Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
It is becoming progressively regular for people to support the decision for terminally ill patients to be let to die, mainly to put them out of their misery. This can take place in two ways, that is, physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia. Euthanasia is an act in which the physician causes the death of terminally ill patients by administering lethal doses. During PAS, the physician prescribes lethal doses to patients but does not administer the drugs. The term euthanasia comes from a Greek word which interpreted as “good death”. In other words, it is “merciful killing”; ending an individual life in a manner that does not cause them any pain. Sometimes, in euthanasia practices patients are denied the treatment or medicine that is required to support their staying alive. Life supporting machines are switched off, thereby killing the patient. For example, if a machine that is used a means of delivering oxygen, food or medicine is tuned off, the patient will get no supplies at all (Glover, 1977).
Over the years, there have intense debates regarding mercy killings around the globe. Some countries have legalized the use of Euthanasia and PAS. Some of these countries are Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland. In some countries, these practices are illegal. However, there is still no elaborate framework for punishing those who practice it and, therefore, more often than not they are not legally punished (Emanuel et al., 1996). Many people support the right of letting terminally ill patients to be left to die. The mind boggling question is what happens if the right becomes an obligation to be shouldered by those making the decisions. Similarly, the potential for abuse of terminally ill patient from possible heirs looms large. Critics have argued that the practice is inhuman and that doctors should not play God. Further, there are growing fears that merciful killing promotes laxity among physicians who may opt out to kill rather than safe lives.
The main challenge that comes with mercy killing is who makes the decision for the procedure to take place. In some cases, the relatives of a terminally ill patient suffering from an incurable disease can decide based possible guesses on what their ailing relative or family member could have wanted. In other rare situations, some patients do have signed statements detailing on what they want to happen if there is no hope for their survival. In the present world, it is necessary that people talk about mercy killing taking into account of the recent advances in the medical industry. Medical procedures can make people stay longer. Medical doctors can keep people a live for much longer with the help of life-supporting machines.
Various studies reveal varying statistics regarding the number of women and men who request for mercy killing. In a Canadian study done in 2012, it showed that 77 and 23 men had asked for euthanasia in a period of one year if they became terminally ill. Of the one hundred requests, 48 requests were approved. Of the 48 approved requests, 30 were from women while the remaining 18 were men.
There is a need for everyone to be cognizant of the morality in law; and more importantly its equality among all persons. This means that acting morally requires utmost humility and understanding of the fact that other humans are moral agents themselves. As there is a need for physicians to view others as ends in their own selves but not as means they (clinicians) cab achieve their own convenient ends. There is need, therefore, for everyone to make sure that they do deter others form acting in accordance with ethical and moral law
References
Glover, J. (1977). Causing Death and Saving Lives The Moral Problems of Abortion, Infanticide, Suicide, Euthanasia, Capital Punishment, War and Other Life-or-death Choices. Penguin UK.
Emanuel, E. J., Daniels, E. R., Fairclough, D. L., & Clarridge, B. R. (1996). Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: attitudes and experiences of oncology patients, oncologists, and the public. The Lancet, 347(9018), 1805-1810.
