Physician assisted suicide has always been a controversial social issue in the cultures around the world. It is associated with ethical issues as well as social consequences. Physician assisted suicide is defined as “an act of self-destruction committed by a patient with the assistance of a physician” It is the process of ending someone’s life based on that persons own wish. When a person wants to end his or her life because of suffering from a terminal disease or some other weakening condition, physician assisted suicide is often recommended or considered. However, some people think that physician assisted suicide should be the decisions of the doctor, or that it is intentional homicide. In most states, euthenics is illegal. However, in California, physician assisted suicide is legal based on certain situational requirements. The Administration of California passed a law in September 2015 making physician assisted suicide legal. The governor, Jerry Brown, signed the bill into law in October 2015. The End of Life Act permits the taking away of life support systems for terminally ill patients. The California law is a law that should be adopted through the United States as it respects individual choice and the dignity that should be afforded to all human beings.
Physician assisted suicide is a controversial issue. Supporters and opponents are vast in number. Both sides agree that physician assisted suicide could save medical resources and that is the most direct way to relieve pain. Those who oppose physician assisted suicide believe that it is intentional homicide. Opponents blame medical scientist for the necessity because they have not found a cure for the terminal disease. Supporters believe that physician assisted suicide allows for the patient’s families to get back to their own life. Supporters also claim that it is a religious right of a human being to choose life or death. The issue of physician assisted suicide has existed for many decades.
In 1972, the U.S. Senate held national hearings on physician assisted suicide. The United States Senate Special Commission on Aging conduced nationwide discussions on the right to die. In 1974, the Society for the Right to Die was formed. In 1976, the United States Supreme Court held that that artificial ventilators may be removed if the patient expressed this wish. (Historical Timeline – Physician assisted suicide.) And, in 1984 the American Medical Association extended their support for physician assisted suicide in certain inevitable situations. In 1990, doctor Jack Kevorkian performs his first assisted suicide with a terminally ill patient in Michigan. Just eight years later, Kevorkian performs an assisted suicide on national television, and is convicted of murder. After serving eight years in prison, he is released on parole. By 2008, many states began passing acts legalizing physician assisted suicide.
Research has indicated that physician assisted suicide laws must meet critical criteria before implementing the procedures. In 2012, a committee of experts performed a study of the process existing in Washington and Oregon and established criteria in order to assist physicians.. The California law allows doctors to provide lethal injections to adults who are competent that have been diagnosed with an illness that will end their life within six months. Before a doctor is authorized to administer the legal drug, two other doctors must agree that the individual choosing assisted suicide will not live longer than six months. The individual must take the drug on their own and within two days of the agreement of the doctors. This law makes the decision of physician assisted suicide an individual choice but ensures that the choice is informed. Additionally, research has been conducted to effectuate legitimate laws which have included research on the effects of family members of patients choosing physician assisted suicide. One study found that the decision had not effect on the mental health of family members, but rather the family members were proud to have honored their loved one’s wishes.
Physician assisted suicide has individual as well as societal effects. The patient choosing the act along with his or her family members face a very complicated and stressful decision. Society is impacted as the debate continues and states are not consisted in the laws passed authorizing physician assisted suicide. In order to address this myriad of issues, there must be more education presented to all parties involved including political decision makers, and further studies revealing the efficacy of the procedure.
Physician assisted suicide may be considered a humanitarian practice. However, the chances of abusing the norms should be considered in the decision. The effective implementation of physician assisted suicide is very important as it involves valuable human lives. A much detailed study about physician assisted suicide and its impact on society would be helpful to predict the future of newly made laws. In my personal opinion, studies on physician assisted suicide and the laws relating to it need high priority. The main reasons are that the newly passed laws need to be time-tested for its implementation and its effect on society. Since this rule gives authority to remove an individual from life support, a lot of risk factors and malefactors may be associated. For this reason, I think research will provide light for future generations regarding the situation that led to the formation of a new law and also about its consequences.
References
Booker, Brakkton. California Governor Signs Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Into Law. 5 October 2015. <http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/05/446115171/california-governor-signs-physician-assisted-suicide-bill-into-law>.
Chronology of Assisted Dying. 2016. <https://www.deathwithdignity.org/assisted-dying-chronology/>.
Linda, Ganzini., et al. "Mental Health Outcome of Family Members of Oregonians Who Request Physician Aid in Dying." Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 38.6 (2009): 807-815.
Orenticher, David, Thaddeus Mason Pope and Ben A. Rich. "Clinical Criteria for Physician Aid in Dying." Journal of Pallliative Medicine 19.3 (2016).
"Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Legal Slippery Slope." Cancer Control 8.1 (2001). <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/409026_2>.
