The Value of Life in Physician Assisted Suicide

I agree with Lisa that assisted suicide has been on the rise in the United States. While most people debate its morality, some have shown its benefits to the affected persons. Discussions linger on the virtue of physician-assisted suicide as well as the respect of life (Goligher et al., 2017).

As Lisa has noted, the Florida laws consider anyone assisting in suicide as guilty of manslaughter. The resolute stance that Lisa adopts in the post is well defended. Preserving the dignity of life to death is what everyone should embrace. However, what about the pain and suffering of terminally-ill patients who are helpless and cannot participate in anything? According to proponents of euthanasia, they consider it a way of helping a person die at their choice (Quill, Arnold & Youngner, 2017). The example Lisa gives of the cancer patient that required a costly treatment to prolong her life by four to six months is sad as the idea of assisted suicide did not come from her.

Human rights activists as Lisa explains have been on the move to protect citizens from mercy killing. I agree that so far seven states have legalized euthanasia with proponents expecting more to join. It is true that the policy is not well monitored as clear evaluation of the patients is not given except for organizations that deal with assisted suicide exclusively (Quill, Arnold & Youngner, 2017). I concur with Lisa that right strategies will be required to avoid disparities and controversies about the value of life and purpose of mercy killing. Indeed, our role as providers is to uphold our code by preserving life at all costs by defending trust, compassion, and care to patients who seek help. Life is sovereign.

References

Goligher, E. C., Ely, E. W., Sulmasy, D. P., Bakker, J., Raphael, J., Volandes, A. E., ... & White, D. B. (2017). Physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in the ICU: A dialogue on core ethical issues. Critical care medicine, 45(2), 149-155.

Quill, T. E., Arnold, R. M., & Youngner, S. J. (2017). Physician-Assisted Suicide: Finding a Path Forward in a Changing Legal Environment. Annals of internal medicine, 167(8), 597-598.