Thursday 25 June 2015

What To Know On Physician Aided Death

By Ruthie Calderon


Most do not want to talk or think about death, even if it is their own. A controversial topic in the medical industry, around the globe, is assisted suicide. This terminology is used when referred to suicide that is done with the help of physicians. Usually they provide the necessary supplies and information knowing the intent of the patients. Another term commonly used to describe this process is physician aided death.

This kind of aid might come in varying forms. Typically it involves the doctors given patient counsel about dosages of drugs that are lethal. They may go beyond this by prescribing this dosage or supply to the individual. This type of assistance in death is not the same as euthanasia or mercy killings. A key difference is that these involve physicians administering the lethal dosage to patients.

Patients consent to and request this type of death. Generally, they self-administer what is needed to die. Many consider or choose this option. This brings up topics like ethics, religion, law, society and morals because it is essentially suicide and murder.

It may be difficult for some people to understand why a person would want to die this way. Often times, the people who request these services have chronic or life-limiting illnesses. They might have no more hope that they will get better and want to take control over their lives again. Additionally, they may feel a lot of discomfort and physical pain that cannot be fixed through the methods available in modern medicine. Requesting an aided death might be their only solution for regaining control. That is, they want to have control over how and when their life ends.

This is considered legal in some areas of the world, such as Australia, Columbia and Japan. However, in many more places it is illegal and controversial. People suffering and in pain might see this as their one and only option. Sometimes they even welcome the death, regardless of what their loved ones might think or want.

People in these situations often want a better life, but do not see it happening. They are discouraged and often dealing with major pain and suffering. It can be frustrating to feel as if they have no options for care, and that they will not life a happier or longer life. In fact, the life expectancy for many of these people is short and they would rather not wait in pain to die.

Opponents have their reasons. Most make mention of medical ethics, public safety, prejudices against the disabled, religious ethics, roles of medical physicians, and the slippery slope argument. People should learn more about this through research. Many resources offer details on the topic, including the arguments of proponents and opponents. Stories of people who have done this or made the decision to do it can also be educational.

It is important that people become knowledgeable on the topic before they form a stance. There are some who will disagree and others who see no problem. People who oppose this may not be familiar with the struggles, both physical and mental, that people making this decision deal with daily. They are usually terminally and chronically ill. Suicide can be a hard thing to accept.




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