Assisted suicide and Ethical issues.
Thesis statement:
Is assisted suicide right or wrong considering the ethical issues involved?
Ethics are concepts of right and wrong conduct which addresses moral diversity. Assisted
suicide is an action of giving a means of death knowingly and with intention to another person
who applies it and dies. Assisted suicide is influence by the societal ethical and cultural issues.
The practice of assisted suicide is a practice of causing deaths knowingly due to individual
medical sufferings which cannot be treated or contained. The application may be in conflict with
the moral and ethical standards of the society.
The United States of America has some of its states have the practice legalized but some
have not come to terms with the moral implications of its application. The practice should be
done if the suffering victim deems necessary and advocate for it at his or her own will. The
process of assisted suicide can be accomplished by giving a prescription of a lethal dosage of
drugs or an injection. The victims are offered an option to rest instead of continual unbearable
suffering due to their medical conditions which cannot be treated. The patients themselves may
request for assisted suicide or their immediate family members.
In its advocacy the assisted suicide it is promoted by the factors such as suffering
elimination and autonomy. Autonomy entails self-deterministic power of an individual to suggest
a form of treatment one feels is suitable to end a suffering. The power of autonomy gives a
patient right to project his life during adverse medical conditions and make suitable decisions.
The success of assisted suicide is believed to be in line with the respect for personal autonomy.
The rationale in autonomy application is that a person death should be a self-determined choice
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if to end the untold suffering and if not due to natural occurrence (Journal of Medical Ethics,
2014).
Suffering elimination is seen as a final respect accorded to a person suffering in total
unyielding pain. Patients thus choose to apply assisted suicide in order to do away with the pain
they suffer. The patients with conditions which are untreatable and cause untold suffering to
them may advocate for attempted suicide. The parents of individuals suffering may resort to
attempted suicide when they cannot hold anymore the suffering on their children or siblings. An
individual should not suffer a slow and torturing death thus assisted suicide comes handy.
In Zurich assisted suicide is promoted by an organization known as Dignitas. Research
have showed that 611 people from 31 different countries had committed assisted suicide from
2008 – 2012. 21 people came from United States of America in 2010, 5 in 2010 and 7 in 2012
(New York Times Article, 21 st August 2014). In advocating, it is only applicable to patients who
are qualified. The qualified person here means adults of sound mind who can make sound
decisions and judgment. Also is limited to only those who are terminally ill. United States being
a diverse culture should be able to accommodate everyone. The advocacy of the assisted suicide
depends on the moral standards of the society. It should be applicable only if someone is
suffering entirely and has accepted to die.
The society in its tasks of upholding moral and ethical standards in the societal
discourage assisted suicide. The society values life and that even though people are sick and
suffering they have the right to live up to their timely death. The rights of others may be violated
in supporting the assisted suicide. The parents may not want to lose their child even if the child is
suffering. The rights of handicaps and physically challenged persons may become in danger.
Children who are innocent lose their lives without their consent. Physicians – assisted suicide is
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fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as a healer, would be difficult to control
and would pose serious societal risks (Code of Ethics, American Medical Association).
With regard to public policy and ethics it is not allowed to be undertaken for most of the
people. The practice is not widely accepted and to some it is unmoral and unethical. Assisted
suicide affects the societal ethics if legislated and used as a form of medical treatment. The
people who does not support the practice argue that morals and ethics should be upheld in the
society. To allow someone to take away life from someone is viewed as violation of the
fundamental right to respect human life. The societal policies and the enhancement of ethical
issues protect the life of human beings.
Rapid technological advancements today has given medicine a chance to save more life
that could have been lost if it were in the past. People suffering from certain diseases that were
incurable can now be cured. The medical cases that were fatal can now be tackle and even
suffering in victims can be reduced. There is hope in the future thus assisted suicide should not
be advocated. When legislation concerning assisted suicide is being discussed crucial societal
ethical issues should be considered.
It is important to note that assisted suicide are only viable where the person is seen
suffering much and only allowing him to die will be seen as an act of humanity. These can be
due to a lot of pain the medical condition is inflicting on the individual. Assisted suicide will be
allowed if all the medical system has been proven not applicable and the condition of the patient
is unbearable the more a person stay alive. The medical conditions may be irreversible and can
cause permanent damage. The more the person suffers, it becomes a humanity practice necessary
to end the suffering.
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In conclusion humans should enjoy the rights to life. Legislation made by the government
should be considerate to the well-being of the society. It should not infringe on the rights of the
citizens. Care should be taken for those who may want to take advantage to take out their own
life without concrete reasons or without any medical related sufferings. The assisted suicide
should only be administered to qualified persons who suffer untold sufferings and are of sound
mind. Ethical issues helps shape the cultural practices. The formulation of policies regarding to
the assisted suicide should be in tandem with ethical and moral standards of the society.
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References
Journal of Medical Ethics (2014): An International Peer-Viewed Journal for Health
Professionals and Researchers in Medical Ethics.
Assisted Suicide News Article (21 st August 2014). Switzerland: more Foreigners Drawn by
Assisted Suicide Law, Study Shows. The New York Times
Code of Ethics of American Medical Association