Physician Assisted Suicide

[sunsweet]

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What is your stand?

Just curious 🙂

 

[synapse lapse]

I think that you should clarify the question to address some of the subtelties of euthenasia. Cases are different, and I think I am for it in some cases and against it in others.

 

[sunsweet]

I think that you should clarify the question to address some of the subtelties of euthenasia. Cases are different, and I think I am for it in some cases and against it in others.

I dont know how to change the poll. (When I do edit, it just lets me edit my post, not the poll). Lets just say that when it says "I support euthanasia", I meant in certain cases, not just for anyone that wants it. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[sunsweet]

The reason I'm doing this poll is that this question was brought up in one of my interviews, and (I support choice #3, btw) after I answered the question, the interviewer said a lot of applicants say that if the pt wants to end their life, sure we should help them...I was kinda surprised that this was the majority view.

 

[runner1979]

I thought passive euthanisia is the removal of life-support--which would make #2 and #3 the same. Perhaps I am mistaken.

 

[sunsweet]

I thought passive euthanisia is the removal of life-support--which would make #2 and #3 the same. Perhaps I am mistaken.

oops, I think ur right 😳 sorry!

 

[LauraMac]

i chose #1. as physicians, we should give the patients all the options open to them, tell them what we think they should do, but ultimately let them decide. it is their bodies and their lives.

 

[rcd]

i'm against it simply because i have a feeling of disgust for it. there are many seemingly-logical arguments for and against euthanasia, but nothing good enough to explain why i don't like it or why i should like it. so i'm going with my gut. euthanasia is bad because i say so.

 

[DianaLynne]

I got an interview question about whether or not there was a type of person that I would not treat. It made me think that ultimately the way folks live their lives is their decision, not ours. All we can do is educate them about the consequences of their behavior. However, as a physician, I believe the Hippocratic oath would prevent us from participating in active euthanasia. After all, "Do no harm." But if the patient wishes it, then heroic life saving measures should be removed and the only care provided is to make them comfortable.

My $.02.

Diana

 

[mwcourtney]

When did life become so meaningless that it is defined by the amount of comfort one possesses? Just a thought.

 

[AlternateSome1]

When did life become so meaningless that it is defined by the amount of comfort one possesses? Just a thought.

Try telling that to someone who is paralyzed and in constant pain. I know that if I ever lose the "comforts" of movement, painless existence, unassisted breathing and eating, I will want someone to pull the plug on me.

I think this basically ties into the abortion debate. If you don't like it, don't do it. But don't try to restrict the actions of others or you are getting into the realm of paternalism.

 

[AlternateSome1]

I got an interview question about whether or not there was a type of person that I would not treat. It made me think that ultimately the way folks live their lives is their decision, not ours. All we can do is educate them about the consequences of their behavior. However, as a physician, I believe the Hippocratic oath would prevent us from participating in active euthanasia. After all, "Do no harm." But if the patient wishes it, then heroic life saving measures should be removed and the only care provided is to make them comfortable.

My $.02.

Diana

In case you are interested in what the oath says:
http://classics.mit.edu/Hippocrates/hippooath.html

If we really followed it we would have free medical educations, subsequently teach others for free, not perform surgery, and pray to pagan gods. Ironically the oath is not really considered to be a pure document, but rather one compiled from a mixture of medical and religious creeds.

This site is pretty interesting if you want to see a brief introduction into the discrepencies between the oath and the hippocratic practice of medicine.

http://www.med.virginia.edu/hs-library/historical/antiqua/texto.htm

 

[DrTex?]

I think that physicians should make the final decision in cases involving euthanasia. I know quite a few people who need some.

 

[sfbear]

When you're answering interview questions, remember that PAS (physician does not actually administer a lethal dose but may do something like prescribing a lethal dose of pain killer) is only legal in oregon. Euthanasia (physician is the one actually killing the patient, they don't do it themselves) is illegal everywhere. Everyone can refuse medical treatment (if deemed capable, or have a family member, etc. do it) such as life support. You may want to preface your answer with something like "if it were legal and my choice was to be made solely on my ethical beliefs. . . just so that all the bases are covered.

 

[DianaLynne]

Wow, I'd never actually seen the original oath, thanks for the link. I've always been more of a spirit of the law gal, rather than the letter. And, I have been known to pray to pagan gods & goddesses pretty frequently. 😉

That whole quality of life thing is tough. I've been working in my local ICU and it seems like at any time there are approximately 25% of our beds occupied by folks that are simply not going to ever get any better, barring any major advances. It breaks my heart to see these people laying there, full of tubes, monitors, and drugs. In fact, the first time I ever stepped foot in an ICU was several years ago when my grandmother died. The last time I saw her alive I could tell she was absolutely furious with the family. She was on a respirator, a feeding pump, and the usual accoutrement of IV lines. She was angry with us for keeping her alive. Wow. That was intense, lemme tell ya. All of which could have been avoided by her having an advanced directive.

I'm still forming my opinions on this matter. I guess I'm more of a Kerry type, apt to have a fluid stance on things. Of course, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, right?

Diana

 

[Creatine]

I thought passive euthanisia is the removal of life-support--which would make #2 and #3 the same. Perhaps I am mistaken.

The terminology in this subject is extremely confusing. This is the outline I use to distinguish among the terminology:

1. Euthanasia: The physician takes action (with our without the consent of the patient) to end the life of the patient (whether by deliverately inducing the death or witholding or withdrawing treatment).

a. Voluntary Euthanasia: patient requests to be killed
b. Nonvoluntary Euthanasia: patent has neither consented to nor requested to be killed.
c. Active Euthanasia: death is deliberately induced
d. Passive Euthanasia: death is allowed to come more quickly by stopping treatment or refraining from initiating treatment.

2. Physician Assisted Suicide: The physician only provides the means for the patient to commit suicide. The patient takes the final step to end his/her life.

This is the most rigorous and precise treatment of the terms I have come across. Further complicating the matter, however, the AMA as well as the University of Washington Bioethics site considers the term "Euthanasia" to mean ACTIVE Euthanasia, and it is distinguished from both Physician assisted suicide (same definition as above) and Witholding/Withdrawing Treatment (which is essentially voluntary passive euthanasia).

 

[leechy]

i'm against it simply because i have a feeling of disgust for it. there are many seemingly-logical arguments for and against euthanasia, but nothing good enough to explain why i don't like it or why i should like it. so i'm going with my gut. euthanasia is bad because i say so.

But it isn't bad... because I say so. 😉

 

[AlternateSome1]

When you're answering interview questions, remember that PAS (physician does not actually administer a lethal dose but may do something like prescribing a lethal dose of pain killer) is only legal in oregon. Euthanasia (physician is the one actually killing the patient, they don't do it themselves) is illegal everywhere. Everyone can refuse medical treatment (if deemed capable, or have a family member, etc. do it) such as life support. You may want to preface your answer with something like "if it were legal and my choice was to be made solely on my ethical beliefs. . . just so that all the bases are covered.

I would agree with reinforcing the notion of the legality of the choice. In almost every ethical question you are asked on the interview trail, there will be some legal binding that you have to consider. It is best to state that you would adhere to the law, since the last thing a school/hospital system wants is a law suit.