Many people who are suffering from a long-term or terminal illness wish to end their suffering in a humane and dignified way. This has recently become a controversial topic in the United States as more people advocate for the right to end their own lives. Today, there are a handful of assisted suicide states in America that allow this.
In the United States, physician-assisted suicide is currently legal in Oregon, Washington and Vermont. There are other states with recent court decisions that allow for this as well. In Montana, a court decision was handed down in 2009 that created a legal defense for doctors who helped patients die, to lessen their chances of prosecution and conviction.
There is also a concern about prejudices against the disabled arising from these laws. This is because do not resuscitate orders are more often used for a person who is hospitalized with a severe disability. A person with a lifelong disability may also suffer from burn out and feelings of depression from many years of prejudice and intolerance in society. These individuals are believed to be more likely to refuse treatment and therefore end their lives prematurely.
There may also be the problem of conflicting roles for physicians as many doctors believe that these changes would affect the relationship between doctors and their patients. While a doctor is meant to preserve life, many advocates argue for the right of an individual to die when they see fit.
Medical ethics plays a large part in these recent debates. All doctors traditionally take the Hippocratic Oath, which states that they will not give a deadly medicine to anyone nor counsel them to take it. Therefore, helping someone to die this way contravenes this oath. There are many other similar pacts and oaths that adhere to this principle, such as the Declaration of Geneva and the International Code of Medical Ethics. But the main idea is that helping someone to die is against the principles of a being a good doctor.
If you have a relative who is a considering getting a doctor to assist them with dying, it is highly recommended that they do no rush into the decision. They need to understand both the medical and legal implications of doing this. Firstly, if they do not live in one of the states mentioned, then they will likely not be able to get a doctor to help them die. In some cases, the doctor may even lose their license or face charges for presenting this as an option to their patient.
Many health care professionals oppose this practice due to the possible harmful effects it may have on certain vulnerable people. This is often called the slippery slope argument, which is based on the fear that once society permits assisted suicide or euthanasia for terminally ill people it will start to affect other vulnerable people as well, such as the disabled and the elderly. The concern is that it might be used by people who feel unworthy to live because of their age or disability.
In addition, it is believed that many vulnerable people are at risk of an untimely death because they might be subjected to these procedures without their consent. However, some studies claim that legalizing these procedures may decrease the occurrences of involuntary euthanasia.
In the United States, physician-assisted suicide is currently legal in Oregon, Washington and Vermont. There are other states with recent court decisions that allow for this as well. In Montana, a court decision was handed down in 2009 that created a legal defense for doctors who helped patients die, to lessen their chances of prosecution and conviction.
There is also a concern about prejudices against the disabled arising from these laws. This is because do not resuscitate orders are more often used for a person who is hospitalized with a severe disability. A person with a lifelong disability may also suffer from burn out and feelings of depression from many years of prejudice and intolerance in society. These individuals are believed to be more likely to refuse treatment and therefore end their lives prematurely.
There may also be the problem of conflicting roles for physicians as many doctors believe that these changes would affect the relationship between doctors and their patients. While a doctor is meant to preserve life, many advocates argue for the right of an individual to die when they see fit.
Medical ethics plays a large part in these recent debates. All doctors traditionally take the Hippocratic Oath, which states that they will not give a deadly medicine to anyone nor counsel them to take it. Therefore, helping someone to die this way contravenes this oath. There are many other similar pacts and oaths that adhere to this principle, such as the Declaration of Geneva and the International Code of Medical Ethics. But the main idea is that helping someone to die is against the principles of a being a good doctor.
If you have a relative who is a considering getting a doctor to assist them with dying, it is highly recommended that they do no rush into the decision. They need to understand both the medical and legal implications of doing this. Firstly, if they do not live in one of the states mentioned, then they will likely not be able to get a doctor to help them die. In some cases, the doctor may even lose their license or face charges for presenting this as an option to their patient.
Many health care professionals oppose this practice due to the possible harmful effects it may have on certain vulnerable people. This is often called the slippery slope argument, which is based on the fear that once society permits assisted suicide or euthanasia for terminally ill people it will start to affect other vulnerable people as well, such as the disabled and the elderly. The concern is that it might be used by people who feel unworthy to live because of their age or disability.
In addition, it is believed that many vulnerable people are at risk of an untimely death because they might be subjected to these procedures without their consent. However, some studies claim that legalizing these procedures may decrease the occurrences of involuntary euthanasia.