Essay Physician-Assisted Suicide and Free Will - 2459 Words

Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is a topic, which proponents often support by the affirmation of patient free will or as the exercise of patient autonomy. The purpose of this paper is to examine this argument further from an inter-disciplinary approach, regarding PAS from medical, ethical and legal standpoints and to examine the concept of free will from the philosophical discipline. Are these concepts compatible in a meaningful context and can a sound argument be constructed to support PAS on the basis of patient free will? Derek Humphry, in Lawful Exit, defines PAS as a physician providing the means by which a person can take his or her own life. The means, to which he refers, is a toxic substance and the†¦show more content†¦Dworkin and Kass consider this topic from the perspective of Medical Ethics. Kasss treatment of the subject of Physician-assisted suicide as evident from the title of his article, supports his argument by denying patients the moral right to be killed and physicians the moral duty to kill. Dworkin quotes Kasss analysis of the argument favoring PAS on the grounds of Freedom or autonomy: ...Physicians...are bound to acquiesce in demands not only for termination of treatment but also for intentional killing through poison, because the right to choose-freedom-must be respected, even more than life itself, and even when The physician would never recommend or concur in the choices made. (Kass, p.27.) Arguing against autonomy as a rational defense for PAS, Kass concludes that Considerations of mercy for the patient who is suffering, dictate the course of action in the end. Ultimately, medicine is intrinsically a moral profession with...principles and standards of conduct that set limits on what physicians may properly do.(Kass, p.27). Arguing against autonomy as a rational defense for PAS, Kass concludes that it is a consideration of mercy on behalf of the patient, which dictates such actions in the end. The nature of the medical profession is one which operates according to norms that prohibit a physician from ever acting with theShow MoreRelated Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Essay1436 Words   |  6 PagesAssisted Suicide and Euthanasia   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Assisted suicide is one of the most controversial topics discussed among people every day. Everyone has his or her own opinion on this topic. This is a socially debated topic that above all else involves someone making a choice, whether it be to continue with life or give up hope and die. This should be a choice that they make themselves. However, In the United States, The land of the free, only one state has legalized assisted suicide. 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