Euthanasia is defined as the practice of intentionally ending life in order to relieve pain and suffering (World Medical Association). There are several different forms of euthanasia, but physician assisted suicide is considered to be active or voluntary euthanasia, which is the means of ending a suffering individual’s life on his own request by another person or the individual makes a conscious decision to die and asks for help (Euthanasia and assisted suicide). Physician assisted suicide has be a controversial topic for many years. There are many people that are not aware of how it works, the pros and cons, and where health care providers fall into the situation.
Brittany Maynard was 29 years old when she was diagnosed with a fatal brain …show more content…
A patient in Washington used physician assisted suicide as
“‘a way out’ if her existence became intolerable. She was not certain she would use the medication, and she made sure her family supported her plan. In the end, with help from hospice, family, and clinicians, she felt the last part of her life was “surprisingly okay,” and she died comfortably, in her home, the medications potentially intended to hasten death unused,” (Quill TE, et al., 2016).
Physician assisted suicide allows the patient to choose their own fate, instead of the disease choosing it for them; they have the ability to say their goodbyes to their family and friends in their own way and time (Apecsec.org, 2014). The overall financial and emotional burden caused to the family by watching their loved one suffer is reduced tremendously and if planned, the patient’s organs can be donated and harvested (Apecsec.org, 2014). With the help of a doctor, patients can have a painless and less traumatic passing (Apecsec.org, 2014). “Patients with serious illness wish to have control over their own bodies, their own lives, and concern about future physical and psychosocial distress,” (Quill TE, et al., 2016), and physician assisted suicide allows them to have that …show more content…
Some believe it’s ethically incorrect, since it is considered as homicide, or murdering another individual, it must be prohibited by the law ("Apecsec.org," 2014). Family members will convince a loved one to use mercy killing for personal gain ("Apecsec.org," 2014). There is no guarantee that the decision of physician assisted suicide is voluntary or insisted by others. The cost maintaining one 's health should never come into consideration when thinking about death. “You cannot equate money with human life,” (Torrey, 2014). With physician assisted suicide some regions believe that takings one 's own life is against their deity’s will and violates their commandments of taking their live before its “time” with their chosen God (Torrey, 2014). The biggest con is whether or not physician assisted suicide is “compatible with the physician’s oath to ‘do no harm’,” (Gostin LO, et al., 2016). There is also the belief that with advances in medical technology one should be able to use rehabilitation and palliative care to increase their lifespan and quality of life ("Apecsec.org," 2014). Healthcare providers and nurses play a huge role in this major life transition of physician assisted
Brittany Maynard was 29 years old when she was diagnosed with a fatal brain …show more content…
A patient in Washington used physician assisted suicide as
“‘a way out’ if her existence became intolerable. She was not certain she would use the medication, and she made sure her family supported her plan. In the end, with help from hospice, family, and clinicians, she felt the last part of her life was “surprisingly okay,” and she died comfortably, in her home, the medications potentially intended to hasten death unused,” (Quill TE, et al., 2016).
Physician assisted suicide allows the patient to choose their own fate, instead of the disease choosing it for them; they have the ability to say their goodbyes to their family and friends in their own way and time (Apecsec.org, 2014). The overall financial and emotional burden caused to the family by watching their loved one suffer is reduced tremendously and if planned, the patient’s organs can be donated and harvested (Apecsec.org, 2014). With the help of a doctor, patients can have a painless and less traumatic passing (Apecsec.org, 2014). “Patients with serious illness wish to have control over their own bodies, their own lives, and concern about future physical and psychosocial distress,” (Quill TE, et al., 2016), and physician assisted suicide allows them to have that …show more content…
Some believe it’s ethically incorrect, since it is considered as homicide, or murdering another individual, it must be prohibited by the law ("Apecsec.org," 2014). Family members will convince a loved one to use mercy killing for personal gain ("Apecsec.org," 2014). There is no guarantee that the decision of physician assisted suicide is voluntary or insisted by others. The cost maintaining one 's health should never come into consideration when thinking about death. “You cannot equate money with human life,” (Torrey, 2014). With physician assisted suicide some regions believe that takings one 's own life is against their deity’s will and violates their commandments of taking their live before its “time” with their chosen God (Torrey, 2014). The biggest con is whether or not physician assisted suicide is “compatible with the physician’s oath to ‘do no harm’,” (Gostin LO, et al., 2016). There is also the belief that with advances in medical technology one should be able to use rehabilitation and palliative care to increase their lifespan and quality of life ("Apecsec.org," 2014). Healthcare providers and nurses play a huge role in this major life transition of physician assisted