Essay - Law/ethics - Assisted Suicide the Legal and Ethical Issues of...

Law/Ethics - Assisted Suicide

THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES OF PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE

Introduction:

***** has always been a very controversi*****l subject, mainly because of traditional religious teachings equating it with "sin." However, since U.S. law is not supposed to be influenced by religious beliefs, the ethical *****sues and legal ramifications of physician-assisted suicide must be defined by objective moral principles ***** legislative criteria addressing the potential for misuse and abuse.

Problematic Issues:

The Hippocratic Oath prohibits physicians from harming their patients, but it was formulated long before the era of modern medicine at a time when very few patients faced ***** prospect of outliving debilitating diseases. Today, modern technology, pharmacology, and surgical intervention enable physicians to treat disease and prolong patients' lives, sometimes even beyond their ability ***** appreciate. Particularly in the case of ailments associated with old age, such as many forms ***** cancer, modern ***** *****s physicians to extend life even when ***** patient might prefer to die instead of enduring constant physical pain or continual gradual physical deterioration that ultimately leads to death, only with greater suffering in the meantime.

***** easiest situations for ***** physician involve *****s whose medical prognosis already defines their condition as terminal, in which case ***** suicide only hastens the same outcome, and usually for the sole purpose ***** palliative relief from symptoms whose ***** cannot be relieved by other means. *****, many patients suffer just as much ***** symptoms associated ***** non-fatal illnesses and conditions ***** may not be addressed through physician-assisted suicide under ***** *****.

***** of physician-assisted suicide point out (rightly) that neither the government nor any ***** person or entity has a legitim*****te moral right (much less ***** obligation) to interfere with the autonomous choice to end one's life, especially ***** the motivation is ***** avoid *****ed pain and *****.

Legislative Regulation:

Legitimate legal concerns arise where ***** patient is not completely capable of expressing h***** or her wishes directly, *****cause any situation w*****e surrogates do so on behalf of ***** raises the specter ***** ulterior motivati*****, *****, and conflicts of interests. Therefore, strict legislative controls ***** ensure against such potential for misuse and abuse. Similarly, both legislative oversight and updated modern principles of medical ethics must establish criteria for distinguishing bet*****en the desire to end ***** life that reflects only the genuine desire to ***** pain and discomfort from any ***** desire that is a function of tr*****nsient perspectives. Both acute depressions (such as over ***** loss ***** a spouse or other comp*****nion ***** loved one) ***** clinical depression have the capacity to influence a patient's will ***** live.

Conclusion:

***** one hand, principles of patient autonomy must not be contradicted or ignored by ancient medical ethics criteria ***** are too narrow to recognize ***** issues that arise in contemporary medicine. On the o*****r hand, unregulated ***** suicide is susceptible to unethical m*****use. Ultimately, physician-assisted suicide should be available under appropriately regulated circumstances that include criteria for identifying potential misapplication at the p*****ient's will or, *****, misuse