RUNNING HEAD: Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection 1

Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection

Name

Professor’s Name

Phil 434 Medical Ethics and Issues

West Coast University

18 April, 2021
Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection 2

Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection

Video about death and dignity shows that the two doctors debated their differences and

views on assisted suicide. Doctor-assisted suicide refers to a patient's voluntary decision to

commit suicide with the help of a doctor, because the patient may have an incurable disease.

Among many people who believe in medicine and the dignity of life, this is not moral.

Those who believe that suicide should be done with the help of a doctor believe that all

patients have the right to die as they wish as discussed by Dr. Mahal’s discussion in a video

about death and dignity. Dr. Meadow’s discussion respects the dignity of human life, despite the

discomfort, and the patient dies heroically without worrying about death. The video shows their

claims and opposition to the Death with the Dignity Act in Oregon. Oregon is one of the states

where doctor-assisted suicide is legalized.

I think the best ethical option is Option A presented in the video. In this case, Dr. Mahal

believes that it is reasonable to implement the law of death with dignity. It can protect patients

and doctors. If the doctor thinks that helping the patient goes against the sanctity of life, he may

decide not to help the patient. Patients are also protected by this law because they are safe and

need to be properly informed about alternative medicines. When considering death with dignity,

the first thing from a bioethical point of view is human autonomy. Due to the autonomy

movement in the 1970s, incompetent and terminally ill autonomy has the right to die with peace
Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection 3

(Maytal & Stern, 2006). The fact that someone is terminally ill does not make them incapacitated

enough to violate their rights.

Dr. Mahal also said in the video that other states must also legalize physician-assisted

suicide. In other states, there is a lot of controversy about this, but people are still getting the help

they need. For example, Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with a brain tumor in California. She

received six months of medical services from a doctor, but because doctor-assisted suicide was

not legalized in California, she could not die in California. She moved to Oregon with her family

and ended her life with her own choices and rights and now her husband is fighting to legalize

physician-assisted suicide (Diaz, 2017). But there are still many controversies. Like hospice and

palliative care, many people believe that they should not commit suicide with the help of a

doctor (Erdek, 2015). Hospice care and palliative care are alternatives, but not everyone can bear

and afford them.

Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection 4

Reference Page

Diaz, D. (2017, September 21). My wife chose to end her life after battling cancer. Now I fight

for others to have that  choice. Vox.

https://www.vox.com/first-person/2017/9/21/16317172/end-of-life-care-brittany-maynard-

husband-cancer.

Erdek, M. (2015). Pain medicine and palliative care as an alternative to euthanasia in end-of-life

cancer care. Linacre Quarterly, 82(2), 128–134.

https://doi.org/10.1179/2050854915Y.0000000003

Maytal, G., & Stern, T. A. (2006). The desire for death in the setting of terminal illness: A case

discussion. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 8(5), 299–305.

https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.v08n0507

West Coast University. (2019). Week 2: Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection. Retrieved

from PHIL 434, Medical Ethics and Issues.

https://learn.westcoastuniversity.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-5423516-dt-content-rid-

73166456_1/courses/WCU_PHIL_434_OL_MASTER3/Weegee%20Presentations/Week

%2002%20Debating%20the%20Death%20with%20Dignity%20Act%20-%20Storyline

%20output/story_html5.html
Death with Dignity Scenario and Reflection 5