Introduction
Death is the naturally way to cease from existence. Dying is the act of ceasing from existence. Physician assisted suicide is defined as voluntary ending of life by administration of a lethal medication prescription with assistance of a physician either directly or indirectly (Ely, 2018). It is acceptable among patients with sound mind as confirmed by the doctor. Physician assisted suicide has both advocates and non-advocates. Physicians do not support it because it is contrary to the central principle of doctors, which is to treat and improve the wellbeing of a patient (Ely, 2018). In the United States, only six states and Washington DC have passed the law to allow death with dignity. They include: Oregon, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawai’i and Vermont (Ely, 2018).
The Article of Brittany Maynard
The article of Brittany Maynard talks about her tumultuous life which promoted her to end her life with dignity by taking a lethal medication prescribed by her Medical physician. The major ethical issue emerging from this article is that, Brittany Maynard’s tumor had overgrown, it cannot be treated, and the Doctor gave a prognosis of 6 months living (Maynard, 2018). Another emerging issue is ending life with dignity which is against the code of work and ethics of a medical doctor. However, Brittany considered dyeing in a hospice care at San Francisco (Maynard, 2018). However, she realized her body might develop morphine resistant pain and develop more complications such as verbal and cognitive dysfunction. Another emerging issue is Brittany Maynard does not meet the criteria of California to undergo a physician assisted suicide. (Maynard, 2018)
Brittany's Decision to End Her Life
According to the Doctor's prognosis, Brittany was to live for only six months. The medications suggested would only make her life much miserable; thus, she discussed with her family and came up with a heartbreaking decision of ending her life with dignity. Brittany relocated with her family to Oregon where she met the Criteria of undergoing the Act of death with dignity (Maynard, 2018). This decision affects both her, the husband, friends, and the family as she has to make many changes including getting a new medical doctor, new driving license, new home and new voter registration. It also prompts the legislators in other states to reconsider the ethical decision concerning patients with a similar case as Brittany.
The Utility Principle and Brittany's Decision
The utility principle from Act of Utilitarianism advocates the decision of Brittany Maynard's decision to end her life in dignity. According to utilitarian, morality increases pleasure and happiness; hence, making life better and decreases sorrow, agony, and pain (Heo, 2014). It also rejects customs and traditions, for example, physicians' code of ethics with the central principle of saving life yet, the medical condition of Brittany is incurable. Moreover, the tumor in her brain will be worsening every day reaching a level she cannot stand the pain. Since she does not want to die in pain and agony as her husband, family and friends watch her, moving to Oregon to end her life with dignity was the best option. This will bring her satisfaction when dies while her husband, family, and her friends are by her side.
Conclusion
In summary, although the issue is challenging, Physician assisted suicide should be ethically permitted among sound mind patients with terminal diseases according to the wish of the patient. However, provision of optimal healthcare, caring, and empathy in accordance to patient's wish should be always be the ultimate goal of medication (Ely, 2018).
Work Cited
Maynard, B. (2018). My right to death with dignity at 29. [online] CNN. Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/07/opinion/maynard-assisted-suicide-cancer-dignity/index.html [Accessed 19 Oct. 2018].
Nam Kyol Heo (2014). Interpretation Problem of Secondary Principles from Mill’s Utilitarianism -Focused on Justification by Act-utilitarianism of D. O. Brink and Crisp-. Journal of Ethics, 1(97), pp.69-95.
Ely, E. (2018). Ethics and the Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide. Annals of Internal Medicine, 168(11), p.834.
