A Comprehensive Look at Euthanasia and Physician Aid-in-Dying

This argumentative essay supports the legalization of physician aid-in-dying, asserting that it respects patient autonomy and alleviates suffering in cases of incurable diseases. It addresses concerns about traditional medical ethics, such as beneficence and the duty to preserve life, by arguing that patient dignity and the right to avoid prolonged pain outweigh these concerns in specific situations. The essay references various studies and ethical perspectives to support its claim that physician aid-in-dying can provide a compassionate and patient-centered approach to end-of-life care, especially when medical advancements fail to offer a cure or alleviate suffering. It also includes replies to classmates, reinforcing the idea that physician aid-in-dying allows for dignified, medically-approved end-of-life choices, relieving psychological trauma for both patients and their families. Desklib provides a platform to access this and similar assignments.

Running head: EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING
EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING
Physician aid-in-dying imply the deliberate and voluntary attempts of the patient to end
his or her life, using assistance and supervision from the health professional and physician. The
following argumentative essay chooses to argue in favor of physician aid-in-dying.
Physician aid-in-dying defines an ethical clinical scenario where a patient voluntary
chooses to end his or life, but is assisted a physician. Despite the alarming questions physician
aid-in-dying raises against age-old medical ethics, numerous health advocates believe that the
same must be legalized and have chosen to voice in support of this issue. Taking insights from
Lagay (2001), patients suffering from debilitating and incurable chronic diseases view
themselves as a liability and regard illness with a sense of fear and an emotional, physiological,
psychological and financial burden on his or her family. As noted by Jones (2017), legalizing
and enhancing the acceptability of physician aid-in-dying will be beneficial not only for the
patient, but as well the concerned family – for no family deserves to witness the suffering,
agony, trauma and helplessness that is brought forth when their loved one is inflicted with an
incurable and degenerative diseases whose debilitating symptoms are lifelong.
Further, as examined by Idziak (2010), physician aid-in-dying aids in the perseveration of
the dignity and respect of the concerned patient who is suffering from a disruptive health
condition. Not legalizing or approving physician aid-in-dying is not only traumatizing for the
patient’s family, but also forces the patient to live a live a life of depression, suffering, pain and
agony against his or her wishes. In such a situation, physician aid-in-dying alleviates the
patient’s condition of pain and trauma and allows him or her to end this suffering in peace and
also allow patients to be themselves and preserve their dignity and identity. Similarly, readuing
the research by Sulmasy and Mueller (2017) exiting clinical legalizations must favor physician-
aid-in-dying since it allows the salient practice of patient-centered approach to treatment by

2EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING
considering the ethical right of a patient’s wish to avoid treatment and also serves as a
compassionate means by which a patient’s needs can be met.
However, reading Lagay (2001) as well as noting the refuting statements proposed by
Sulmasy and Mueller (2017), it must be considered that physician aid-in-dying questions
traditional medical ethical principles of beneficence or ensuring the benefit and recovery of the
benefits to the best of his or her interest. Further, physician aid-in-dying continues to raises
eyebrows in the medical world since it questions the very duty and responsibility of the clinician
to protect, preserve, treat and restore the life of the patient. However, taking insights again from
Idziak (2010), despite the recent advancements in science and technology, certain diseases and
patient conditions continue to be incurable and provide no alleviation of the patient’s
psychological fear and trauma of being trapped within machinery and institutionalized treatment
for lifelong. Further, as noted by Lagay (2001), lack of health literacy may result in patient’s
consuming incorrect dosages of medications of misusage of equipment meant for dying which
may further aggravate existing health and psychological conditions of the patient as well as the
family. In such situations, physician aid-in-dying is beneficial since via a clinician’s supervised
and professional help, a patient can end his or life with peace, dignity and compassion.
Hence, it can be concluded that physician aid in dying must be legalized since no form of
medical treatment or disease is justified to cause pain, suffering and agony for patients and their
families.
Reply to Classmate 1
Despite still being illegal, physician aid-in-dying should be supported and legalized since
it allows compassionate, dignified and patient centered approach to caring for a patient who is

3EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING
suffering from an incurable condition (Sulmasy & Mueller, 2017). Further, many patients view
their condition as a burden and hence, physician aid-in-dying helps relieve the psychological
trauma of patients and family (Idziak, 2010). Despite questioning medical ethics, advanced
medical treatment is still unable to cure some diseases and hence physician aid-in-dying allows
patients to end their life is medically approved and safe ways (Lagay, 2001).
Reply to Classmate 2
Many health professionals support physician aid-in-dying since it allows patients to die
with dignity, respect and compassionate and allows physicians to practice patient centered
approach of care (Sulmasy & Mueller, 2017). Many patients fear the idea of being enclosed in
institutions and machinery for lifelong treatment and view themselves as a burden to their
families – which physician aid-n-dying helps in relieving (Idziak, 2010). Physician aid-in-dying
should be supported since it alleviates the trauma of the patient, and family and provides safe,
end of life methods against a situation where current medical advancements have failed to
provide a cure (Lagay, 2001).

4EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING
References
Idziak, J. M. (2010). Ethical Dilemmas in Allied Health. United States: Kendall Hunt Publishing
Company.
Jones, C. (2017). Physician-assisted death should be legalized. Retrieved from
http://thebluebanner.net/physician-assisted-death-should-be-legalized/
Lagay, F. (2001). Physician-Assisted Suicide: What's Legal and What's Professional?. AMA
Journal of Ethics, 3(1).
Sulmasy, L. S., & Mueller, P. S. (2017). Ethics and the legalization of physician-assisted suicide:
an American College of Physicians position paper. Annals of internal medicine, 167(8),
576-578.