Medical and Health Care Sciences


Issues Related to Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicides

Article Number: QIS311754 Volume 01 | Issue 01 | January - 2019 ISSN: UA
02nd Sep, 2018
08th Oct, 2018
11th Dec, 2018
21st Jan, 2019

Authors

Astha Vyas

Abstract

Nowadays, Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) acts have become a big issue for the society. In many countries and states, these acts are not legalized and have many discussion and debates on this topic. Actually, these acts prohibit the codes of medical ethics. Medical ethics show that the role of the physician is to save the life of patients while these acts refer to as mercy killing of a patient with the assistance of a physician. On the other hand, Euthanasia and PAS terms are also necessary to terminate the life of an ill patient when no hope is left to save the patients. Some physicians have an objection how can a single physician decide to give euthanasia or PAS to the patient. Before giving the consent for PAS and Euthanasia, multiple physician examination should be conduct and the written consent of the patient should be taken during an examination if possible. This paper represents the difference between Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) and factors that lead to a request for PAS or Euthanasia. It also shows the role of physician and response of a patient with these acts. Keywords: PAS, Euthanasia, Medical Ethics

Introduction

There are many big questions about the right of men: does a man have a right to live, and have a right to die? Does he have a right to a noble death? Is the ending of life caused on the ground of mercy reasons a crime or unpunishable act? These questions’ answers are different from country to country. Every country has their own rules and regulations. For example; if one country makes the deprivation of life as legal, the reason behind this legality is raised. In the same way, if any country does not legalize it, they must also have the reason behind it. Hence, Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide became infinite topics for the consideration in the field of medicine, law, sociology, philosophy, religion, and morality. By knowing the definition of these two terms, it can be pointed out that Euthanasia is a medical act directed at the ending of life. Whereas in case of PAS, the physician provides a medication to the patient for taking life.

It is unknown when was the idea of euthanasia came into existence? On this topic, many discussions have been attempted in the United States and the United Kingdom in 1906 at the time of passing a law to legalize Euthanasia by Ohio. The legalization of Euthanasia and PAS began from last few decades but it can be noticed that various representative accepted PAS as a milder form of the ending of life across the world. American continent is a primary evidence where PAS is accepted while the Supreme Court does not have a constitutional right for Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide and don’t ban these acts. In the same way, there should not be any penalties for the persons who aid in the deprivation of life of patients who want to end his life at request (Banovic, Turanjanin, 2016).

References

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Lima, Liliana De, et al. “International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Position Statement: Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide.” Journal of Palliative Medicine, vol. 20, no. 1, 2017, pp. 8–14.

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Zenz, Julia, et al. “Palliative Care Professionals’ Willingness to Perform Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide.” BMC Palliative Care, vol. 14, no. 1, 2015.

How to cite this article?

APA StyleVyas. A. (2019). Issues Related to Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicides. Academic Journal of Medical and Health Care Sciences, 1(1), 6-11
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