Euthanasia Debate

Cons
1. Pro Choice vs. reduced options (LTC, Asst Care, etc.)
People for the majority want to seek an easy way out of things
and by reducing the options of end of life care can create a knowledge
deficit that would make this population vulnerable to predominantly
just seeking a source of euthanasia.
2. Quality of life (Medical prognosis can be wrong)

Assisted deaths with or without an explicit request from the patient

differed significantly with regard to length of treatment of the terminal
illness. In most cases, the patients were more likely to have a shorter
length of treatment of the terminal illness and 1-week or more shortened
life.

3. Family Burden vs. options (Education on palliative care,

etc.)

Family burden and the consideration that life is not to be needlessly

prolonged are often reasons for using life-ending drugs without explicit
patient request. As well as, once a patient has the means to take their own
life, there can be decreased incentive to care for the patient's symptoms
and needs. The case of Michael Freeland is an example. Michael had
been given a lethal prescription and when his doctors were planning for his
discharge to his home from the hospital, one physician wrote that while he
probably needed attendant care at home, providing additional care may be
a 'moot point' because he had 'life-ending medication'. His assisted suicide
doctor did nothing to care for his pain and palliative care needs. This
seriously ill patient was receiving poor advice and medical care because
he had lethal drugs.

4. Cost of care vs. Insurance (can deny medical treatments)

One of the most important developments in recent years is the

increasing emphasis placed on health care providers to contain costs. It is
estimated by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development that the United States spends $8233 per capita and thats
two-and-a-half times more than the OECD average of $3268. In such a
climate, euthanasia or assisted suicide certainly could become a means of
cost containment.
Savings to governments could become a consideration. Drugs for assisted
suicide cost about $75 to $100, making them far less expensive than
providing medical care. This could fill the void from cutbacks for treatment
and care with the 'treatment' of death.
Legalized euthanasia or assisted suicide raises the potential for a
profoundly dangerous situation in which the 'choice' of assisted suicide or
euthanasia is the only affordable option for some people."
5. Holistic Nursing vs. Do No Harm (Hippocratic oath, etc.)

Euthanasia does infringe upon doctors Hippocratic oath. The oath

revolves around the ideal that a physician must not harm their patients and
preserve life. Obviously, but going through an assisted suicide procedure
you are violating the oath. Even if in some way a doctor werent violating
the Hippocratic oath by assisting in suicide, it is still contradictory to a
doctor. Doctors are a symbol for care, protection, and life. If doctors begin
to contradict their roles in society, what will come of the bond between
patient and doctor?

Websites:
http://euthanasia.procon.org/?
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