Renee's Final Thoughts

Rachel has brought up the fact that morals play a big role in how people feel about Physician-Assisted Suicide. I agree completely; in fact, my personal morals are what have lead me to defend the sanctity of life against the practice of PAS. Speaking from a Christian perspective, I am holding fast to my belief that life should be valued from conception until death. Our birth date is out of our control, and I believe that the date of our death should be left to our Creator as well. On the other hand, I realize that we all have different beliefs, and this is something that I deeply respect. However, with morals and religious convictions set aside, I still do not agree that PAS is an acceptable practice.

I am certainly not alone in this way of thinking. Even the American Medical Association (AMA) is against Physician-Assisted Suicide, on the grounds that the practice of PAS undermines the integrity of the medical profession (Braddock). The AMA’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs claims that PAS is not compatible with the physician’s duty to heal. Furthermore, they explain that this practice would be difficult to control, and would bring about serious risks within our society. (Harris). That’s why physician-assisted suicide remains a crime in almost every state. Physicians who practice PAS are subject to time in prison and revoked licenses (Harris), and frankly, I believe it should stay that way. In my opinion, these facts speak volumes, illustrating that individuals both in and out of the medical profession see a real issue with PAS.

Furthermore, I think it's important to realize that healthcare professionals are not infallible. Sadly, mistakes are made every day in doctors’ offices and hospitals around the world. Doctors can give an individual the news that his or her life is coming to an end; however, we must keep in mind that this is definitely not a concrete diagnosis, but merely an educated guess. Miraculously, some people have bounced back from their illnesses in unexplainable ways. For example, you can take into consideration the story of my friend and co-worker, Susan. Diagnosed with terminal colon cancer at age forty-five, she was given the news that she had less than two years to live. Not only did Susan undergo several operations to remove pieces of her infected colon, but she also had several bones replaced due to complications with chemotherapy. Eventually, Susan was admitted to hospice, where she expected to die after a long and courageous fight. Seven years later, I still see her smiling face at work each day. Although she experiences a great amount of pain in her tired body, she is cancer-free. Had PAS been a legal practice when Susan was ill, she could have ended her life unaware of the miraculous healing that was headed her way. With Susan’s amazing story in mind, it becomes obvious that PAS could prematurely end a valuable life. As I stated in my previous posts, there is always hope, and Susan’s story is living proof.

Whether or not we find healing from our illnesses, death remains a fact of life that each of us will encounter. Thankfully, we live in a society where medical advances can help us to cope with the dying process. In my opinion, regardless of the circumstances of our sufferings, each of us should embrace death and slip away at the very second that has been appointed to us, and no sooner. Our bodies will know when the time is right. They will know when and how to shut down. Then, and only then, shall we leave this world behind.





WORKS CITED


Braddock, Clarence H., MD, MPH. "Physician-Assisted Suicide." University of Washington School of Medicine. 1998. Web. 31 Jan 2010.

Harris, Dean M. Issues in Healthcare Law and Ethics. Chicago: Health Administration Press, 2008. Print.