Thesis
Proponents of doctor-assisted suicide stress the importance of an individual’s autonomy in making decisions about their own end-of-life care, while opponents highlight concerns about the sanctity of life and the possibility of abuse. Concerns about a potential trend towards legalized euthanasia are reflected in communal ethics, which take into account societal norms. The universalizability of principles is emphasized by applying Kantian ethics to the categorical imperative.
In line with Kant’s focus on human dignity, proponents of autonomy say that it should be universally honored. Critics argue that protecting human life is an absolute moral obligation, putting an end to the flexibility that comes with deciding how to respond to specific circumstances. Hence, the choice between autonomy and life preservation is central to the ethical assessment.
Annotated Bibliography
Calati, R., Olié, E., Dassa, D., Gramaglia, C., Guillaume, S., Madeddu, F., & Courtet, P. (2021). Euthanasia and assisted suicide in psychiatric patients: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 135, 153–173. Web.
A systematic analysis by Calati et al. (2021) examines data from Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium to assess the controversies related to the extent to which mental patients participate in assisted suicide or euthanasia. Important results show that mental health issues and patient demographics vary by country. The majority of pEAS patients in the Netherlands were female and had a history of suicidal ideation or behavior, as well as other mental problems. In turn, cases in Belgium were unique in that they were disproportionately female and often diagnosed with a single mood illness.
Findings from the research highlight the need to rework pEAS protocols to include more precise access criteria and assessment standards. A notable quotation highlights an important resemblance: “As pEAS-C seem to be very similar to ‘traditional suicides’” (Calati et al., 2021, p. 153). Another crucial term, “psychiatric disorders,” emphasizes the importance of mental health in these instances (Calati et al., 2021, p. 165).
Limitations include a lack of comprehensive data for Switzerland and the difficulty in differentiating between conventional suicides and pEAS. My position is in line with the article’s focus on improving methods to accommodate the complexity of particular circumstances, and I agree that precise criteria are necessary. This essay contributes to the continuing ethical discussion around doctor-assisted suicide by shedding light on mental patients and helping readers grasp the nuances of these circumstances.
Castelli Dransart, D. A., Lapierre, S., Erlangsen, A., Canetto, S. S., Heisel, M., Draper, B., Lindner, R., Richard-Devantoy, S., Cheung, G., Scocco, P., Gusmão, R., De Leo, D., Inoue, K., De Techterman, V., Fiske, A., Hong, J. P., Landry, M., Lepage, A. A., Marcoux, I.,… Wyart, M. (2019). A systematic review of older adults’ request for or attitude toward euthanasia or assisted suicide. Aging & Mental Health, 25(3), 420–430. Web.
Among those aged 60 and above, Castelli et al. (2019) do a comprehensive assessment of the factors linked to propensities for “physician-assisted suicide” (PAS) and death by “euthanasia” (EUT), which are among the key terms of the piece (Castelli et al., 2019, p. 420). According to Castelli et al. (2019), the research reveals that these “end-of-life decisions” are impacted by a variety of demographic, psychological, social, and existential aspects (p. 421). Nevertheless, results differ in relation to physical health, mental health, and social variables, making it difficult to draw comparisons owing to the different nature of the samples used.
Disagreements emerge due to the fact that there are no universally accepted definitions for EUT/PAS and that outcome measurements are diverse. Nevertheless, “younger age, lower religiosity, higher education, and higher socioeconomic status were the most consistent predictors of endorsement of EUT/PAS” is the quotation that should be adopted as it contributes to a better understanding of determinants (Castelli et al., 2019, p. 420). The need for consistent methods to improve comparability and comprehension of elements impacting perspectives on end-of-life choices is something I fully support. By drawing attention to the complexity and diversity of older persons’ reasons for EUT/PAS views, this article deepens my understanding of the significance of the mentioned choices, as well as associated challenges for the healthcare community.
Glasper, A. (2020). Assisted suicide for patients with terminal illnesses: Should the law change? British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 14(5), 250–254. Web.
Glasper (2020) highlights the absence of regulation on the subject and describes the difficulties encountered by healthcare staff, especially nursing associates and healthcare assistants, while responding to patient inquiries about assisted suicide. In this essay, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) draws attention to the fact that assisted suicide is a controversial idea, whereas end-of-life options in palliative care are not. Legislative reforms are urgently needed as assisted suicide is controversial since, unlike in other nations, it is outlawed in the UK. The term “terminal illness” should be considered as it highlights the moral conundrum that surrounds judgments about the end of life (Glasper, 2020, p. 252).
Moreover, the definition of assisted suicide as “the act of deliberately assisting or encouraging another person to take their own life” should be used in the paper to differentiate it from euthanasia and specify the context (Glasper, 2020, p. 250). In addition, recognizing the importance of public opinion and continuing legal advancements, I concur with the article’s need for legislative reform to tackle the intricacies of assisted suicide. By illuminating the social discussion around assisted dying and the practical difficulties encountered by healthcare professionals, this piece deepens my comprehension.
Tatalovich, R. (2020). Morality politics of physician-assisted suicide: Comparing Canada and the United States. International Journal of Canadian Studies, 57, 71–91. Web.
In a contrasting analysis, Tatalovich (2020) addresses legal controversies by looking at how euthanasia changes have been passed in parliaments throughout Europe and how PAS policies have evolved in the US and Canada. In contrast to Canada’s highest court, which upheld the right to assisted suicide, the United States’ highest court has denied the existence of such a right. Various elements such as public opinion, media coverage, interest groups, federalism, and jurisprudence are examined in the study as potential causes of these different policy results.
In general, in relation to this research, the phrase “moral conflicts are very often catapulted onto the political agenda by the actions of subnational levels of government, particularly in a federal system” should be adopted to demonstrate the interconnection between law and morality (Tatalovich, 2020, p. 76). One important concept is “morality policy,” which describes the moral considerations that go into PAS regulation (Tatalovich, 2020, p. 72). An essential principle, the “right to die,” upholds the sovereignty of the person making choices about his or her own death (Tatalovich, 2020, p. 79). I agree with the assessment that the policy decisions were greatly influenced by a one-sided discussion in the US and a two-sided debate in Canada. This essay sheds light on the mechanisms of PAS law by demonstrating how public discourse and legal frameworks shape morality policies.
Velan, B., Ziv, A., Kaplan, G., Rubin, C., Connelly, Y., Karni, T., & Tal, O. (2019). Truth-telling and doctor-assisted death as perceived by Israeli physicians. BMC Medical Ethics, 20(1). Web.
Velan et al. (2019) look at how Israeli doctors feel about helping terminally sick people end their lives and giving bad medical prognoses. A complicated picture emerges from the key issues, with half of the population opposed to full disclosure of dismal prognoses and around 60% in favor of doctor-assisted dying. While female doctors and those who work in hospitals tend to be more in favor of physician-assisted suicide, younger doctors tend to be more in favor of speaking the truth.
Two important concepts in medical ethics are “disclosure” and “truth-telling,” which express the ethical need to provide full information (Velan et al., 2019, p. 2). According to Velan et al. (2019, p. 9), “ethical education” highlights how professional training impacts the viewpoints of doctors. Moreover, “the moral argumentation used by the supporters of assisted death, invokes compassion and beneficence, as well as a high respect for patient autonomy” should be an applied quotation (Velan et al., 2019, p. 2).
First of all, it provides insight into the nature of assisted death. In addition, it contributes to the reflection on the superiority of some ethical principles over others. In my opinion, the study’s focus on the complex ethical terrain formed by individual characteristics and work history is spot on. The complex ethical problems faced by Israeli doctors are brought to light in this essay, which emphasizes the need to continue to study medical community views.