Kotva's Analysis

One of the key issues in the debate about death with dignity is pain and pain management. Kotva introduces Brittany Maynard to should how she is an atypical user of PAS because of her pain levels. Kotva argues that most patients do not complain about sever pain levels when asking for a lethal prescription. Kotva goes on to assert that having pain as leading factor for seeking PAS is rare because we have other forms of pain management. He introduces the point that instead of doctors prescribing this lethal medication the physicians should be able to alleviate pain in a different manor. Therefore Kotva states that patients should seek palliative care, hospital or permanent sedated. He goes on to say “Hospice and palliative care generally, are highly effective in providing …show more content…
After realizing that morphine was not helping they moved on to “phenobarbital” which heavily sedated her sister leaving her unresponsive. After trying all forms of pain management, Freedman finally noticed that now of them worked in her sister’s case. Freedman believes that if someone want sot pass away without pain they should be able to. She never wants anyone to go through the steps her and her sister went through because in the end her sister was suffering. Both authors make compelling points; however, I tend to agree with Freedman. I believe that a person in severe pain should not have to use palliative care. After reading Freedman’s story it seemed as if all palliative care did was made her sister suffer. I know if I was in the position of her sister I would not want to suffer and just end my life peacefully. Personally I believe palliative care if great for a person whom has minimum pain levels because they can make them comfortable without using permanent sedation or lethal medication. In my eyes letting someone suffer like Freedman’s sister is morally wrong and we should let the patient decide what type of treatment they want because it is there life and should not have to suffer