Death with dignity and ethics (voluntary)
Title: Ethics of Death with Dignity Laws, A Critical Review
Thesis: Voluntary euthanasia laws or death with dignity have been controversial in the medical field. While some argue that it is a compassionate option for terminally ill patients, others contend that it goes against the medical profession’s obligation to preserve life.
The Article:
The article “Death with Dignity: The Case for Legalizing Physician-Assisted Dying and Voluntary Euthanasia” by Robert M. Walker argues in favor of legalizing physician-assisted dying and voluntary euthanasia. Walker argues that terminally-ill patients have the right, if they are suffering unbearably, to decide when and how they die. Walker argues that physicians’ assistance in the process upholds autonomy and is compassionate.
However, the article “Death with Dignity and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Ethical Issues for Social Workers” by Marianne F. Yoshioka presents a counterargument. Yoshioka argues that voluntary euthanasia is a violation of the medical profession’s ethical obligation to preserve life. She believes that physicians are better off focusing on palliative medicine and helping patients to die peacefully, as opposed to hastening death.
Analysis:
Death with Dignity laws are a complex issue that has many facets. The advocates argue that this is an option of compassion for terminally-ill patients experiencing unimaginable pain. The advocates argue that the patient should have the choice of the time and method in which they die, and that doctors should be permitted to help them.
However, opponents of voluntary euthanasia argue that it is a violation of the medical profession’s ethical obligation to preserve life. Some physicians believe that doctors should instead focus on providing patients with palliative and supportive care as they go through their dying process, not hastening the death of these patients.
I believe that voluntary euthanasia is a controversial issue. It raises important ethical questions regarding the role of doctors and the importance of life. I understand the pain of terminally ill people who cannot bear their suffering. However, I also believe that doctors are ethically bound to save lives and to offer palliative treatments to ease suffering.
Conclusion:
It is clear that the debate about death with dignity legislation has multiple facets. While proponents argue that it is a compassionate option for terminally ill patients, opponents contend that it goes against the medical profession’s obligation to preserve life. The issue of voluntary suicide raises important questions for me about physicians’ roles and human values. Physicians should provide palliative and supportive care to patients during the dying process, rather than trying to hasten their deaths.