Euthanasia

Euthanasia:

Physicians have to make many life or death decisions. Sometimes the most difficult ones include the possibility of euthanasia, which is known as the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. This usually happens in the event of a patient being in a coma, having been retrieved from a tragic accident, or even a long term illness that is slowly and painfully killing off the patient. Whether, physicians have empathy for the situation or experiences great sympathy for the patient and the family members for their misfortune, it is always a difficult position to be in.

One survey in the United States recorded the opinions of over 10,000 medical doctors and found that sixteen percent would consider stopping a life-maintaining therapy at the recommendation of family or the patient. Fifty five percent would never do such. The study also found that 46 percent of doctors believe that physician assisted suicide should be allowed in some cases. (A)

Around the World: 

The laws regarding euthanasia varies world wide. The British House of Lords have selected a committee on medical ethics that define euthanasia as, "the deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering". In the  Netherlands and Flanders, it is defined as the ‘termination of life by a doctor at the request of a patient'.

Categories of Euthanasia:

With voluntary euthanasia the person is mentally competent and is informed of his/her outcomes including the choices and desires that his/her life be ended humanely. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in USA and Canadian provinces. It is typically performed when a person is suffering from a terminal illness and is in great pain. When the patient performs this procedure with the help of a doctor, the term 'assisted suicide' is often used. This practice is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg. It is also legal in the state of Oregon, Washington, and Montana. In cases of involuntary euthanasia the person has made an informed choice to refuse assistance to die (i.e. condemned criminal who opposes his sentence). Other than performed by the government, this form of euthanasia is legal everywhere. (This type of euthanasia is also known as 'active' and 'passive' forms of euthanasia.)

 

Therefore, active euthanasia is known as the administration of some substance or lethal drug that will actively kill that person. Passive euthanasia, on the other hand, is withholding treatment that could be necessary to support life in patients or terminating a medication that is keeping a patient alive. For example, if a patient was terminally ill he or she would not take antibiotics, initiating IV fluids, or providing nutrition to a dying patient who is unable to eat. Assisted suicide or euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Estonia, Albania, the US states of Washington, Oregon, and Montana, and, starting in 2015, the Canadian Province of Quebec. *Non-voluntary euthanasia is illegal in all countries and involuntary is considered murder.

How Euthanasia is Performed: 

Voluntary euthanasia can be performed by the patient or by someone else.  The patient may use some previously prescribed medications to end his life therefore enacting euthanasia on his or herself. Another way would be to ask someone such as a spouse or friend to provide some medication that would end his or her life. (With the case of capital punishment, the government will provide and administer drugs that will end the life of the condemned individual which is considered involuntary euthanasia. Similarly, this could be done as a form of non-voluntary euthanasia).

Controversy: 

The controversy surrounding euthanasia involves many aspects of religion, medical, and social sciences. The moral and social questions surrounding these practices are the most active fields of research in Bioethics today. Proponents of euthanasia rights emphasize alleviating suffering bodily integrity, self determination, and personal autonomy. Those against Euthanasia argue for sanctity of life. Many Christians believe that taking a life, for any reason, is interfering with God's plan and is comparable to murder. The most conservative of Christians are against even passive euthanasia. Some religious people do take the other side of the argument and believe that the drugs to end suffering early are God-given and should be used.

According to New York Times article by A. Hartocollis, a group of doctors and terminally ill patients are asking New York Courts to declare doctor assisted suicide as legal. Under state law, a doctor who helps a terminally ill patient die with a fatal dose can be persecuted with manslaughter. Since doctors are already allowed to help terminally ill patients die in some circumstances, such as when they remove life support, prosecutors claim, that the fact that they cannot hasten death for other terminally ill patients violates the equal protection clause of the State Constitution.(D)

Thoughts: 

My position in such a circumstance would be to provide reliable and honest information based on studies and statistics on survival on health circumstances, but most importantly to support and help the family members in any way possible. Besides doing my official duty as a doctor, I will respect the patient and the family’s choice in whatever they decide to do.

Links:
(A)http://www.debate.org/euthanasia/
(B)http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/infavour/infavour_1.shtml#section_3
(C) http://americablog.com/2015/02/euthanasia-2.html(D)http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/nyregion/lawsuit-seeks-to-legalize-doctor-assisted-suicide-for-terminally-ill-patients-in-new-york.html?ref=topics&_r=0

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