Assisted suicide controversy

Article Abstract:

The controversy over assisted suicide of the terminally ill, or aid-in-dying, involves the deepest moral, ethical, religious, political and legal issues in American society. The actions of Dr. Jack Kevorkian and the attending court cases are providing some legal precedents for decisions. Assisted suicide encompasses three main issues: deliberately causing the death of a terminally ill person, giving them the means to end life, or withholding or withdrawing medical life support. Some opponents say ehnanced terminal or hospice care is a better solution. Only the state of Oregon has a law legalising physician-assisted suicide, but it has been put on hold.

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Assisted suicide: the issues

Article Abstract:

A discussion of the morality of assisted suicide and active euthanasia is presented. A majority of those responding to a Gallup survey believe that a terminally ill patient has a right to end his life and that a doctor should be allowed to end a patient's life. However, most doctors are reluctant to perform euthanasia because it is still considered a crime in most states. The cost of medical care also contributes to the rising cases of euthanasia. The aged and the poor are unable to cope with the rising cost of medical care which contributes to the increasing number of suicides among the elderly.

Euthanasia

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Caring for the dying: would better palliative care reduce support for assisted suicide?

Article Abstract:

Physician assisted suicide is a controversial issue divided between those who feel it undercuts the purpose of medicine and those who feel that people should have the choice of how to die. Opponents of assisted suicide believe that wider availability of palliative care, symptom or pain alleviation, will reduce the support for assisted suicide. Supporters think that increased palliative care access is important but there will still be those who want to end their lives before experiencing the full extent of their terminal diseases. Medical education needs to encourage palliative care.

Analysis, Palliative treatment, Palliative care, Curricula, Right to die, Medical education

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