Stepp 1 Kari Stepp Camilla Mortensen Writing 121 CRN 324277 February 23, 2010

Assisted Suicide

If I were in extreme pain over a very long term period of time and knew that medically there wasnt a way to end that pain, I would want to have a choice. According to Websters Dictionary, assisted suicide is the process by which an individual, who may otherwise be incapable, is provided with the means (drugs or equipment) to commit suicide. In some cases, the terms aid in dying or death with dignity are preferred rather than suicide. These terms are often used to draw a distinction from suicide. Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) needs to be legalized because assisted suicide is a personal choice. Suicide is an act that is theoretically available to everyone. Anyone without physical limitations is capable of performing the act of suicide. A person who is terminally ill or in a hospital setting or is disabled may not be able to exercise this option because of either mental or physical limitations, In effect; they are being discriminated against because of their disability. PAS may be a compassionate response to unbearable suffering. Mentally competent, terminally ill patients are allowed to have the right to refuse treatment and unofficially hasten the death process by refusing treatment. For some patients, treatment refusal will not expedite the death process; for them the

Stepp 2 only option is suicide. Everyone should have the same ability and control regarding their quality of life. These decisions are very personal. Medical professionals are aware of this and that is why it takes time to go through the process of approval. It is not something that is resolved over night of even in a week. There is a process and a waiting period for getting approval to receive assisted suicide along with some very specific rules and guidelines. Some of the guidelines include a mandatory examination by a psychiatrist for evaluation of mental and emotional status, a mandatory waiting period between at least two written requests by the patient, and multidisciplinary consultation to ensure that all appropriate interventions have been exhausted in treating the patients illness." In addition, the guidelines call for the physician to have received appropriate education, training, and experience to inform the patient about lifeterminating alternatives (American Psychiatric Association p4). Many people argue that pain experienced by terminally ill people can be controlled and made more tolerable through proper pain management. Some feel that there is no need for PAS. However, there are many people in the United States that do not have access to adequate pain management. With the cost of pain medication being so high many cannot afford the medications and treatments. Many people are without healthcare coverage. Another reason is that many doctors withhold adequate levels of pain killers because they are concerned that their patient may become addicted to the drugs. Some terminally ill patients are in intractable pain and/or experience an intolerably poor quality of life. They would prefer to end their lives rather than continue on until their bodys finally gives out. This should be their choice, it is their life. Each person has autonomy over their own life. A person whose quality of life is nonexistent

Stepp 3 should have the right to decide to commit suicide and to seek assistance if necessary. (Religious tolerance) In an age when total medical funding is restricted and being continually reduced, it is not ethical to engage in extremely expensive treatment of terminally ill people in order to extend their lives by a few weeks, especially if it is against their will. The money used in this way is not available for areas like pre-natal care and infant care, where it would save lives, and significantly improve the long-term quality of life for others who really want to live. It needs to be a persons choice whether or not they continue with life. It is there life to live and each is living with their own pain every day. Some people argue that patients would be frightened that their physicians might kill them without permission. This is not a valid concern since patients would first have to request assistance in dying. If they did not ask for suicide assistance, their doctors will continue to preserve and extend their patients' lives as they would normally do. According to Oregon.gov, The Death with Dignity Act was a citizens' initiative that passed twice by Oregon voters. This vote shows that having an option and making decisions about our own lives is something people want. The first time was in a general election in November 1994 when it passed by a margin of 51% to 49%. An injunction delayed implementation of the Act until it was lifted on October 27, 1997. In November 1997, a measure was placed on the general election ballot to repeal the Act. Voters chose to retain the Act by a margin of 60% to 40%. (oregon.gov/DHS) Some argued that that if PAS was legal, abuses would take place. For instance, the poor, less educated or elderly might be covertly pressured to choose PAS over more complex and expensive care options. But statistically according to Oregon.govs

Stepp 4 2008 Summary of Oregons Death with Dignity Act participants were between 55 and 84 years of age (78%), white (98%), well-educated (60% had at least a baccalaureate degree in 2008, compared to 41% in previous years), and were more likely to have cancer (80%). Patients who died in 2008 were slightly older (median age 72 years) than in previous years (median age 69 years) (oregon.gov/pdf) Social workers were generally more supportive of both the Oregon Death with Dignity Act (ODDA) and of patients choosing assisted suicide compared to nurses. (Miller p685-691) A mailed questionnaire was sent to all hospice nurses and social workers in Oregon in 2001 to assess their attitudes about legalized assisted suicide and interactions with patients concerning this issue. Responses from 306 nurses and 85 social workers are included in this report. Almost two-thirds of respondents reported that at least one patient had discussed assisted suicide as a potential option in the past year, ninety-five per cent favored hospice policies that would allow a patient to choose assisted suicide while enrolled in hospice and allow hospice clinicians to continue to provide care. (Miller p685-691) These statistics show that although this is a sensitive matter (PAS) is a topic that many have considered. People should be able to live their lives in a way that makes them happy and they shouldnt have to live with excruciating pain. Patients have trust in their doctor that they will help them cope with their illness. A Competent person should have right to choose to consider (PAS). Suffering means more than pain; there are other physical and psychological burdens. It is not always possible to relieve suffering but with the option of (Pass) it might be possible. Physicianassisted suicide (PAS) needs to be legalized because assisted suicide should be a personal choice.

Stepp 5 Works cited

American Psychiatric Association Psychiatric News. Vol 36 Number 1 Page 4. January 5, 2001. 15 February 2010. <http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/36/1/4.3.full>

Death with Dignity Act.15 February 2010. <http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/faqs.shtml>

Miller, Lois L., et al. "Attitudes and experiences of Oregon hospice nurses and social workers regarding assisted suicide." Palliative Medicine 18.8 (2004): 685-691. Alt HealthWatch. EBSCO. Web. 17 Feb. 2010.

Oregon Department of Human Services. 2008 Summary of Oregons Death with Dignity Act. 2008. Salem, Oregon. pg 2. 15 February 2010. http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/docs/year11.pdf (jones)

Religious tolerance.org. Ontario Consultance on religious tolerance. 17 February 2010. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/euth9.htm >

Stepp 6