.
Individuals who are ill should have the right to decide whether they can bear any more or not. They should be able to decide whether it is worth living the few months they have remaining. It is hard to imagine how a terminally ill patient may feel knowing they’re dying. The thought itself is agonizing and I can understand how some may want to use physician assisted suicide to go in peace. There are individuals I have met who have been tired of fighting their cancer and decide to give in. Their lives change drastically and not only are they affected, but those who care for them are as well.
It can be so hard to live through such pain and changes. The treatments offered often are not beneficial or painless. Dealing with a lifestyle change, constant pain, and huge medical bills can be extremely stressful. These are Just some of the reasons many terminally ill patients, look into a physician assisted suicide. For these same exact reasons, patients have every right to decide when they can’t take the pain any longer. On the other hand, I can see why someone would be against this. Many individuals revert back to their religious and moral beliefs.
It is easy for them to feel hat the only person allowed to take life is God or a higher power. Christians believe it should be on God’s terms and no one else’s. However, I believe he gives us the ability to make decisions on our own. There are certain circumstances where one must think of their best interest. For a terminally ill patient, physician assisted suicide may be the best and least painful decision they can make. Many may argue that it may make physicians feel like they have an empowered sense of authority. Physicians may get carried away with this new found privilege and ay even write lethal prescriptions with malicious intent.
Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken before such a procedure is allowed. There is a strict process physicians must follow in order to assure that the patient is even allowed this right. It won’t be as easy to get approved for physician assisted suicide and the terminally ill patient, alone, will not be able to make a decision. For example, In Oregon where this procedure is allowed, the patient must meet numerous requirements. The patient must be 18 years or older, and must have been, given a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
They must, also, be a citizen of Oregon, and be able to make health decisions on their own. In addition to these health requirements, the patients must go through several steps in order to legally ensure that this is what they want. Patients must orally request the procedure twice; provide a written request signed by two witnesses, and there must be a confirmation of illness and prognosis. It will not be a simple process where a patient won’t have more than enough time to speak up and change their mind. Others may argue that any bit of extra time counts for something.
We all want to treasure every last minute we have left with our loved ones. We want to hold on to them as long as we can when we know their time is nearing an end. We become immediately emotionally invested, and feel that spending every bit of time left with them will make a difference. While this is true, we must also look at the reality behind this. When ill individuals are nearing the end of their lives, for the most part, they are weak, sick, and barely holding on. Their health declines every day that goes by and they experience discomfort.
Many don’t even get to make it out of their homes or hospital rooms, because the pain is simply unbearable. At that point, the only thing family members should be concerned with is preventing excessive suffering. Until one experiences the pain the patient is in, it is easy to say what we feel is right or wrong. However, we cannot truly know until the time comes for us to be in this situation. It’s always easy to say what we would or wouldn’t do, until the time comes to do so. Physician assisted suicide may not be a preferred method, but it may be a better alternative for months of suffering.
Physician assisted suicide may never be able to fight off the negative reputation it has. Making individuals uncomfortable and uneasy will be something they will continuously battle with. Providing patients with life termination through barbiturates sounds immoral. However, some individuals become tired and agitated with their every day struggles due to their illness. I feel that physician assisted suicide should be available to patients. As long as the patient agrees and makes that decision themselves I don’t see a problem with it. It is more important for patients to go at ease than suffer.
