Medically assisted suicide, also called euthanasia, is a method of relief that is usually provided to animals or humans in unbearable pain. In the state of South Dakota, this measure is prohibited by the law; however, it is legal in several other states and some European countries (Morrow, 2021). The issue of allowing medically assisted suicide considers a large problem of human autonomy (Gandsman, 2018). It poses the question of how far does an individual’s right to make a decision about their own health extends and if other people have a right to constrict it.
Physical Pain
The idea of medically assisted suicide is to provide relief to those whose condition cannot be helped by the traditional means of medical attention. It correlates with the general idea of patient care which is to relieve the people from pain caused by diseases and illnesses (Dugdale et al., 2019). The pain that people wishing for euthanasia endure is not ordinary pain as it is often a consistent and incessant feeling that corrupts a person’s very perception of life. Living with unbearable pain and knowing that in the foreseeable future, there will be no relief adds emotional layers to the physical aspect.
Emotional Suffering
When talking about the patient’s intent, it is important to mention the desires and intents of family members and loved ones. Supporting and providing for a deadly ill relative is a heavy burden on one’s mental and physical health (Lugton, 2018). In more cases than not, the patient feels this and experiences guilt and shame as a result. Some people opt to check out of the health care facilities in order to spend their last days with the people they love, which provides them closure (Spelten et al., 2019). However, people who are forced to continue their living, feeling like a burden to people around them, often are unable to find this closure.
Merciful Act
To allow a person to suffer a prolonged period of time without any hope for improvement or ease of pain in other circumstances would be considered immoral. The fact that the subject concerns a person’s death brings out questions about the ethics of such an action in many people (Campbell, 2019). However, these questions do not take into consideration the immense pain one goes through when faced with incurable conditions and the pain that people surrounding them feel. A common human trait is empathy, and observing one’s suffering for a long period of time raises a natural desire to aid them. In this case, euthanasia seems like the only logical decision.
The Proposed Solution
A solution for these problems would be legally allowing people in the State of South Dakota to opt for assisted suicide. People with severe medical conditions should be allowed to apply for an evaluation, and the law must install several conditions for the treatment. The method of the Canadian government could be taken as an example: eligible for health care, over 18 years old, have an irremediable health condition, apply of their own volition, give informed consent (Beuthin et al., 2018). The benefits of these hypothetical legislations are ease of a person’s insufferable pain and moral relief for the health care professionals (Beuthin et al., 2018). In addition, it would also combat grief and guilt among relatives and friends. The knowledge that this option exists could make the patient more amenable to experimental treatment. In some cases, it would give them a notion that in case the situation worsens, they can choose another way out.
References
Beuthin, R., Bruce, A., & Scaia, M. (2018). Medical assistance in dying (MAiD): Canadian nurses’ experiences. Nursing forum, 53(4), 511–520.
Campbell, C. S. (2019). Mortal responsibilities: Bioethics and medical-assisted dying. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 92(4), 733–739.
Dugdale, L. S., Lerner, B. H., & Callahan, D. (2019). Pros and cons of physician aid in dying. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 92(4), 747–750.
Gandsman, A. (2018). Paradox of choice and the illusion of autonomy: The construction of ethical subjects in right-to-die activism. Death Studies, 42(5), 329–335.
Lugton, J. (2018). Communicating with dying people and their relatives. CRC Press.
Morrow, A. (2021). Overview of physician assisted suicide arguments. Very Well Health. Web.
Spelten, E., Timmis, J., Heald, S., & Duijts, S. F. (2019). Rural palliative care to support dying at home can be realised; experiences of family members and nurses with a new model of care. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 27(4), 336–343.