Physician Assisted Dying ( Pad ) And Euthanasia

“[t]he court ruled that laws making physician-assisted death illegal violated Canadians’ constitutional rights in cases where an adult clearly consents to the termination of life and has a grievous and irremediable medical condition." (Larson)

The Canadian Medical Association defines physician-assisted death (PAD) as “[when] a physician knowingly and intentionally provides a person with the knowledge and/or means required to end their own lives…”. (A, p29) In Canada, suicide has been legal for years, but euthanasia and physician-assisted death have only recently been decriminalized in a court of law. However, until 2016, PAD can still be charged as “culpable homicide” under section 222 and 229 of the Criminal Code of Canada. (B,K) The specifics of the debate on physician-assisted death in Canada has, over the decades, not significantly changed, but instead Canadians’ opinions have been shifted since information from Belgium, Columbia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland,

Firstly, a man's father had not received doctor assisted suicide because he did not reach requirements even though he had prostate cancer. He needed a approval from 2 healthcare providers. One of them had approved and the other denied because the healthcare worker assumed that he wasn't in distress. As time passed, 2 weeks later the man's father died in a home that cared for the sick. Furthermore, even though the man had prostate cancer and he was going to die, he could not get doctor assisted suicide because it was assumed that he was not in distress. Secondly, a person with a grievous and irremediable medical condition can only be granted to get doctor assisted suicide. A doctor in Toronto said that just because of this law only 1 out of 10 requests for medically assisted dying are granted. Additionally, the doctor had also stated that there are many reasons why a patient can not be granted doctor assisted suicide and the most common one is that their condition might not be too severe and their death may not be foreseeable. Many kill themselves because they can not bear the pain that others can not see. Thirdly, the mentally ill are not being included for doctor assisted suicide. There are many organizations that fight for this right but the main one is "Dying with Dignity". This organization argues that the bill passed by Canada called C-14 discludes the mentally ill. Additionally, this is a violation to charter of rights. People have the right to make decisions about treatment according to Ontario's Health Care Consent Act. Although, they can only make these decisions if they are capable which means if they understand the information about the treatments and the consequences of refusing the treatment. Moreover, research states that the general public and health workers do not wish that the law includes these

Imagine laying in bed; your eyes are open and you cannot move. Your brain is working but cannot tell your body how to function. We as a society have a right and a moral obligation to legalize physician-assisted suicide. The legalizing euthanasia grants terminally ill patients; the right to die without withdrawing from life support. Also giving the right for patients to die on their own terms. Euthanasia is a publically supposed issue that needs to be changed and allowed into hospitals. People may believe that assisted suicide by a physician is wrong and unmorally just but they must understand that Criminal Code 241 must be changed.

Fighting for the right to die has been an ongoing battle between the courts and people for a long time, first in 1991, Sue Rodriguez was declined the right to a physician-assisted death. Again in 2011, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association looked to reverse the Rodrigues case decision in what was called a “Landmark Case” in Carter versus Canada. In February of 2015, the 9 supreme courts ruled that doctors could use assisted suicide in some circumstances provided they fit the rules set out by the Carter ruling (Murphy, 2017). As a result, to the case revisions to the federal Criminal Code for PAD in Canada were made in June of 2016 (Edwards, 2016). The Canadian Nurses Protective Society (2015), explains, “the patient must be of legal age, suffer an “incurable serious illness” and “irreversible decline in capability” resulting in “constant and unbearable physical or psychological pain” (p. 29). To begin the process of medically assisted dying patients need to make a request in writing and two doctors must independently examine the application if accepted a week cooling off period must take place (Richmond, 2014). The applicant must then meet criteria that has been laid out by the legislation; the physician must ensure the decision has been made without any external pressure. The second doctor must agree and if so then the patients wish can be granted and can start on

Canada is a country in which citizens have the freedom to make their own choices. Which is why, on June 17 2016, Bill C-14 was passed (Health Law Institute, n.d.). Under this legislation euthanasia is legal in Canada, so long as a patient meets a required criterion. Euthanasia refers to an individual’s choice to die in order to end the unrelenting suffering caused by a terminal illness. The legalization of this form of assisted suicide has brought forth the question; should people be allowed to die voluntarily or should they be made to live with their illness until the end? A person should be given the opportunity to die with dignity when diagnosed with a terminal illness, because it is a decision which is made in regards to one’s personal

The topic for my case study is Physician-Assisted Dying (PAD). PAD allows terminally ill patients to choose to die on their own terms before they become medically and mentally incapable of normal function. However, this option as an End-of-Life (EOL) choice is illegal in most states. There are five states where PAD is legal. These states are: Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, and California (Gostin & Roberts p.250). After a strict screening process to make sure the patient is mentally sound. A medical professional must give the patient a prescription for a lethal dose of medication to be taken at the patients choosing by the patient. There are several ethical arguments when it comes to PAD.

Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide are both types of medical assistance aiding in ending a suffering patient’s life. This pain may be due to a terminal illness and suffering as well as those in an irreversible coma. This practice of doctor assisted suicide is illegal in many countries, but is increasing in popularity as people start to recognize the positive aspects that euthanasia has to offer for those that fit the criteria. Euthanasia is essential for those, placed in such life diminishing situations, and whom no longer want to experience suffering. This is where the issue gets complicated, and many religious groups argue that individuals should not have the legal right to choose whether they get to die or not, but that it is simply in God’s hands. Suffering patients argue that they should be given the right to choose whether or not they have to experience this suffering, to end their life with the dignity they still have, and to alleviate the stress that their deteriorating life conditions have on their families, themselves and the entire healthcare system. Therefore, despite the many arguments, euthanasia can have a very positive impact on the lives and families of suffering individuals, as well as the Canadian healthcare system.

Assisted suicide is the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the fully aware patient who dies. Assisted suicide should be legalized in Canada, and the world at large. The topic of Assisted Suicide has more recently become a controversial topic being debated around the world. According to the new health guide website last updated this month, Assisted Suicide is legal in only 11 countries. A survey taken by dying with dignity.com was answered by 80% of citisens all over Canada, 77% of which were in favor of legalizing Euthinasia. Although this survey proves that Euthanasia is something that a majority of canadians are in favor of legalizing, the decision should not be made based on a survey reflecting anyones opinion besides the patient themselves. The general public, the doctors nor the government should possess the right to decide whether one should live out their life in suffering, or to have a choice in assisted suicide. We should not tell the terminally ill no, instead we should give them a choice.

Only one in five doctors surveyed by the Canadian Medical Association said they would be willing to perform euthanasia if the practice were legalized in this country. Twenty-three percent of doctors polled said they were not sure how they would respond to a request for euthanasia; 15 percent didn’t answer. The CMA defines euthanasia as “knowingly and intentionally performing an act that is explicitly intended to end another person’s life” in cases of incurable illness “and the act is undertaken with empathy and compassion.” One in six doctors (16 percent) said they have been asked to perform euthanasia with the past five years, according to

The practice of medicine stands through time as the early civilizations tried have comprehend how the natural body is able to heal itself and grow. Not only is it human nature to survive and prosper, it is also instinct to be frightened of death and suffering. Euthanasia has been a topic of debate ever since the Roman and Greek physicians have started to poison terminally ill patients with their consent. Today’s definition of euthanasia is “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy” (Webster-Merriam Dictionary), also known as physician-assisted suicide, mercy killing, or dignified death. While a few states have legalized this practice many still have laws against physician-assisted suicide. Those states have the alternatives of palliative care, hospice, pain management, or the option to not be treated or cared for at all. Bodily integrity and body autonomy, or the option to chose what one does with their own body, is a human right. Having physician-assisted suicide stay illegal does not only violate freedom of body autonomy but significantly increases suicide rates within those who are suffering from a terminal illness. Therefore, euthanasia should become a legal medical practice for those who want to have the freedom to do so to be able to progress as a society.

Euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide, has been a controversial issue for many years. It usually involves ending a person’s life early to relieve their illness. Most of the controversy stem from personal values of ethics or religion. The euthanasia debate puts a huge emphasis on what doctors should do for their patients. Supporters of euthanasia primarily focus on human rights and pain alleviation. Opponents of euthanasia tend to focus on morality. Although euthanasia may seem unethical to some, it should be legalized because it offers more options for people that could be in unimaginable pain.

Euthanasia is defined as “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy” (Snyder 49). The key word in that definition is mercy; it is a person’s own decision to die due to extreme conditions. Another phrase to describe voluntary euthanasia is physician assisted-suicide. The opinion that people should be allowed to choose when to die is not the opinion of a select few. “Public-opinion polls have consistently shown that approximately sixty percent of the American public favors legal reform allowing physician-assisted death as a last resort to end the suffering of competent patients” (Miller 125). Doctors should be allowed to permit the death of terminally ill individuals because it is people’s right to refuse treatment; safeguards should be in place to ensure everyone involved is protected, and the pain and suffering associated with terminal illness would be greatly reduced.

One of the most difficult aspects of working in the medical field, specifically as a nurse, is the loss of a patient. Similarly, watching a patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal disease struggle emotionally and physically to deal with their upcoming death is difficult to watch. Suffering in the hospital, their life is not of quality and their family is watching them struggle. Highly debated, physician assisted suicide has been named one of the options for these patients. Physician assisted suicide occurs, at least where is is legal, when a terminally ill patients makes the decision that they would like to die, rather than suffer the rest of their life. Once the patient makes this decision, the physician can assist them in death by either administering euthanasia to the patient or prescribing the drug to the patient to take on their own. There are currently, according to Death With Dignity, six states that have legalized physician assisted suicide: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (Death). As can be seen by the amount of states with physician assisted suicide legal, it is not a widely supported practice. However, lawmakers should work towards the removal of bans in many locations of physician assisted suicide and towards legalizing; it violates no federal law, end of life care isn’t efficient enough to eliminate mental suffering, animals are euthanized for the same reasons, and it ends the patient’s suffering.

One of the most burdensome aspects of working in the medical field, specifically as a nurse, is the loss of a patient. Similarly, watching a patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal disease struggle with their upcoming death is wearisome. Suffering in the hospital, their life is not of quality and their family is watching them struggle. Highly debated, physician assisted suicide has been named one of the options for terminally ill patients. Physician assisted suicide occurs when a terminally ill patient makes the decision that they would prefer to die, rather than suffer the rest of their life; then a physician can assist them in death by either administering euthanasia to the patient or prescribing the drug to the patient. There are currently, according to Death With Dignity, six states that have legalized physician assisted suicide: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (“Death With Dignity Acts”). While physician assisted suicide is not widely supported, lawmakers should work towards the removal of bans in many locations of physician assisted suicide and towards legalizing; it violates no federal law, end of life care isn’t efficient enough to eliminate mental suffering, animals are euthanized for the same reasons, and it ends the patient’s suffering.