Description
READ THE SCENARIO AND CONSIDER THE RESPONSES AND CHOOSE THE ONE YOU THINK YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST ETHICAL.
APA FORMAT. NEEDS CITATION.
MODERATOR:
DO WE, AS HUMAN BEINGS, HAVE THE RIGHT TO END OUT OWN LIVES WHEN FACED WITH A PAINFUL, TERMINAL DISEASE? OR DOES SUICIDE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES VIOLATE THE SANCITITY OF HUMAN LIFE? THESE ARE TRICKY QUESTIONS BOUND IN MORALS DERIVED FROM VARIOUS AND SOMETIMES CONTRADICTORY SOURCES. PROPONENTS CALL PHYSICIAN- ASSISTED SUICIDE MERCIFUL AND SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO END HUMAN SUFFERING, WHILE SOME OPPONENTS SEE IT AS AN OFFENSE TO THE SANCTITY OF LIFE. OTHER OPPONENTS RAISE THE POSSIBILITY OF PAS AS AN ABROGATION OF RIGHTS IF THE INDIVIDUAL IN QUESTION IS NOT OF SOUND MIND. AND WHO DECIDES WHAT “OF SOUND MIND MEANS?”
TODAY OUR SPEAKERS WILL BE DEBATING THE ETHICS OF OREGON’S DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE ACT WAS PASSED IN 1997 AND ALLOWS TERMINALLY-ILL OREGONIANS TO END THEIR LIVES THROUGH THE VOLUNTARY SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF LETHAL MEDICATIONS, EXPRESSLY PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE ACT WAS A CITIZEN’S INITIATIVE, ENACTED BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF VOTING OREGONIANS BELIEVED THAT PERSONS AFFLICTED WITH CERTAIN TERMINAL ILLNESSES SHOULD HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO HASTEN THEIR DEATHS.
OUR SPEAKERS TODAY ARE DR MAHAL AND DR ROBIN…
DR MAHAL:
LEGALITY IS NOT AN ISSUE HERE, BUT I THINK THAT PERHAPS PRECEDENCE IS. IS OREGON’S LAW ETHICAL AS IT STANDS? ABSOLUTELY. AND A STATEMENT FROM US WITH REGARD TO THIS LAW COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON OTHER STATES CONSIDERING SIMILAR LAWS. I BELIEVE THE ETHICS OF INFORMED PAS ARE SOUND, AND THE LAW AS IT STANDS CONFORMS TO ETHICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICES I WOULD HOPE TO SEE ADOPTED BY OTHER STATES.
DR ROBIN:
DR MAHAL, YOU SAY “INFORMED PAS,” AND THAT’S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION! I UNDERSTAND THAT A PATIENT MUST POSSESS TO BE A SOUND MIND TO BE ELIGIBLE, AND THE PHYSICIAN MUST CONFIRM THAT. THERE IS ALSO A STIPULATION THAT THE DOCTOR MUST OFFER MEDICAL ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING COMFORT CARE AND PAIN MANAGEMENT.
BUT THE WAITING PERIOD TO CONSIDER THESE OPTIONS SEEMS FAIRLY SHORT. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE MODEL TO FOLLOW FOR PATIENT’S MAKING SUCH A MOMENTOUS DECISION?
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Purchase answer to see full attachment
Explanation & Answer
Attached final. Cheers!!!!
Running Head: PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE
Physician Assisted Suicide
Student name
Institution
Date
1
PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE
2
Physician Assisted Suicide
Dr. Mahal’s assessment of the law is reasonable. The death with dignity act is carefully
constructed and protects both the doctor and the patient. In order for PAS to be legal, the patient
must be sane and properly informed about the potential alternatives. This is an ethical template
that other states considering the law might be encouraged to adopt.
The right to die depends on the decision of the patient. If the patient is of sound mind
when making the d...