Respond to below: The topic of euthanasia is a highly debatable topic involving

Respond to below:
The topic of euthanasia is a highly debatable topic involving consideration of law, ethics, religion, moral values, and politics. Michiganians recall the famous Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a Michigan pathologist, who was famous for assisting and advocating for euthanasia in the 1990s (Anfang, 2021). He helped over one-hundred persons to their death through passive suicide. He assisted these people and then would drop them off and leave them in parked vehicles at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, where I had worked. After being involved in several euthanasia events, Dr. Jack was convicted of second-degree murder in Oakland County, Michigan, for practicing medicine without a license. He lived the rest of his years in prison until his death. Those who opposed Dr. Jack stated he was acting on an individual’s depression for choosing euthanasia. Although he claimed his victims were terminally ill. He tried to prove to the courts that patient-assisted suicide (PAD) was not a crime (Munson, 2014).
They were inspired by Dr. Kevorkian, known as “Dr. Jack,” Dr. Anfang, a psychiatric resident at Massachusetts General, had Dr. Quill speak on physician-assisted suicide. Dr. Anfang set up forums to discuss euthanasia to encourage legalizing the act. Since then, Dr. Quill has been known for the death-with-dignity movement. Dr. Quill advocated that if patients have the right to refuse medical care during a terminal illness, then they have the authority to permit a physician to end their lives. In New York, it was found that courts decided that states could determine suicide is illegal and there is no constitutional “right to die” (Anfang, p.9).
In 1997 Oregon was the first state in the United States to legalize physician-assisted suicide. It has been over 20 years since Oregon has the most extensive database inclusive of national statistics about PAD, which is permissible under the Death with Dignity Act (DWDA). Several other states are allowing euthanasia. Although, Oregon’s laws do not qualify for residents outside of Oregon to seek euthanasia.
Although, it is shared that statistics regarding euthanasia are not always reported. Some seventy-million individuals live in regions within the United States that allow PAD. Dr. Anfang, a psychiatrist, disagrees with the American Medical Association’s (AMA) opinion regarding euthanasia. The AMA holds that PAD is incongruent with the physician’s role as a healer. The AMA deems that managing potential societal risks related to PAD would be impossible. The AMA believes that the use of euthanasia could become a slippery slope. Dr. Anfang further states the debate on euthanasia is often centralized on Hippocrates do- no- harm intention. He continues to say that it does not make sense that one who is terminally ill cannot choose to die, but one who is pregnant can choose the termination of life through abortion (Anfang, 2021).
Dr. Anfang continues to share that psychiatrists who have the means to assist patients in their death are doing more harm to patients by not being allowed to share their expertise with euthanasia. He argues that psychiatrists are the experts in evaluating the mental capacity of an individual to decide on a humane death (Anfang, 2021). This touches home since I work in psychiatry and realize that the provider-to-patient relationship is paramount in making decisions. Therefore, I believe that due to this strong relationship, a provider knows what is best for their patients, even if this means requesting them to prescribe a means of euthanasia.
I believe that patients should be allowed to make autonomous decisions regarding euthanasia. I prefer that a panel of physicians and an ethics committee assist with the decision-making capacity to support euthanasia for those with no living will or ability to make end-of-life decisions. In doing so, I believe that euthanasia is an act of mercy with the goal of a comfortable and most peaceful death possible. I believe that euthanasia is only an act of murder if against a patient or patient’s advocate’s wishes.
I will say that I experienced passive suicide in Canada years ago. My grandfather who was dying from pancreatitis was silently pushed to his death by the hospital forcing intravenous fluids until his heart gave out. Being the granddaughter, I had no voice in this and found this leaning towards the hospital speeding up his death. In retrospect, was a very conflicting situation.
A medical provider’s role, while supporting autonomy, should be to advocate for a patient’s self-determination for end-of-life decisions, based on lucid mental capacity and informed consent. However, the Kantian view believes that individual choice could change based on an individual’s decision at that moment. Kant continues to argue that autonomy is based on practical reasoning. He further states independence is acted out upon the obligation founded upon principles. He uses this to say there is no genuine autonomy or freedom in the decision if the person is not acting with reference to other “moral agents,” (Fontalis et al., 2018, p. 24).
Therefore, the choice of euthanasia is based on principled autonomy and opposed to individualistic autonomy. The most significant expression of autonomous self-determination is based upon an individual’s right to choose any intervention regardless of rationality, even if death could ensue. The authors point out that liberal democracies advocate for self-determination and health care systems embracing more patient-centered approaches to patient-centered treatment decision-making. A sanctity of life position supports “that life has sanctity, and its value prevails over other values”(Fontalis et al., 2018).
I agree that a balance between considering the sanctity of life and one’s autonomy to choose their own decision regarding euthanasia should be supported. I believe if an individual is not suffering from a treatable depression; has the capacity of rational decision-making; their life is terminal; and there is no viable cure for their ailment; death is inevitable. I believe a quality end-of-life should be the ultimate goal of one’s passing.
References
Anfang, S. (2021). One psychiatrist’s perspective on physician-assisted suicide.
The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 49 (1) 9-11.
https://doi.org/10.29158/JAAPL.200100-20
Fontalis, A., Prousali, E., & Kulkarni, K. (2018). Euthanasia and assisted dying: what is the
current position and what are the key arguments informing the debate? Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 111 (11), https://doi.org/10.1177/0141076818803452
Munson, R. (2014). Intervention and reflection: Basic issues in bioethics. Wadsworth Centage
Learning.