Complications Of Physician Assisted Suicide

Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) occurs when a physician facilitates a patient’s death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act. The Physician provides sleeping pills and information about the lethal dose, while being aware that the patient’s intent is to commit suicide (Carter, 2015). The principles of autonomy, merits the consideration of the patient, allowing them to make the final decision for themselves giving them the respect they deserve. The supporters of physician assisted suicide have one thing in common, they believe in empathy and autonomy. The people opposing PAS have argued that there are negative consequences such as people whom abuse the right to end life with …show more content…
, The Principle of autonomy in medical terms implies that the patient has the right to make the final choice for themselves when in full control of their mind and health. in the favor of Physician-assisted suicide, Menzel, Paul T and Bonnie Steinbock. Argued, “Advance Directives, Dematia, and Physician-Assisted Suicide Death” in the favor of Physician-assisted suicide, argued, “The two basic moral arguments in favor of physician-assisted death focus on suffering and autonomy….The argument from autonomy focuses on the right of people to make crucial decisions about how their lives will go for themselves, without interference from the state…” (Stienbock, Menzel). Both Menzel and Stienbock support the idea of respecting the patient’s wishes when dealing with an incurable death, the state should not get to decide how a person leaves the world nor should the state determine what the limit to …show more content…
Theo A. Boer publisher of the article, “Rushing towards Death”, implies that the legality of PAS has led to the abuse of the right by stating,” In some reported cases, the suffering largely consists of being old, lonely, or bereaved” (Boer). This statement is false because even though people may attempt to abuse their right the government will not allow the end of life act without doing their research making sure they are under the circumstances which cannot be helped. The people against PAS also feel that family and insurance companies may force the patient to want to end their life for the benefit of the people forcing them. J.M. Dieterle, author of the article, “Physician Assisted Suicide: A New Look at the Argument”, examines the arguments made against PAS by stating the negative consequences such as ,” If we legalize PAS, we will start down the slippery slope to non-voluntary euthanasia and eventually we will end up with a social policy endorsing involuntary euthanasia” ( Dieterle). And “patients might be pressured by family members or insurance companies to seek PAS” (Dieterle). Both the consequences mentioned argue