PHYSICIANS assisted suicide
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Uploaded by ProfessorStar1175
I.
What is PHYSICIANS assisted suicide? (Paige)
A.
It can also be called “euthanasia” 1.
Euthanasia- A doctor is allowed by law to end a person’s life by a painless means, as long as the patient and their family agree.
2.
Assisted Suicide- A doctor assists a patient to commit suicide if they request it.
3.
Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide refer to deliberate action taken
with the intention of ending a life, in order to relieve persistent suffering.
a)
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182951#euthanasia-
and-assisted-suicide-
II.
How does it work? How does assisted suicide work? (slate.com)
(Chris)
A.
Steps to request assisted suicide (Oregon)
1.
Formal Oral request
2.
Two weeks later, you must make another formal oral request to your physician
3.
Must file a written request form signed by two witnesses 4.
Once their primary doctor agrees to it, a second physician must review and also agree to it
5.
Physician can prescribe lethal drugs two days after receiving written request, but is not allowed to administer it themselves
6.
Patient must take the drugs themselves
B.
Doctor must tell them alternatives such as hospice, confer with family
C.
III.
Where is it allowed/legal? (Geo)
A.
Death with Dignity Act
1.
https://deathwithdignity.org/learn/death-with-dignity-acts/
2.
It is allowed in California, Colorado, D.C., Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington
B.
Oregon vs Gonzales
1.
U.S Supreme Court ruled in favor , 6-3, of the right of mentally competent, terminally ill persons to make end of life decisions in consultation with their doctors 2.
The Supreme Court ruled against the U.S. government’s use of the Controlled Substance Act to thwart Oregon’s aid-in-dying law.
3.
https://www.aclu-or.org/en/cases/state-oregon-v-gonzales
IV.
Why do people want to do it? (Paige)
A.
Most people who want to PAS are suffering from a terminal illness, a neurological
disease or are nearing organ-failure. 1.
A study showed that 70% of PAS was due to cancer and 28% were those
who suffered from a neurological disease. B.
Loss of sense of purpose, Unacceptable quality of life
and/or inability to enjoy life, Loss of physical ability (for example, walking, or speaking), Hopeless suffering and prospect of recovery, loss of autonomy 1.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/reasons-for-seeking-physician-assisted-
suicide-1132378
V.
What are the requirements/criteria for committed assisted suicides? (Chris)
A.
How to Access and Use Death with Dignity Laws
B.
Criteria for Active Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide (pdx.edu)
1.
A resident of the state that have the law
2.
18 years of age or older
3.
Mentally competent
4.
Diagnosed with a terminal illness that leads to death within 6 months
C.
Interesting fact: Netherlands and Belgium do not necessitate terminal illness for physician assisted suicide
VI.
What do medical professionals think about it? (Victoria)
A.
Many physicians do not agree with the ethics behind physician-assisted suicide. The concept is fundamentally incompatible with health care provider’s role as a healer which leads to controversy. B.
However, in the latest Medscape
poll, 56% of doctors who responded said they thought the passage of physician-assisted dying laws was a positive development.
C.
A large number of commenters on the poll said that allowing people to choose to end their lives was good medicine and would stop prolonged suffering.
1.
Some argued physician-assisted death was not acceptable. "The golden rule of medicine is: 'First, do no harm.' Allowing death to occur with dignity, medical support, et al is fine ― picking a time and causing it — not," said Dana Panknin, MD, a family medicine specialist.
2.
"Needless suffering is more painful for patients as well as families," said Saraswati Chhetry, MD, a family practice doctor. "Although [the] oath says 'Do no harm,' allowing prolonged suffering is doing more harm by not giving peace."
VII.
What controversies surround it? (Victoria)
A.
A main risk with physician-assisted suicide is allowing people to engage in it for the wrong reasons. B.
It is important that doctors are hesitant to use these methods when dealing with mentally ill and depressed individuals. C.
Requiring evaluation by two physicians is one way to help determine whether someone is mentally capable to make the decision.
D.
When care is appropriately withdrawn, the course of the terminal illness is the cause of death. If a medication is prescribed to cause death, the prescription is the cause of death.
1.
This statement is the main controversy of the ethics behind physician-
assisted death.
California lawmakers to pursue right-to-die legislation
. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brittany-maynard-california-lawmakers-to-pursue-
right-to-die-legislation/
Death with Dignity Acts—States That Allow Assisted Death
. (n.d.). Death With Dignity. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://deathwithdignity.org/learn/death-with-dignity-
acts/
Engber, D. (2005, October 6). How Does Assisted Suicide Work? Slate
. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2005/10/how-does-assisted-suicide-work.html
Euthanasia and assisted suicide: What are they and what do they mean?
(2018, December
17). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182951
How to Access and Use Death with Dignity Laws
. (n.d.). Death With Dignity. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://deathwithdignity.org/learn/access/
Kavehrad, C. (2018). Criteria for Active Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
what [Portland State University]. https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.598
State of Oregon v. Gonzales
. (2009, May 19). ACLU of Oregon. https://www.aclu-or.org/en/cases/state-oregon-v-gonzales
Why Do Some Request Physician-Assisted Suicide?
(n.d.). Verywell Health. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/reasons-for-seeking-physician-
assisted-suicide-1132378
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