Euthanasia is one of the current ethical/moral issues that the world of healthcare is faced with. “Euthanasia” is defined as “the act of assisting an individual to die without having to feel any pain or if there’s pain, it is extremely minimal” (Elmer Social Science Dictionary, 2003, n. p. ). Euthanasia is “requested by and administered to individuals with terminal illnesses” (Elmer Social Science Dictionary, 2003, n. p. ).
According to healthcare ethics, healthcare practitioners do not have the right to interfere or intrude upon their patient’s final decision of whether or not the latter would like to continue to live and to go on with their respective “medical treatments” (Arguments Against Assisted Suicide, n. d. , n. p. ). Interfering with will go against the “code of ethics” founded by certain group of healthcare practitioners (Arguments Against Assisted Suicide, n. d. , n. p. ).
Furthermore, there is this case of “Terri Schiavo” wherein “she was in a vegetative state for fifteen years and she was in terrible and unbearable pain during that time” (Soylent Communications, 2007, n. p. ). The patient and her husband wanted to end the “terrible and unbearable pain” however the patient’s parents disagreed (Soylent Communications, 2007, n. p. ). A case was even filed in the court so as to hamper the patient & husband’s request which actually led to a fifteen-year suffering for the patient (Soylent Communications, 2007, n. p. ).
Eventually, the patient and husband’s request was granted; the court declared that, “it was still ethical to be subjected to euthanasia because medical ethics does not require that everything be carried out to keep patients alive” (The Sanctity of Life Seduced: A Symposium of Medical Ethics, 2002) n. p. ). Moreover, “the State of Oregon endorsed a ballot measure that authorizes euthanasia under restricted circumstances in 1994” which has been enacted in 1997 (Death with Dignity National Center, 2005, n. p. ).
Here, the “US Attorney General John Ashcroft” declared that “assisted suicide not being a legitimate medical practice is unconstitutional” (Death with Dignity National Center, 2005, n. p. ). This is because “Amendment 10” holds that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people” (The Lectric Law Library, n. d. , n. p. ). This is also why the president ordered that “Oregon’s assisted suicide law” should not be obstructed upon (Death with Dignity National Center, 2005, n. p. ).
In addition to that, medical experts may “no longer be inspired to develop new cures because patients who are terminally ill have a choice not to fight anymore and to just choose to die” (Stevens, 2005, n. p. ). Effects of the Issue to the Role of Healthcare Practitioners The major or ultimate role of healthcare practitioners is to nurture and save lives to the best of their abilities that’s why when there are issues like such they are also faced with a very serious dilemma.
For instance, first of all, they would have to consider the patient’s right (Arguments Against Assisted Suicide, n. d. , n. p. ). Second, they are constantly reminded of “Terri Schiavo’s” case wherein the patient had to suffer for a long time because they would not permit her to die (Soylent Communications, 2007, n. p. ). Third, in the State of Oregon, a law has been passed allowing people to have their say on the issue through the “10th Amendment” ” (The Lectric Law Library, n. d. , n. p. ).
Finally, they are also made aware that if they allow euthanasia medical experts may “no longer be inspired to develop new cures because patients who are terminally ill have a choice not to fight anymore and to just choose to die” (Stevens, 2005, n. p. ). Healthcare practitioners are affected because sometimes they have to weigh things as well. They are torn between their own personal ethics and the ethical codes that they have sworn to. But at the end of the day, they always know what is the most important – to save lives.
References
Arguments Against Assisted Suicide. (n. d. ). Retrieved December 19, 2008 from http://www. euthanasia. com/argumentsagainsteuthanasia. html Elmer Social Science Dictionary. (2003). Assisted Suicide. Retrieved December 19, 2008 from http://www. elissetche. org/dico/E. htm Death with Dignity National Center. (2005). Timeline for Oregon’s Death with Dignity Law. Retrieved December 19, 2008 from http://www. deathwithdignity. org/news/news/aptimeline. 08. 29. 05. asp The Lectric Law Library. (n. d. ). Tenth Amendment. Retrieved December 19, 2008 from http://www. lectlaw. com/def2/t065. htm