A Judge's Perspective: Right-to-Die, Beliefs, and Professional Duty

This essay delves into the complex ethical and legal considerations surrounding the right-to-die, as viewed through the lens of a judge grappling with a case involving a doctor who administered a lethal dose of morphine to a terminally ill cancer patient. Drawing from personal experiences and professional observations, the judge reflects on the importance of individual autonomy and the need for legal reforms to accommodate assisted suicide for those facing severe medical conditions. The essay navigates the tension between personal beliefs, professional responsibilities, and the evolving legal landscape of euthanasia, ultimately advocating for a balanced approach that respects both the sanctity of life and the right to choose a dignified death. The essay concludes by reflecting on the need for controlled euthanasia laws, referencing instances of individuals seeking assisted suicide abroad, and emphasizing the importance of providing compassionate care and respecting individual autonomy in end-of-life decisions.

Running head: RIGHT-TO-DIE
Right-To-Die
Students’ Name
Affiliate Institution

RIGHT-TO-DIE 2
While in my teen years, I underwent a traumatizing life having seen my parents
experience tormenting lives due to various illnesses. This, in turn, made me endure similar
challenges having seen the kind of lives they were leading. No one in life would like to see
people they love especially their parents pass through gruesome lives due to terminal illnesses.
Such experience with my folks made change my mind and had a perception and belief that
individuals should have the freedom of choosing when to die.
In my career as a judge, I have come across a close to a similar situation to what I
experienced back in my teenage years. A doctor administering a lethal dose of morphine to a
terminal cancer patient. With pressure mounting from the public and the family has taken the
same stand, I am only left as a judge to behave differently from others who believe that those
undergoing such lives should not have an option to choose right-to-die at their own will. I have
to act professionally and differentiate between beliefs and professional acts.
I firmly believe that the right to die should be a personal choice since humans have been
able to choose what happens to them. I also think that there should be changes in the law to allow
those with severe medical conditions to have assisted suicide when they face painful symptoms.
Most countries in the West, have had medical practitioners who perform assisted death illegally;
hence it’s better to legalize acts of euthanasia to have it under control (Hughes, 2017). Most of
the old or dying patients view themselves as a burden to their caregivers or society which usually
is a common expression wish to die after anguish. Buchbinder (2018) reiterates that patients
choose right-to-die have a strong will, are well informed, and they do not succumb to forms of
pressure.

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Throughout my strong thoughts on the right-to-die matter, all these are guided by beliefs.
Though (Shibata, 2017) notes that beliefs are grounded on sensory perspectives that are biased
and incomplete. The views have been preconditioned and developed through memories of
previous situations and experience.
In this case, I would stand by my beliefs. Doctors are trained professionals. I expect the
doctor acted professionally by administering morphine. Cases of terminal cancer have been on
the rise in recent years, making cancer patients face challenging situations. Morphine may be
used according to Matsuoka, Yoshiuchi, Koyama, Makimura, Fujita, and Tsurutani (2017) to
ensure the cancer patients are a bit comfortable in their life’s final moments. The doctor therefore
would face trial on basis of not acting to their code of conduct . This resulted in the
administering of morphine in a dose that is viewed to be lethal. I would advise that the doctor’s
practicing license be withdrawn so that he cannot practice in the future. I would not give life
imprisonment but just around two to three years since the doctor did not act professionally.
Matsuoka et al. (2017) notes that if patients do not have their morphine titrated slowly, then it
would not be the cause of death.
The above decisions will have been made because if patients or other individuals feel that
their quality of life is terrible, then they have a right to terminate the suffering. There have been
cases where people travel to Britain for assisted suicide. It demonstrates that euthanasia laws
should be made to work with control.

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References
Buchbinder, M. (2018). Access to Aid-in-Dying in the United States: Shifting the Debate From
Rights to Justice. American Journal of Public Health, 108(6), 754–759.
https://doi.org/10.2105/ AJPH.2018.304352)
Hughes, M. T. (2017). The pharmacist and medical aid in dying. American Journal of Health-
System Pharmacy, 74(16), 1253–1260.
Matsuoka, H., Yoshiuchi, K., Koyama, A., Makimura, C., Fujita, Y., Tsurutani, J., … Nakagawa,
K. (2017). Expectation of a Decrease in Pain Affects the Prognosis of Pain in Cancer
Patients: a Prospective Cohort Study of Response to Morphine. International Journal of
Behavioral Medicine, 24(4), 535–541.
Shibata, B. (2017). An Ethical Analysis of Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Rejecting
Euthanasia and Accepting Physician Assisted Suicide with Palliative Care. Journal of
Legal Medicine, 37(1/2), 155–166.