Moral Dilemma of Euthanasia - Case Study Example

Euthanasia Case Study Consider the case of a doctor giving heavy doses of a painkiller to a patient. Is there a moral difference if she intendsto the drugs to cause the death of a patient, or if she just knows that the patient is likely to die from the effects of the drug? Ethical dilemma This case study is on a patient in terminal illness stage, suffering from severe pain and distress and wishes to die as he sees no meaning in his living. There is no cure to his problem and his suffering is severe. The patient requests the doctor to relieve him of his suffering by terminating his life. This, in medical terms is euthanasia. If the doctor gives drugs to cause death of the patient, it is euthanasia, in this case, voluntary euthanasia and if she just knows that the patient is likely to die from the effects of the drug, it is physician assisted suicide. Euthanasia is an ethical dilemma and a source of debate worldwide. Advances in the field of medicine have increased lifespan of the people and have helped prolong life of even a patient who is dying or is brain dead. Thus, even cases where life has lost its meaning, death is delayed. This has raised several questions and also has led to the "right to die" movement in UK and several other countries. While on one side, patients or their dear ones, who are unable to see the suffering of the patient, ask for peaceful death, on the other side there are several legal, ethical and social implications, which have caused the debate of euthanasia (Harris, 2001). Euthanasia is "an act whereby a physician intentionally causes the death of a terminally ill patient" (Walker, 2001). The main intention of this is to ensure a peaceful death to the patient within a context of suffering, disability or terminal illness that is virtually incurable. Death is euthanasia is caused by the physician and not by the disease process. "Even though death may occur in close conjunction with a decision to withhold or withdraw treatment, it does so only because there is no longer active resistance to an inexorable dying process" (Walker, 2001). When euthanasia is requested by the sufferer, it is voluntary euthanasia and if it is against the will of the sufferer, it is involuntary euthanasia (Walker, 2001). If is occurs without the consent of the sufferer, it is non-choice euthanasia (Walker, 2001). If some medication is given to cause death, it is active euthanasia. If death occurs due to withdrawal of life support, it is passive euthanasia (Tharien, 1997). Most of the debates run around voluntary euthanasia. The ultimate motive of euthanasia is to bring about peaceful death to the person who otherwise is suffering because of presence of life. Euthanasia differs fundamentally from withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining medical treatment. PAS is another term used for euthanasia-like act. In PAS, patients are involved in causing their death. PAS may be defined as "an act of self-destruction committed by a patient with the assistance of a physician" (Walker, 2001). PAS is actually similar to voluntary euthanasia because, in both, death is the patients choice. Euthanasia is illegal in most countries in the world, including United States and United Kingdom. It amounts to criminal homicide. For a person to be candidate for voluntary euthanasia, he or she must be suffering from terminal illness, "is unlikely to benefit from the discovery of a cure for that illness during what remains of her life expectancy", "is, as a direct result of the illness, either suffering intolerable pain, or only has available a life that is unacceptably burdensome", "has an enduring, voluntary and competent wish to die" and "is unable without assistance to commit suicide" (Young, 2010). Ethical view points 1. Opposition Opponents of euthanasia argue that since there is improvement in palliative and hospice care, the amount of suffering of an terminally ill person can be reduced and thus, there is no need for him to choose death. Also, when appropriate relief pain and other symptoms are done and every aspect of palliative care is addressed appropriately, the desire to die wades off (Young, 2010). In a well known trial in UK, Dr.Arthur, prescribed an overdose of codeine to a child with Down syndrome, suffering from multiple health issues (Tharien, 1997). Though the doctor was charged with murder, after several trials, he was acquitted because his intention was compassion. However, many critics opined that it was wrong on the part of the doctor to have terminated the life of the child. Another debatable situation is when a child is diagnosed to have congenital anomalies when in fetal stage. While some opine that severely handicapped children must be terminated in fetal stage itself to prevent them from suffering, many others argue against it because even mentally challenged and physically handicapped people have the right to live and get cared (Tharien, 1997). According to Christianity, only God has the right to give or withdraw life. Humans do not have. Also, euthanasia requests occur due to depression, feeling of worthlessness, confusion, persuasion of interested parties or due to ulterior motives. Thus, euthanasia s an incorrect concept. Christianity opines that every resource must be used to promote life of n individual and only by doing so respect can be conveyed to the individual (Tharien, 1997). Doctors are bound to Hi[ppocratic oath. According to this oath, "deliberate attempt to end or shorten life, whether by omission or commission, is wrong and should not be done" (Tharien, 1997). Thus, euthanasia is an ethical issue, with several opponent issues to it. 2. Support Those who want to legalize euthanasia argue that even excellent palliative or hospice care is associated with several side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation and other distressing symptoms. Also very few terminally ill patients receive excellent palliative or hospice care. Also, pain or other symptoms may not be a cause to wish to die. In many circumstances, the patient may find it distressing to be dependent on some one else and seek peace in death (Young, 2010). During the ancient times, Greeks and Romans allowed people who were suffering and for whom no relief was possible to commit suicide (Young, 2010). Among Epicureans and Stoics, people were allowed to die even if they did not care for life. However, now, there are concerted efforts to make voluntary euthanasia legal. Until now, there are very few countries which has legalized euthanasia. In Switzerland, physician assisted suicide has been legalized and not euthanasia. Another country which has legalized physician assisted suicide is Netherlands. In Netherlands physicians are allowed to practice voluntary euthanasia "in those instances in which a competent patient had made a voluntary and informed decision to die, the patients suffering was unbearable, there was no way of making that suffering bearable that was acceptable to the patient, and the physicians judgements as to diagnosis and prognosis were confirmed after consultation with another physician" (Young, 2010). Legalization of voluntary euthanasia in Netherlands was done in 2000 (Young, 2010). In 2002, Belgium also legalized voluntary euthanasia. In 1990s, voluntary euthanasia was legalized in the Northern Territory of Australia, but within one year, the law was reversed and even in that province, euthanasia is illegal (Young, 2010). Thus, the debate of euthanasia goes on.. Summary and conclusion Both euthanasia and physician assisted suicide are sources of legal and ethical dilemmas. Supporters of euthanasia and PAS argue that those who are suffering, in terminal stages of life, in distress and who cannot be cured must be allowed to die in peace. Opponents argue that doctors must instill life and not kill a human being. Only God has the right to give or withdraw life. Also wish to die arises because of depression and feelings of worthlessness which can decreased by providing excellent palliative care. References Harris, N.M. (2001). The euthanasia debate. J R Army Med Corps., 147(3), 367-70. Young. R. (2010). Euthanasia. Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved on 13th December, 2010 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/euthanasia-voluntary/ Tharien, A.K. (1997). Euthanasia. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, 5(1), Retrieved on 13th December, 2010 from http://www.issuesinmedicalethics.org/051mi013.html Walker, R.M. (2001). Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Legal Slippery Slope. Emedicine from WebMD. 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