Talking Heads

DC Columnists debate physician-assisted suicide

By: Pratistha Koirala and Ben Tarr

Posted: 9/5/08

Pratistha:

• The Hippocratic oath is about doing no harm. In cases when a person is suffering from a terminal illness and death will otherwise occur, it can be more harmful to force people to endure pain and suffering.

• To avoid decisions based upon finances, it would be necessary for physicians and psychiatrists to have an input. The decision cannot be made in isolation.

• We already allow patients to refuse treatment for terminal illness, in the form of a living will, thus giving them an effective right to die. Allowing a patient to end their suffering would be taking this notion a step further.

• It is not an issue of the quality of life beyond enduring severe pain and discomfort while dying naturally. An instance when physician assisted suicide would be acceptable would be when withdrawing a feeding tube from a person in a vegetative state. Isn't it more ethical to allow them a fast, painless death rather than a slow one by starvation?

• It all comes down to whether we will allow people the choice to die with dignity. Who are we, as a third party, to force a person to endure the pain of dying slowly and gracelessly if they are ready to pass on?

Ben:

• The gist of the Hippocratic oath is to save lives. Doctors cannot morally be trained to help "kill" their patients. It contradicts the function of the medical system.

• Patients may feel tempted to terminate their life considering the financial burdens associated with hospital stays. If a family is unable to pay for life support, patient who is otherwise curable may be pressured to end their lives.

• Euthanasia puts medical professionals on a slippery slope. Would a baby born with severe deformities who is incapable of living a fully healthy life be eligible for euthanasia? What are the distinguishing factors and how many doctors must weigh in on whether or not a patient should die?

• Physicians may exert influence on patients who wish to die to do so in a speedy, efficient fashion in order to clear beds for patients who can and wish to be saved. The solution to the lack of bed space is to build more hospitals, not to terminate the lives of patients in general.

• No one wishes to live with pain and everyone has the right to die with dignity. Yet, patients should be removed from hospital care and the end of their life should not involve doctors or hospital. There is no need to involve medical staff in patients' decisions to die. Hospital beds and personnel should be set aside for saving lives.