PHI 103
-1-
Week 2 Assignment
Outline
The Comfort of Death as an alternative to suffering
Introduction: In your lifetime, have you ever or do you know of a loved one particularly
an elderly person who appears to be depressed or suffering beyond comprehension or
ready to give up or end their lives? That is what usually comes to mind when people are
ready to end their lives or in this case, physician-assisted suicide.
Yes, things in their lives have become so unbearable they are now ready to, “kick
the bucket” and just give up and need to end the suffering or torture. However, there are
alternatives to their suffering in which are not always death related. It’s controversial as
to whether physician assisted death is actually the actual answer or help people need or is
it assisted murder?
Thesis:
Although certain alternatives to end terminally ill patients suffering are not
always carried out with death, It’s still controversial as to whether physician assisted
suicide should be legalized because of it’s moral and ethical viewpoints and it is often
also the last resort to relieve people of their suffering with further assistant care.
Body paragraph 1:
While there are certain different types of procedures to end the
suffering of patients who are near death, the issue is still debatable on whether or not
physician assisted suicide should be legalized on the basis of the question, is physician
assisted suicide really help for the patients or assisted murder?
I.
Deductive Argument: Assisted suicide is an immoral response to the
dying.
Larissa Bewick
9/2/12
PHI 103
-2A.
“There is belief it is wrong to prevent a person from having a choice
at the end of their lives.
1. Patients should be responsible for their own suffering.
2. People have a right to decide when and how to end their own
lives.
B.
Patients who are being kept alive by technology and want to end their
lives also have a constitutional right.
C.
II.
74.4 % of students in Pakistan opposed legalization.
Inductive Argument: Physician-assisted suicide is helpful and should be
legalized.
A.
Assisted suicide can be a compassionate response to the dying.
1. Physician-assisted suicide is a win-win situation.
2. People with out health insurance choose suicide to save
society and their families from caring for them.
a. Euthanasia has been legalized in some European
countries and states just not Oregon and Michigan.
b. Doctors who end patient’s lives could justify their
actions as an appropriate procedure.
B.
The source, Introduction to Logic indicates the (Slippery Slope
argument) “When euthanasia becomes a law it will start out as a voluntary basis for the
mentally ill and then it will become available to anyone, even those who don’t benefit the
system.” (Mosser, 12) That’s not the only debate because also according to the text, “For
many people knowing how to kill themselves in itself is a great comfort.” (p. 22)
Larissa Bewick
9/2/12
PHI 103
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Body Paragraph #2
Additionally, There is also debate whether the issue is betrayed as moral or ethical
because it is often referred to by people as, assisted-murder.
I.
There is a difference between killing and wanting to die.
A. Society must not allow doctors to be killers as well
1.
Authors opinion: “Killing is always wrong because all
human life has intrinsic value.
2.
Even if one could adequately describe the difference
between killing and allowing people to die, then the
distinction would make a moral difference.
a. Intention is the key, explaining the wrongness that all
acts of killing patients have in common with the wrong
acts of allowing patients to die.
b. In other words, killing and allowing patients to die are
not the same thing, because all killing of patients is
morally wrong while allowing some patients to die is
not, then the moral of evaluation would then be based
on intention.” (p. 32)
c. Ethical prohibits against physician participation in
capital punishment is torture are examined.
d. The practice is fraught with ethical, moral and social
controversy.
B.
Larissa Bewick
Euthanasia violates Christian beliefs
9/2/12
PHI 103
-41.
Authors view from source, Euthanasia: “All persons because
they have created by God, have a dignity that is not
diminished by their suffering or dependence on others.”
(Torr, 33)
2.
To illustrate further in the text, “How we face the mysteries
and of suffering, dying and death makes a critical difference
for us loved ones.” (34)
a. In Pakistan University, students cited religious beliefs
against legalization.
Body Paragraph #3: The issue of physician-assisted suicide or the act of death and dying
is a last result to any other alternative care for patients such as further assisted advances
care or psychotherapy or higher dosage of medication. To illustrate,
I.
Dying patients should have access to both Hospice Care and assisted
suicide.
A.
The importance of Hospice Care.
1.
According to James D Torr, “In acute care medicine where we
ask people to endure considerable suffering in the interest of
potential recovery and then return to meaningful life.” (p. 106)
B.
Hospice and Experimental Treatment
1.
It’s unrealistic to expect hospice to relieve all suffering.
2.
However there is also a terminal sedation, which offers the
patient the option to be heavily sedated, not assisting death but
rather relieving suffering.
Larissa Bewick
9/2/12
PHI 103
-5C. Another alternative dying patients should have access to is to protect the
vulnerable according to the text, Introduction to Logic, “The slippery slope argument
implies that once the right to voluntary medically assisted euthanasia is legalized, it will
become incumbent upon the handicapped, frail elderly and others to rid society of their
presence because they feel that they are a burden to society.” (Mosser, 142) Also as the
text goes on to state, “Disabled people have every right to protect their interests but not at
every one else’s expense.” (Mosser, 142) Also, “Under false assumptions according to
Mosser in the text, “The Slippery Slope argument rests on fatalistic assumptions that we
have little control over our final destines.” (p. 128) I also believe according to my
personal belief system and others who believe the same thing would agree as well,
Religion would be the last resort regarding life or death, because as the Bible states,
“Those who trust and hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Ephesians, 1-3)
Body Paragraph #4: Finally, to illustrate this point further, what we must also
comprehend about this physician-assisted death is the alternatives to the patients
suffering are not always death and suicide related.
I.
Family assisting, Medicare assistance are all options of the near-dying
patients.
A.
However, according to the text, “The lives of family members
assisting the terminally ill are compromised and overwhelmed
because the burdens of providing constant care to the patients
24/7 and as result of that, the caregivers life becomes
destroyed.
Larissa Bewick
9/2/12
PHI 103
-61.
Also financial burdens of caring for terminally ill
patients can be devastating.
B.
Much suffering comes from unkind treatment from unkind
caregivers.
1.
Technology creates advantages and disadvantages as
well as medical advances such as anti-depressants and
joint replacements.
2.
Another question regarding alternative treatment is; do
we play God by terminating a natural process?
3.
What possible sense does it make to use limited
resources on people who cannot and do not want to be
helped?
Conclusion:
Now that it is evident that physician assisted suicide is not necessarily the best
alternative after all to relieve patients of their suffering or the last resort alternatives
depending upon peoples religious beliefs and viewpoints or their belief of God or a
higher powers assistance in their final destination.
Larissa Bewick
9/2/12
PHI 103
-7References
Dudley, William. (2000) Opposing Viewpoints in Social Issues. Should Assisted
Suicide be Legal? (Ch. 6)
pages, 204-243
Lepora, Chiara. (May/June 2011) Pages, 38-47 Retrieved from:
http://search.proquest.com/docview.
Mosser, Kurt (2011) Introduction to Literature Ch. 4, pages. 1-26. Retrieved
from: https://content.ashford.edu.
Shaikh, MA (Oct. 2011) Beliefs about Euthanasia among University Students:
Perspectives from Pakistan/Croyances. Eastern Mediterranean Switzerland Health
Journal 17.10 pages 794-797. Retrieved from, http://search.proquest.com.
Stacy, Kathleen M. (2012) Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment (A Case
Study) Vol. 32, No. 3 pages 14-22. Retrieved from: http://www.cconline.org.
Torr, James D. (2000) Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints (Opposing Viewpoint
Series) Green haven Press Inc. San Diego, California. Ch. 1-4.
Trugg, Robert, D. (2011) Are their things Doctors Just Shouldn’t Do? The
Hastings Center Report 41.3 United States. Pages. 1-2. Retrieved from,
http://search.proquest.com
Larissa Bewick
9/2/12