The article ‘Terminally ill Toronto man seeks physician-assisted death’ talks about an 80-year-old man that has requested for assisted suicide from physicians since he has got lymphoma which is in the advanced stage and is really aggressive (Gallant, 2016). To do so, he is filing for an application in the Superior Court, which he aims at exempting him from any legal repercussions and blockades that usually accompany such actions. The patient sites that the chances of him surviving from the condition are very minimal and so they neediest to have him alleviated from the pain that he currently faces. The current legislations in place posit that physicians involving in assisted suicide are a criminal offense which is punishable by the criminal code. There have been concerns, however about the issue of assisted suicide for the majority of the population finds it challenging towards the protection of individuals who are deemed vulnerable in the society (Gallant, 2016). The number of physicians willing to help in assisting suicide is, however minimal. As such individual perceives it as a violation of their liberties and freedom of choice. The current system in place only allows for the patient, their families, and their physicians have their private arrangements, since there is no legislation in place that addresses the issue of assisted suicide. Another article titled ‘77% of Canadians support assisted suicide" poll shows indicate that6 majority of the Canadians are in support of assisted suicide even though there are challenges to the issue since most doctors may not be willing to take part in the process (Spurr, 2015). The poll was conducted at a time when a federal law that prohibits the practice is pending the position of the Supreme Court. ‘What remains unsaid about assisted suicide’ also states that even though many physicians may be willing to carry out the assisted suicide, they just won’t tell it as it is for the family members of the patients and will in most cases find euphemistic terms to hide their intentions (Dembosky, 2015).
The issues of assisted suicide, which is also referred to as physician-assisted suicide is an issue that has been gaining momentum of late in the Canadian citizenry. There have been major apprehensions concerning the choice that persons, mostly the terminally ill patients have about the choices that they have concerning the periods near their end of life. There have been concerns in regard to whether the practice should be legalized in the country or not. Currently, the legislation in place allows for the practice to be carried out even though there have been some sections of the civil society and the religious groups that have been vehemently against it (Fletcher, 2015). There is a general feeling, however amongst many Canadians that they should be given the freedom to choose the mode which they want to be applied to them around their dying period. Putting bottlenecks on this issue takes away the liberties that Canadians have about their choices and freedoms. However, the concerns that religious and civil society groups pose is that once such legislations are signed into law, there are possibilities of them being misused as in the sense that some physicians will go about carrying the procedure without following the due procedure. Another bottleneck to the expectations of many Canadians is the fact that most physicians are not willing to participate in the process as it is likely to cut into their ethical and moral standings. These are the two major ethical and moral issues that shoot down the possibilities of this practice being shut down (Fletcher, 2015).
This concept is of importance to us since it gives an individual the autonomy to choose what is right for them. Such a realization has got the effect of showing the liberties that individuals have concerning their lives and taking care of any excruciating pain which will only result in poor outcomes for them. All these efforts are directed towards having a better understanding of the freedoms of choice that individuals have concerning their lives on how they should control their own body and life (Errington, 2013). Conclusively, due to the fact the Canadian citizenry is a liberal one; it is only fair that the population is given the autonomy in matters that concern their personal lives. There are many cases that have been associated with challenging the right to which an individual is supposed to live their life. It is morally and ethically wrong deciding for one how they are supposed to carry on with their lives. Therefore, there is the need to give individual freedom on how they are supposed to live their lives. The ethical argument also posits that it is only fair if an individual can continue living a life which is fulfilling and getting the value of their lives. In this direction, therefore, there is the need to have structures in place to allow individuals to live only a life that they will enjoy without any pains. Additionally, a person who is in deep pain cannot be said to be living a quality life due to the fact the “quality” aspect has been diminished thus compromising the real essence of quality life. In this direction, therefore, it is only fair that a person in such a situation is allowed to die peacefully. Therefore, there is the need to uphold the practice of assisted death as it gives people the ability to make choices concerning their lives.
References
Dembosky, A. (2015). What remains unsaid about assisted suicide - CNN.com. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/06/health/gray-areas-assisted-suicide/
Errington, S. (2013). Euthanasia in SA: A brief history. Bulletin (Law Society of South Australia), 35(9), 20.
Fletcher, J. F. (2015). Morals and Medicine: the moral problems of the patient's right to know the truth, contraception, artificial insemination, sterilization, euthanasia. Princeton University Press.
Gallant, J. (2016). Terminally ill Toronto man seeks physician-assisted death | Toronto Star. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/03/terminally-ill-toronto-man-seeks-physician-assisted-death.html
Spurr, B. (2015). 77% of Canadians support assisted suicide, poll shows | Toronto Star. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/28/77-of-canadians-support-assisted-suicide-poll-shows.html
