Euthanasia is derived from a Greek word meaning good or true death. Euthanasia takes either a passive or active form depending on the process undertaken. Passive Euthanasia is when one cares for a person who is terminally ill until they die while active euthanasia is the deliberate intervention taken to cause the death of a person. In the current medical expertise, all forms of euthanasia are considered active as they all lead to the death of the patient.
Medical definition
Euthanasia is the intentional ending of life to relieve pain or suffering of a patient, it can also be defined as the deliberate ending of the life of a person suffering from an incurable disease. This is through withholding extraordinary measures and thus allowing the occurrence of death.
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Generic definition
Euthanasia is the practice of permitting the death of a hopelessly sick individual or injured person by use of painless ways for reasons of mercy. In this case, the doctor can decide to influence the death of their patient who is in persistent pain and has a terminal illness.
Bioethical definition
Euthanasia is the action or omission of service that causes death in order to alleviate suffering. The Catholic Church does not support Euthanasia or assisted physician death but recommends that patients with chronic or terminal illness should be cared for in a loving way until their natural death. Bioethical euthanasia is also defined as actions taken to protect the patients from pain and suffering as much as possible, cared for in a dignified way and allowed to die where they wish to. These are mechanisms that does not support any form of haste to cause death to a person. In this context, patients with suffering and pain that cannot be alleviated should be helped to appreciate the redemptive suffering of Christian faith.
Describe the context of pain and suffering in the context of faith
Pain and suffering is essential in the Christian faith as it makes us tolerant to it just as Jesus Christ endured it. Many at times, people commit suicide due to lack of resilience to pain and suffering based on the social or economic pressures.
Physical Assisted Suicide/Death (PAS/PAD) Is it ethical? Should we have the right to end our lives? Why Yes and why not?
Physical assisted suicide is where the patient requests the physician to assist them in committing suicide. This happens when the doctor prescribes, the pharmacists dispenses the drug and the nurse administer the medication that causes the death. It is the decision of the nurse to administer or not. It is either referred to as aid in dying (AID), Medication aid in dying (MAID) or Physician aid in dying (PAID). This can also be self-administered by the patient and cause their own death after the prescription of the doctor.
AID is the most accepted definition of PAS. This voluntary act has led to involuntary actions where the physicians can decide to discontinue treating the patient whom is not responding to medication to cause death of the patient. Despite it being illegal, it happens in many health facility through the switching off life support machines or administering overdose.
Ethics is defined as socially accepted norms of action that governs the decisions taken by an individual. They are what support the wellbeing of the greater majority. An ethical action should not cause harm to any person. AID is to the benefit and decision of the patient without the consideration of the pain it will cause to the family and friends.
Physician assisted death is not ethical because physicians are supposed to ensure the wellbeing of their patient. Life is from god and should be nurtured and protected even in pain and suffering. Therefore we are not supposed to end our own lives regardless of the circumstances forcing us into it. The ethical standards in the medical field states that we should not cause harm, aiding in dying is causing harm to the patient’s life who is supposed to be protected by the doctors.
Health alternatives to PAS; compare and contract each
The health alternatives to PAS are the options that recommend caring for the patient at the end of life if they are chronically or terminally ill and there is no cure. This options are hospice and palliative care. Hospice is done at home while palliative care is in hospitals
Comparison of hospice and palliative care
Hospice
Hospice is exercised for six months but not specific. It is not covered by all insurance covers. It is meant for the comfort care where few medication are administered to ensure the comfort of the patient.
Palliative care/ Terminal sedation
Palliative care has no specific time limit required and can be done for chronic diseases that are not necessarily terminal illnesses. It is essential to support the life of terminally ill person in their last hours or days of the patient through administering intravenous drugs or infusion to support comfort. Palliative also entails putting a patient into unconsciousness state without causing death so that they do not experience the pain and suffering through sedation.
Case Study. Brief Summary of;
Hemlock society started in 1980-2003 when it changed its name. It was founded in California by four people and has spread to other parts of the world. It advocated for the right to die and advocated for the assisted death with a motto good life good death. It changed its name in 2013 to End of life choice but in 2004 it joined another organization called final exit networks. In 2007 the company merged to form Compassion and Choices Organization which is in support of patient assisted suicide.
Jacob
Jacob was a pathologists who supported patient assisted suicide and he assisted 130 patients in PAS. He invented the machine where the patients can administer the little dosage on themselves. He was arrested, charged, served and released in 2007 on condition that he will not continue to participate in the advice of support of PAS. His persistence led to his re-arrest as he continue participating in PAS support organization. He was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2011 and died or thrombosis in 2011. The invented machine was to cause death in two phases, a dosage puts the patient to sleep while the second stops the functionality of the entire body system.
Brittany
Brittany was diagnosed with brain cancer at 29 years, with grade 4 Gliocytoma and had a six month prognosis to live in 2014. She experienced headaches, seizures, personality change, loss of muscle and memory loss. The pain was overwhelming and decided to seek for aided death. She moved to Oregon where euthanasia was legal so that she can get the dosage. She partnered with the compassion and choice organization to give her fund to enhance legalization of the aid in dying in the state where she came from California. In September 2015 the lawmakers approved the AID in California. Brittany Maynard is a foster child for compassion and choices. Brittany died in the arms of her husband just as she wanted, the husband could have just accepted what she wanted but might not have been in agreement of the decision.
In conclusion, the patient assisted suicide involves the collaboration of the doctor, pharmacy and nurse. In the state where PAS is legal, the nurse is compelled to administer the medication because the document is signed and authorized by the patient and thus the nurse lacks the ability to prevent it from happening.
Reference
Cioffi, A. (2019, March 30). BIO 603 EUTH PAS 3 30 19. Retrieved from You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH2BsrBw190&feature=youtu.be
