This article contained many good points that I enjoyed. A good thing pointed out is the motivation for choosing PAS is not pain but being in control, which is proved with research.
Another good point for discussion: "Writing prescriptions for the drugs is antithetical to doctors' role as healers, says the American Medical Association" With the advancements of medicine and technology have doctors outgrown their role as healers? Afterall, one responsibility of a physician is to practice in the best interest of the patient, shouldn't the patient say what is in their own best interest? If the patient wants to die and believes it is in their own best interest should the physician honor that? Another point with the quote is the source, the American Medical Association. Because of their title it is easy to believe what they state, that physicians role is a healer, is an absolute truth. While the AMA has numerous members, most physicians are not apart of the AMA.
The role of a doctor or physician can be perceived in many ways and all roles can be supported. A quote from the article, "I've seen a lot of bad deaths. Part of out job as physicians is to help people have a good death, and, frankly, we need to do more of that." I agree with Dr. Kirtland here. The focus of the doctor should be the patient and the best interest of that patient.
This article is one to make you think about the health care and what is provided. We have so much technology to extend our life- vitamins, supplements, prescription drugs, cures for once incurable diseases, etc., but does that necessarily mean that the quality of life is better? I like what Dr. Wesley said, that he should have control over his life, his death and with his disease where death is inevitable after the onset of symptoms. Shouldn't one have the choice of dying peacefully, and potentially, within minutes of their decision to die, instead of allowing the natural progression of disease to end their life in what may be a seemingly painful way and full of suffering?
I, along with Emilee, agree with Dr. Kirtland and his quote from the article that part of being a physician is to make the patient comfortable in their end of life care and to "help people have a good death." I think that the taboo of PAS or the prescribing of drugs, such as the barbiturates that were prescribed to Dr. Wesley, should be seen in a different light. If a patient does not want to wait for death to come naturally, due to fear of a natural death being full of suffering and immeasurable pain, then the patient should be allowed to legally end their life.
This makes me think of Dr. Kevorkian, aka "Dr. Death". I found his interview with Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes back in 1998. His patient in the interview was afraid of choking to death and asked for Dr. Kevorkian's assistance in his death. Unlike most of Dr. Kevorkian's other patients, this patient was unable to press a button and administer the drugs himself, thus needing Dr. Kevorkian to do so. Here is the link for the interview if anyone would like to watch it. It is kind of difficult to watch, but it is worth watching.
I think this was really interesting, as the patient himself is/was a certified Doctor. I think Doctors (in the case of PAS) are alienated and not really taken into consideration other than the administrator... Or, in some eyes, the ones committing murder. However, for a Doctor himself to acknowledge PAS as legitimate (and to seriously consider it) speaks bounds for the practice itself. Like Emily said above, I also find it extremely interesting that the main reason for PAS is due to control of the situation, not the pain. In our class discussions we all are always pretty careful to be politically correct, and refer to patients who have exhausted their options, and are "suffering". In reality, suffering physical pain seems to be less important than the mental pain/emotional trauma that comes with a coherent individual going through the dying process. I tried to put myself in this situation, and I can begin to conceive the thought that knowing you are slowly dying (merely waiting for that moment) can also be considered suffering. Again, this is just another example in which I refuse to take an umbrella stance (saying it is "right" or "wrong") but leaving it to the individual, the one who is actually experiencing it, to decide.
Wow. I watched the video of Dr. Kevorkian and I really do have mixed feelings about this. I don't think that the role of a doctor should be to euthanize or assist with death. I think that the role of the doctor would then be misguided and there would be great consequences. But watching that man suffer and wanting to die because he was afraid to die from choking, it made me think that it might be good for society to allow those suffering to relieve themselves of it. Its super sad any way you look at it, but is is ethical? I have a hard time grasping this right now because maybe they would have found a cure for that person's suffering? Maybe the day after there were new improvements in the treatment of LG's disease, like the man in the video? The man looked very happy in pictures that were shown and its hard telling if Dr. Kevorkian had influence on him or not. Who knows, there might be other crazy doctors out there that would enjoy killing patients... I think assisted death/suicide would really just complicate the role of the doctor and lead to terrible people being involved with it.
I am for PAS and I found this article very interesting. I know many people may disagree with PAS for many reasons, but the one I want to bring up is that many people believe that doctors are supposed to healers, not aid in people's deaths. I agree that doctors are supposed to be healers, but allowing their patients to live a life in pain is not really healing. I like the quote in the article, “I’ve seen a lot of bad deaths,” Dr. Kirtland said. “Part of our job as physicians is to help people have a good death, and, frankly, we need to do more of that.” I think that this points out that yes technically the doctor is helping the patient to die, but they are doing the thing for their patient that is going to bring them the best outcome possible (a “good death” as opposed to a “bad death”). I know that the article stated that pain is not the major reason that people seek PAS, it is for being able to have control of their death, but that too can lead to a “good death.” Living in constant fear and wondering when you’re going to die and how it will be can possibly lead to a “bad death.” I know that technically healthy people have this fear too, but I’m looking at it from the view of a terminally ill patient who is most likely going to die within six months. Having the medication allows these people to not have this worry and spend more time thinking about other things, like their family and friends. The article even said that about a third of the people who receive the prescription die without using it. I think that PAS is a good idea when it is used in the right way. I know that this can be difficult because people always find loop holes and ways around things, but I feel that the benefits and the good of PAS will outweigh the bad (the bad being the few who do obtain the medication wrongly).
That is a great article for its presentation of the nuances in the PAS debate. Personally, I think that patients should have the power to control how they want to end their lives, but I understand why the AMA and many physicians are opposed to PAS. If I were diagnosed with something like cancer or ALS and I knew that a slow and painful death awaited me, I would want to control the way I died and would probably seek PAS if it should be available (although this does not mean I would actually commit the suicide -- I just want to know all options are available to me). Nevertheless, I think that, in the position of a doctor, I personally would not be able to prescribe drugs that I know would kill a patient. It is like the radiation oncologist in the article explained: People choose healthcare for the sake of helping, not killing, people. It is heartening to know that the system has not been abused and that people do not seek suicide purely for financial reasons, but I still think that suicide should be discouraged and should be seen as an ultimate last resort.
I guess I am kind of ambivalent about the whole matter. I feel that people should be able to decide how they die just as they decided how they lived. Nevertheless, while the option should still be provided, people should be strongly discouraged from seeking it. Advances in medicine and research might be able to develop a cure, the problem might inexplicably and spontaneously regress, or treatment seen as futile might actually be effective. What is more, I agree with doctors that it is contrary to the purpose of medicine to aid in suicide, but still people should have the liberty of deciding when they want their lives to be over when suffering. In short, then, I think that people should have options availble to them, but they should be remonstrated from this course of action.
This article makes me think of the death of Annette Funicello yesterday. Both Dr. Wesley and Annette try to enjoy life and even though they know that death is near, they embrace life and ejnoy the time they have left on Earth. Annette, suffered from MS, enjoyed the last of her days, at home,with her husband and three children. Dr. Wesley continues to make the best of his life and embracing his ALS, he continues to attend classes at the University of Washington even though he cannot move his limbs and is on a respirator. It is amazing to see the will power that these people had and have. As is said before, suffering comes in many ways, some people fold under the pressure, and some people exceed. Even though Annette succumbed to her MS, she embraced life and had a new outlook on it. Dr. Wesley has the barbituates on the back burner incase his disease gets too unbearable, but for the time being, he is living life the best he can.
I thought this article was interesting to read, especially because the patient who wanted PAS is a doctor. I personally do not agree with PAS. I do agree that it is a patients choice to refuse care and medicine because the death is imminent and it would be natural, but in my eyes if a doctor prescribes that medicine, in a sense to me its like murder/ assisted suicide. I do not think it is anybody's place to decide when or how a person dies besides God. The article said that its a doctors duty to give people a 'good death'. I disagree with this idea so much it makes me cringe. Yes, I think that a doctors job is to make a patient as comfortable as possible and to give good healthcare, good life. Since when was a doctor signed up for providing any type of death, its about preserving and caring for life. Something that crossed my mind was people saying if they chose how they live then they should chose how to die, but it was never your choice to be born. With pursuing a career as a physician I would never ethically, morally, spirituallyor physically be able to prescribe medication that would kill a patient. If they want to commit suicide they can do that on their own in another way where I would not be involved. I would not be able to appease those patients selfish desire for control. Don't get me wrong, I understand why a patient would want this, I could just not partake.
I really enjoyed this article,as Emilee mentioned it mentioned quite a few points that I agreed with, such as: social class of users(1), autonomy(2), and bioethics [mainly doctors do not wish to kill people](3).
I thought it was odd that those who partake in PAS were of higher social status. However now that I think about it, those who can afford great health-care can also afford to see these doctors.
I also find it interesting that during the phone survey many people were concerned that pain would be the main motive for requesting PAS, when in actuality to be in control was the primary concern. I completely agree that autonomy is what many people are concerned with and as Dr. Wesley stated "... it is my life, it is my death, and it should be my choice". Nobody knows when they will die and I think the fact of the matter is it scares them; to be in control of ones death and knowing they have the option of PAS can easily relieve those fears regarding death.
I understand many doctors do not wish to kill there patients but the reality whether the intention was there death is bond to happen be it accidental (such as the cases with surgeries) or intentional (i.e. Dr. Kevorkian). But the question that runs through my mind is this: Would you rather kill your patients or see and know they are suffering? I feel that if I were a physician and recognized my patient was suffering I would feel horrible knowing I had the means to ease that persons suffering. I do not it should be seen as killing a patient when doctors are simply relieving their pain.
I thought it was really interesting that the patient is a doctor who wants to end his life. I'm a believer in God, and many who also believe in his existence want to leave their lives in the hands of God. I'm all for that, but if I were suffering in pain, and I'm guaranteed that I'm going to die, why hold on to a life that I know is going to end anyway? That's why I'm for PAS. I know for some it would be like murder, but how is it murder if the decision was made by a competent patient who wants to end their suffering? If it eases suffering for the patient, I would give it to them. It's their right to live, and their right to die.
I don't really believe in God or much at all but still wish to have control over what happens to me in regard to medications and technology keeping me alive because even though it is cool that I could stay alive longer, I still couldn't do some things I love like running or playing soccer in a hypothetical situation. Quality of life is a very big point that we need to take into consideration because even though we could be kept alive, is it really the life we want to live? It's just a bad topic but a realistic one and the ever progressing medical field will be doing everything they can to keep us alive and we need to "get our s#%t" together.
This article contained many good points that I enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteA good thing pointed out is the motivation for choosing PAS is not pain but being in control, which is proved with research.
Another good point for discussion: "Writing prescriptions for the drugs is antithetical to doctors' role as healers, says the American Medical Association"
With the advancements of medicine and technology have doctors outgrown their role as healers? Afterall, one responsibility of a physician is to practice in the best interest of the patient, shouldn't the patient say what is in their own best interest? If the patient wants to die and believes it is in their own best interest should the physician honor that?
Another point with the quote is the source, the American Medical Association. Because of their title it is easy to believe what they state, that physicians role is a healer, is an absolute truth. While the AMA has numerous members, most physicians are not apart of the AMA.
The role of a doctor or physician can be perceived in many ways and all roles can be supported.
A quote from the article, "I've seen a lot of bad deaths. Part of out job as physicians is to help people have a good death, and, frankly, we need to do more of that."
I agree with Dr. Kirtland here. The focus of the doctor should be the patient and the best interest of that patient.
This article is one to make you think about the health care and what is provided. We have so much technology to extend our life- vitamins, supplements, prescription drugs, cures for once incurable diseases, etc., but does that necessarily mean that the quality of life is better? I like what Dr. Wesley said, that he should have control over his life, his death and with his disease where death is inevitable after the onset of symptoms. Shouldn't one have the choice of dying peacefully, and potentially, within minutes of their decision to die, instead of allowing the natural progression of disease to end their life in what may be a seemingly painful way and full of suffering?
ReplyDeleteI, along with Emilee, agree with Dr. Kirtland and his quote from the article that part of being a physician is to make the patient comfortable in their end of life care and to "help people have a good death." I think that the taboo of PAS or the prescribing of drugs, such as the barbiturates that were prescribed to Dr. Wesley, should be seen in a different light. If a patient does not want to wait for death to come naturally, due to fear of a natural death being full of suffering and immeasurable pain, then the patient should be allowed to legally end their life.
This makes me think of Dr. Kevorkian, aka "Dr. Death". I found his interview with Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes back in 1998. His patient in the interview was afraid of choking to death and asked for Dr. Kevorkian's assistance in his death. Unlike most of Dr. Kevorkian's other patients, this patient was unable to press a button and administer the drugs himself, thus needing Dr. Kevorkian to do so. Here is the link for the interview if anyone would like to watch it. It is kind of difficult to watch, but it is worth watching.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20068720-10391709.html
I think this was really interesting, as the patient himself is/was a certified Doctor. I think Doctors (in the case of PAS) are alienated and not really taken into consideration other than the administrator... Or, in some eyes, the ones committing murder.
ReplyDeleteHowever, for a Doctor himself to acknowledge PAS as legitimate (and to seriously consider it) speaks bounds for the practice itself.
Like Emily said above, I also find it extremely interesting that the main reason for PAS is due to control of the situation, not the pain. In our class discussions we all are always pretty careful to be politically correct, and refer to patients who have exhausted their options, and are "suffering". In reality, suffering physical pain seems to be less important than the mental pain/emotional trauma that comes with a coherent individual going through the dying process. I tried to put myself in this situation, and I can begin to conceive the thought that knowing you are slowly dying (merely waiting for that moment) can also be considered suffering. Again, this is just another example in which I refuse to take an umbrella stance (saying it is "right" or "wrong") but leaving it to the individual, the one who is actually experiencing it, to decide.
Wow. I watched the video of Dr. Kevorkian and I really do have mixed feelings about this. I don't think that the role of a doctor should be to euthanize or assist with death. I think that the role of the doctor would then be misguided and there would be great consequences. But watching that man suffer and wanting to die because he was afraid to die from choking, it made me think that it might be good for society to allow those suffering to relieve themselves of it. Its super sad any way you look at it, but is is ethical? I have a hard time grasping this right now because maybe they would have found a cure for that person's suffering? Maybe the day after there were new improvements in the treatment of LG's disease, like the man in the video? The man looked very happy in pictures that were shown and its hard telling if Dr. Kevorkian had influence on him or not. Who knows, there might be other crazy doctors out there that would enjoy killing patients... I think assisted death/suicide would really just complicate the role of the doctor and lead to terrible people being involved with it.
ReplyDeleteI am for PAS and I found this article very interesting. I know many people may disagree with PAS for many reasons, but the one I want to bring up is that many people believe that doctors are supposed to healers, not aid in people's deaths. I agree that doctors are supposed to be healers, but allowing their patients to live a life in pain is not really healing. I like the quote in the article, “I’ve seen a lot of bad deaths,” Dr. Kirtland said. “Part of our job as physicians is to help people have a good death, and, frankly, we need to do more of that.” I think that this points out that yes technically the doctor is helping the patient to die, but they are doing the thing for their patient that is going to bring them the best outcome possible (a “good death” as opposed to a “bad death”). I know that the article stated that pain is not the major reason that people seek PAS, it is for being able to have control of their death, but that too can lead to a “good death.” Living in constant fear and wondering when you’re going to die and how it will be can possibly lead to a “bad death.” I know that technically healthy people have this fear too, but I’m looking at it from the view of a terminally ill patient who is most likely going to die within six months. Having the medication allows these people to not have this worry and spend more time thinking about other things, like their family and friends. The article even said that about a third of the people who receive the prescription die without using it. I think that PAS is a good idea when it is used in the right way. I know that this can be difficult because people always find loop holes and ways around things, but I feel that the benefits and the good of PAS will outweigh the bad (the bad being the few who do obtain the medication wrongly).
ReplyDeleteThat is a great article for its presentation of the nuances in the PAS debate. Personally, I think that patients should have the power to control how they want to end their lives, but I understand why the AMA and many physicians are opposed to PAS. If I were diagnosed with something like cancer or ALS and I knew that a slow and painful death awaited me, I would want to control the way I died and would probably seek PAS if it should be available (although this does not mean I would actually commit the suicide -- I just want to know all options are available to me). Nevertheless, I think that, in the position of a doctor, I personally would not be able to prescribe drugs that I know would kill a patient. It is like the radiation oncologist in the article explained: People choose healthcare for the sake of helping, not killing, people. It is heartening to know that the system has not been abused and that people do not seek suicide purely for financial reasons, but I still think that suicide should be discouraged and should be seen as an ultimate last resort.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am kind of ambivalent about the whole matter. I feel that people should be able to decide how they die just as they decided how they lived. Nevertheless, while the option should still be provided, people should be strongly discouraged from seeking it. Advances in medicine and research might be able to develop a cure, the problem might inexplicably and spontaneously regress, or treatment seen as futile might actually be effective. What is more, I agree with doctors that it is contrary to the purpose of medicine to aid in suicide, but still people should have the liberty of deciding when they want their lives to be over when suffering. In short, then, I think that people should have options availble to them, but they should be remonstrated from this course of action.
This article makes me think of the death of Annette Funicello yesterday. Both Dr. Wesley and Annette try to enjoy life and even though they know that death is near, they embrace life and ejnoy the time they have left on Earth. Annette, suffered from MS, enjoyed the last of her days, at home,with her husband and three children. Dr. Wesley continues to make the best of his life and embracing his ALS, he continues to attend classes at the University of Washington even though he cannot move his limbs and is on a respirator. It is amazing to see the will power that these people had and have. As is said before, suffering comes in many ways, some people fold under the pressure, and some people exceed. Even though Annette succumbed to her MS, she embraced life and had a new outlook on it. Dr. Wesley has the barbituates on the back burner incase his disease gets too unbearable, but for the time being, he is living life the best he can.
ReplyDeleteI thought this article was interesting to read, especially because the patient who wanted PAS is a doctor. I personally do not agree with PAS. I do agree that it is a patients choice to refuse care and medicine because the death is imminent and it would be natural, but in my eyes if a doctor prescribes that medicine, in a sense to me its like murder/ assisted suicide. I do not think it is anybody's place to decide when or how a person dies besides God. The article said that its a doctors duty to give people a 'good death'. I disagree with this idea so much it makes me cringe. Yes, I think that a doctors job is to make a patient as comfortable as possible and to give good healthcare, good life. Since when was a doctor signed up for providing any type of death, its about preserving and caring for life. Something that crossed my mind was people saying if they chose how they live then they should chose how to die, but it was never your choice to be born. With pursuing a career as a physician I would never ethically, morally, spirituallyor physically be able to prescribe medication that would kill a patient. If they want to commit suicide they can do that on their own in another way where I would not be involved. I would not be able to appease those patients selfish desire for control. Don't get me wrong, I understand why a patient would want this, I could just not partake.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this article,as Emilee mentioned it mentioned quite a few points that I agreed with, such as: social class of users(1), autonomy(2), and bioethics [mainly doctors do not wish to kill people](3).
ReplyDeleteI thought it was odd that those who partake in PAS were of higher social status. However now that I think about it, those who can afford great health-care can also afford to see these doctors.
I also find it interesting that during the phone survey many people were concerned that pain would be the main motive for requesting PAS, when in actuality to be in control was the primary concern. I completely agree that autonomy is what many people are concerned with and as Dr. Wesley stated "... it is my life, it is my death, and it should be my choice". Nobody knows when they will die and I think the fact of the matter is it scares them; to be in control of ones death and knowing they have the option of PAS can easily relieve those fears regarding death.
I understand many doctors do not wish to kill there patients but the reality whether the intention was there death is bond to happen be it accidental (such as the cases with surgeries) or intentional (i.e. Dr. Kevorkian). But the question that runs through my mind is this: Would you rather kill your patients or see and know they are suffering? I feel that if I were a physician and recognized my patient was suffering I would feel horrible knowing I had the means to ease that persons suffering. I do not it should be seen as killing a patient when doctors are simply relieving their pain.
I thought it was really interesting that the patient is a doctor who wants to end his life. I'm a believer in God, and many who also believe in his existence want to leave their lives in the hands of God. I'm all for that, but if I were suffering in pain, and I'm guaranteed that I'm going to die, why hold on to a life that I know is going to end anyway? That's why I'm for PAS. I know for some it would be like murder, but how is it murder if the decision was made by a competent patient who wants to end their suffering? If it eases suffering for the patient, I would give it to them. It's their right to live, and their right to die.
ReplyDeleteI don't really believe in God or much at all but still wish to have control over what happens to me in regard to medications and technology keeping me alive because even though it is cool that I could stay alive longer, I still couldn't do some things I love like running or playing soccer in a hypothetical situation. Quality of life is a very big point that we need to take into consideration because even though we could be kept alive, is it really the life we want to live? It's just a bad topic but a realistic one and the ever progressing medical field will be doing everything they can to keep us alive and we need to "get our s#%t" together.
ReplyDelete