Philosophy And Death An Argument For Physician Assisted...

PHILOSOPHY AND DEATH: AN ARGUMENT FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE EMILY BEDFORD 10107525 Submitted to: Robert Armstrong PHIL 259 Monday, December 7, 2015 Introduction As humans, we have the right to life. In Canada, in section 7 of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians can expect â€Å"life, liberty and security of the person.† This means not only to simply exist, but have a minimum quality and value in each of our lives. Dying is the last important, intimate, and personal moment, and this process of dying is part of life. Whether death is a good or bad thing is not the question, as it is obviously inevitable, but as people have the right to attempt to make every event in their life pleasant, so they should have the right to make their dying as pleasant as possible. If this process is already very painful and unpleasant, people should have the right to shorten the unpleasantness. In February of this year, judges declared that the right to life does not mean individuals â€Å"cannot ‘waive’ their right to life.† Attempting suicide is not illegal in Canada, but the issue here is for those whose physical handicaps prevent them from doing so, and to allow access to a safe, regulated and painless form of suicide. It is a very difficult, sensitive and much-debated subject which seeks to balance the value of life with personal autonomy. In this essay, I will argue that the philosophical case for pro-euthanasia is more complete than those arguments against it due to theShow MoreRelatedThe Ethical Issue Of Physician Assisted Suicide1580 Words   |  7 Pagesthe implications and discourse of vice and virtue, this paper explores the relevance of Aristotle’s moral philosophy in modern day and will be applied to the contemporary ethical issue surrounding physician assisted suicide. By exploring Aristotle’s work through primary and secondary sources, this paper will discuss the greater good and happiness as it relates to not only the patient or physician, but as a member of a greater social circle and that of society because to Aristotle the role of the individualRead MorePhysician Assist ed Suicide Is Not Considered Admissible949 Words   |  4 PagesPhysician assisted suicide- the voluntary termination of one’s own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician, and euthanasia, the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable, painful disease are both highly emotional and contentious subjects. Some argue physician assisted suicide (P.A.S.) is admissible for someone who is dying and trying to painlessly break free from the intolerable suffering at the end of their life, and someRead MoreActive Euthanasia Pros and Cons Essay1640 Words   |  7 Pagesgeriatric treatment clinic, researchers found that 39.9% favored physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill. 59.3% of the patients’ relatives 146 spouses, children, and siblings favored the same measure under the same circumstance, says Harold Koenig lead investigator of the study published in the October issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Duke University Alumni Magazine, (Mar. 2008) Euthanasia: Greek for the good death. Euthanize: To kill a person or animal that is in a terminalRead MoreThe Medical And Legal Fields About Assisted Suicide1667 Words   |  7 Pageswithin both the medical and legal fields about assisted suicide. The benefits of assisted suicide for a terminally ill individual are notably momentous. However, the argument is not extricated from opposition concerned with the obligations of the medical community. It is paramount to have an even-handed perception of the issue and present each side but recognize that the rights of the individual in arbitrating the specific route of his or her death, specifically in lethal cases where physical agonyRead MoreThe Legal And Moral Ethics Of Assisted Suicide1323 Words   |  6 PagesEvaluation of the Legal and Moral Ethics of Assisted Suicide When we are born we are told that we have free will, either by some form of higher power, or some other greater force. As such, it appears reasonable that one would have some preconceived right to choose whether or not they seek death in the case of a terminal illness. This choice to hasten our death for much of the world is not truly ours to make, with adversaries of assisted-suicide opposing the legalization of such acts, we are forcingRead MoreThe Debate Surrounding Physician-Assisted Suicide Essay1673 Words   |  7 PagesPhysician-assisted suicide is the practice in which a doctor prescribes a terminally ill patient with a lethal medication as a form of active, voluntary euthanasia. These patients, rather than suffer slowly and painfully, often request this procedure as a means of experiencing a more â€Å"dignified† death. The debate surrounding this issue is a heated one, especially among the general public whose attitudes are deeply influenced by the level of patient pain and discomfort (Frileux et al. 334). At theRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia1707 Words   |  7 PagesPhysician-assisted suicide or PAS are deaths caused by a lethal dose of drug, such as barbiturate, that is prescribed by a physician. The physician does not administer the drug; instead, the patient is responsible for getting the prescribed drug in the pharmacy and taking the medication to end his or her life. This alternative option applies to patients who can make informed decision, suffer from an incurable illness, and experience intolerable symptoms (Canadian Virtual Hospice, 2015)).[Extra bracket]Read MorePhysician Assisted Suicide : The Voluntary Termination Of One s Own Life1378 Words   |  6 PagesComposition 2 13 April 2015 The Right to Die Physician assisted suicide has been practiced over the past couple centuries and is beginning to spark the interest in many people who suffer from terminal diseases. Physician assisted suicide is the voluntary termination of one s own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician (Physician-assisted Suicide). Starting in the early 1800 s, physicians did all they could to save the lives of theirRead MoreEuthanasia Essay : Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide910 Words   |  4 PagesCouncil. Patients Rights Council, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015. This website address euthanasia, assisted suicide, advance directive, disability rights, pain control, and more. This article features background information on euthanasia and assisted suicide in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, for euthanasia or assisted suicide to be legal, â€Å"The patient must be experiencing unbearable pain†¦ must be conscious, The death request must be voluntary. The patient must have been given alternatives to euthanasiaRead MoreThe Good Death Essay1471 Words   |  6 Pagesparents? Physician-assisted suicide is a voluntary termination of one’s own life by administration of a lethal substance with direct or indirect assistance of a physician. Euthanasia is another term for this practice it provides a competent patient with a prescription for the patient to use with the primary intention of ending his or her own life. Compassion and Choices or Death with Dignity are names of supporters that promote euthanasia, also referred to as physician-assisted suicide, and believe