Death with dignity PDF

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Death With Dignity Scenario Reflection

Mingma Sherpa West Coast University Mrs. Melanie Lavelle 04/18/2020

2 Death with Dignity Scenario Reflection The death and dignity video showed a debate between two doctors on their different opinions and views for physician-assisted suicide. The physician-assisted suicide is when the patient voluntarily decides to end their life with the help of a doctor because the patient might have been suffering from a terminal illness. This is still a debate between a lot of people who believe in medical science and the sanctity of human life. People who believed that physician-assisted suicide should be implemented thought that every patient has right to die as they like, which was the argument made by Dr Mahal at the death and dignity video and Dr Meadows argument was against it that sanctity of human life should be honored despite the discomfort and also the patient should die of bravely not by fearing of death. The video showed both their argument for and against the death and dignity in Oregon. Oregon is one of the states where physician-assisted suicide is legalized. I thought that they both had strong points, to present in the debate. According to the video, Dr Mahal said that patients get 15 days after they sign the papers, where doctors and other health care providers come up with a plan and evaluate the condition of the patient. He says it is a long period for them to contact family members and consider their decision. Whereas, Dr Meadow, says that doctor does not give the care they need to give when they have the choice to give a patient physician-assisted suicide. She also says that many patients decide on fear and don't see what is morally right and wrong. I thought they both had strong arguments to make but I think that it is always the patient’s decision to make. But there might be situations where people might feel afraid and most patients always try to listen to doctors’ orders because they feel they are more educated and have

3 better knowledge on it. This is always a big ethical dilemma for doctors, nurses and any other health care providers. The video shows that there is a slippery slope- toward euthanasia. According to the video, Dr Mahal says that it is not a slippery slope because this is a safeguard and physician-assisted suicide needs direct patient involvement and euthanasia involves involuntarily death which is illegal at the USA. I think that if physician-assisted suicide is allowed, then euthanasia won't be far behind. This can be a slippery slope which will be called “mercy killing” without the consent of individuals like mental illness, physical handicaps, elderly, demented, homeless or anyone where society thinks they are useless (Morrow, 2020). Dr Mahal also says in the video that other states should also adopt the physician-assisted suicide. There are many debates on this in other states, but people are still getting the help they want. For example, Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with brain cancer in California. She got six months from the doctors and she couldn't die in California since physician-assisted suicide was not legalized in California. She moved to Oregon with her family and ended her life with her choice and rights (Pence,2017). But there are still many arguments going on, like there are hospice and palliative care, so many people think that they should not be going through Physician-assisted suicide (Morrow,2020). They should be improving in hospice care and palliative care rather than on physical assistant suicide (Morrow, 2020). I think all the arguments were very strong. It is always a big ethical dilemma for the patients and as well for the doctors and nurses who are giving advice. But I think the end decisions should be of the patient. Some patients don't want to go through this suffering and discomfort of medicine

4 so, they decide to end their life whereas some people would like to get all the care until the end of life. In the end, it is a big ethical dilemma, but the patient should always have the right to make the last call.

5 Reference Morrow, A. (2020,February,15).Overview of Physician Assisted Suicide Arguments. Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/opposition-to-physician-assisted-suicide-1132377 Pence, G. E. (2017). Medical ethics: accounts of ground-breaking cases. New York: McGraw Hill Education....