Introduction
Today’s societies are developing at a faster rate than thought humanly possible with new technological and medical advancements unearthed each day. Despite such progress, however, the world today is advancing, many regions of the world still struggle with an archaic controversy that has plagued mankind for centuries. Physician assisted suicide is the doctoral practice of intentionally providing someone with the means to commit suicide. This is includes, but is not limited to, the administration of lethal drugs or the allocation of knowledge to commit suicide. Thus, physician assisted suicide is viewed by many bedridden patients as an outlet in order to alleviate suffering which sparks debate over the value of life. Not only is …show more content…
Many of the positive attitudes surrounding the practice of assisted suicide originate deeply from the cultural concept of Dignity in Dying. The concept of “Dignity in Dying” was a key factor that pushed the legalization of physician assisted suicide in the Netherlands allowing the Dutch to advance to become the first country in the world to completely legalize physician assisted suicide. Much like the concept of “Dignity in Dying” there are other cultural aspects that feed the ethical mindset of the people of Netherlands. One argument is the belief that those under the grasp of a terminal illness have the right to die in order to alleviate unbearable pain and suffering. The Netherlands has also stipulated other conditions that must be met in order for a patient to undergo euthanasia, which includes the following: the patient must be in unbearable pain without improvement; the decision must be made by more than one doctor; and both the patient and the doctor must agree that euthanasia is the best option. In 2001, the Dutch government proposed revisions to current laws to include parental consent for children aged between twelve and sixteen whereas children aged between sixteen and seventeen do not require parental consent. Euthanasia must also pass by a constitutional review committee that is composed of a doctor, lawyer, and ethicist …show more content…
“Passive Euthanasia” is when family members can choose to withhold vital treatment for patients who are comatose or in a vegetative state which will eventually kill them even for those who are unable to express their will, this has sparked controversy in France such as with the case of Vincent Lambert, a Frenchman who was comatose after a motorcycle accident. Vincent Lambert was left unable to speak for himself and therefore the European Court of Human Rights ruled that he should have the right to die. Vincent’s parents argued that the court ignored signs of gradual recovery whereas his wife and siblings agreed with doctors who said that there is little chance of recovery for Vincent (Mulholland and Samuel, 2015). Cases such as The Lambert case happen in countries all around the world, and implications such as those presented in The Lambert case fuel the controversies that are seeded in the United
Today’s societies are developing at a faster rate than thought humanly possible with new technological and medical advancements unearthed each day. Despite such progress, however, the world today is advancing, many regions of the world still struggle with an archaic controversy that has plagued mankind for centuries. Physician assisted suicide is the doctoral practice of intentionally providing someone with the means to commit suicide. This is includes, but is not limited to, the administration of lethal drugs or the allocation of knowledge to commit suicide. Thus, physician assisted suicide is viewed by many bedridden patients as an outlet in order to alleviate suffering which sparks debate over the value of life. Not only is …show more content…
Many of the positive attitudes surrounding the practice of assisted suicide originate deeply from the cultural concept of Dignity in Dying. The concept of “Dignity in Dying” was a key factor that pushed the legalization of physician assisted suicide in the Netherlands allowing the Dutch to advance to become the first country in the world to completely legalize physician assisted suicide. Much like the concept of “Dignity in Dying” there are other cultural aspects that feed the ethical mindset of the people of Netherlands. One argument is the belief that those under the grasp of a terminal illness have the right to die in order to alleviate unbearable pain and suffering. The Netherlands has also stipulated other conditions that must be met in order for a patient to undergo euthanasia, which includes the following: the patient must be in unbearable pain without improvement; the decision must be made by more than one doctor; and both the patient and the doctor must agree that euthanasia is the best option. In 2001, the Dutch government proposed revisions to current laws to include parental consent for children aged between twelve and sixteen whereas children aged between sixteen and seventeen do not require parental consent. Euthanasia must also pass by a constitutional review committee that is composed of a doctor, lawyer, and ethicist …show more content…
“Passive Euthanasia” is when family members can choose to withhold vital treatment for patients who are comatose or in a vegetative state which will eventually kill them even for those who are unable to express their will, this has sparked controversy in France such as with the case of Vincent Lambert, a Frenchman who was comatose after a motorcycle accident. Vincent Lambert was left unable to speak for himself and therefore the European Court of Human Rights ruled that he should have the right to die. Vincent’s parents argued that the court ignored signs of gradual recovery whereas his wife and siblings agreed with doctors who said that there is little chance of recovery for Vincent (Mulholland and Samuel, 2015). Cases such as The Lambert case happen in countries all around the world, and implications such as those presented in The Lambert case fuel the controversies that are seeded in the United