PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE - SHOULD IT BE PERMITTED?.
The question posed by society today in the issue of physicians who assist with suicide of a patient is of moral substance. Is it morally right for a doctor to assist in the death of a patient? Should society look the other way when this occurs? Does a person have the right to die with dignity at the time of his or her choosing and request the assistance of his or her physician if it is needed?.
Patients have relied on the wisdom of their doctors for centuries so it is a natural dependency that the patient should believe it when their physician tells them they have no other recourse from a terminal illness but death. However, sooner rather than later is better when one is suffering intolerable pain and perhaps the loss of their dignity as well. When a patient is confined to the hospital with no hope of returning home, it is a natural instinct for this patient to turn to their doctor for help. This patient does not have the opportunity to end his or her own life while confined to a hospital bed, should he or she so wish. The patient has signed a living will, therefore, the wishes of the patient are well documented. Now, all he or she has to do is wait til death comes. .
IS THIS LIFE WORTH LIVING?.
Who decides if a person's life is worth living? The moral conflicts that arise with this decision are often the result of differing attitudes when the perceived rights of patients clash with the perceived duties of healthcare professionals. A difference perspective often leads to conflicts concerning what is in the patient's best interest and who should be allowed to decide what is best. The doctor should know best what the outcome of treatment to the patient or the refusal of said treatment will lead. The physician is in the best position to determine if improved health is indeed possible. This doctor will then relay all possible outcomes to the patient.