There are many challenges that terminally ill patients face. These individuals do not have any hope of recovery since the only possible end is death. As they await their death, they incur huge medical bills that leave them and their families in debt and financial difficulty (Scitovsky, 2005). The challenges faced by these individuals have inspired calls for medically-assisted death to be made available. It is believed that euthanasia will redeem the terminally-ill patients from their hopelessness and anguish. New Jersey is one of the US states that have taken steps to address the plight of terminally ill patients. In 2016, the state enacted the Death with Dignity Act (Kopp, 2016). This paper examines this law.
Focus of the policy
The main focus of the Death with Dignity Act is the fate of terminally ill patients. One of the provisions of the Act regards providing these patients with the authority to end their lives. The Act seeks to ensure that the dignity of patients who have no hope of recovery is safeguarded (State of New Jersey, 2016). It appears that the legislators behind the Act sought to shield terminally-ill patients from the pain, humiliation and despair that results from terminal illness. The other focus of the bill concerns the authority and independence of individuals regarding their health. The Act recognizes that patients have the right to make decisions about their health and their life. Overall, this bill seeks to ensure that terminally ill patients are provided with the facilities needed to reclaim their dignity and end their suffering.
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Greatest beneficiary
Terminally-ill patients are set to gain the most benefit from the Act. As it has been mentioned above, the Act seeks to place patients in control of their health. Thanks to the bill, the patients will be able to demand death. They will no longer endure pain while driving their families into debt. The families of the patients could also derive some benefit from the Act. Every year, American families spend huge amounts in the treatment of their terminally ill members (“The Cost of Dying”, 2009). Many of these families have been pushed into debt. While the Act will do little to enhance the health of the terminally ill patients, it will lessen the financial burden that the families shoulder. The larger American healthcare system is also set to gain. The country commits billions of dollars to the treatment of terminally-ill patients. As they choose medically-assisted suicide, terminally ill patients in New Jersey will lower the financial load that the country carries.
Possible negative aspects
As is clear from the discussion above, there are many parties that stand to gain from the Act. However, it must be recognized that there are some negative aspects of the Act that could cause damage. In the Act, it is made clear that New Jersey authorities will ensure that vulnerable adults are insulated from abuse (State of New Jersey, 2016). While this assurance is encouraging, it must be recognized that the state is limited in its capacity to protect all adults. The case of a wealthy family with a sick parent can be considered. The children may collude with a doctor who finds that the parent is terminally ill. The doctor then proceeds to murder the parent and uses the provisions of the act to defend his actions. Scenarios like this one are indeed likely. There is need for the authorities in New Jersey to ensure that the Act is not abused by those who are keen on murdering others.
Rationale for the policy
While enacting the policy, the New Jersey legislature provided some rationale. One of the factors that informed the decision to enact the Act was the need to safeguard personal dignity (State of New Jersey, 2016). The state’s legislature understood that it is important to provide terminally ill patients with an exit that honors their dignity. The legislature also based its decision on statistics. It examined the situation in other states that have enacted similar laws. For example, Oregon and Washington are two of the states that have laws that allow terminally ill patients to request for physician-assisted suicide. In these states, it was noted that most of the terminally ill patients who sought euthanasia were residents in hospice facilities (State of New Jersey, 2016). This means that the Death with Dignity Act is safe from exploitation and it will not discourage patients from seeking medical services. The New Jersey legislature also justified its decision by arguing that the Act would safeguard the welfare of the public.
Comparison with other states
New Jersey is not the only state in the US that is addressing the issue of the fate of terminally ill patients. There are other states that have also taken action to address this matter. Washington, Vermont and Oregon are some of the states that have laws that legalize euthanasia (“Assisted Suicide Laws”, n.d). These laws have shielded dozens of Americans from unnecessary pain and torment. There are other states that do not seem too concerned about the welfare of terminally ill patients. These states make it clear that physician-assisted suicide is not available to the patients. The states include Idaho, Alabama, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Wyoming, among others (“Assisted Suicide Laws”, n.d).
In conclusion, physician-assisted dying remains a controversial issue in the United States. Most states have outlawed the practice. However, such states as New Jersey have adopted policies that seek to end the suffering endured by terminally ill patients. Through the Death with Dignity Act, the state wishes to ensure that these patients maintain their dignity even in death. The fact that this Act promises to deliver benefits for many parties underscores the need for other states to follow the example set by New Jerse
References
Assisted Suicide Laws in United States. (n.d). Retrieved 17 th March 2017 from http://www.finalexit.org/assisted_suicide_laws_united_states.html
Kopp, J. (2016). Bill to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide Moves forward in New Jersey. Retrieved 17 th March 2017 from http://www.phillyvoice.com/bill-legalize-physician-assisted-suicide-moves-forward-new-jersey/
Scitovsky, A. A. (2005). “The High Cost of Dying”: What do the Data Show? The Milbank Quarterly, 83 (4), 825-841.
State of New Jersey. (2016). A 2451. Retrieved 17 th March 2017 from http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/A2500/2451_I1.PDF
The Cost of Dying. (2009). Retrieved 17 th March 2017 from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-cost-of-dying/
