Another view of the right to die
6. If accepted into the program, patients are given a prescription for a life-ending medication, usually a barbiturate.
7. If, and when, the patient reaches a point where suffering has become unbearable despite all medical and palliative interventions and he/she decides to use the medication, it must be self-administered orally.
8. No patient can be forced to participate. No physician can be forced to participate.
I believe that this is a very humane way to meet the end-of-life needs of some terminally ill patients. The number of patients who choose medical aid in dying is actually small, and only about a third of those given the medication actually use it. The vast majority of those who do are within weeks or days of dying of their illness and most are under hospice care. For those who don't use the medication, knowing that they have that option, if conditions warrant, provides them with great peace of mind. The beliefs of those who object on religious and/or moral grounds must be respected. However, not everyone believes that death is in the hands of a higher power and those who don't should not be restrained by those who do.
Sincerely,
Dr. Y
Notes from MG:
1. The immaturity of one under 18 could also apply to one over 18. Eighteen is just too arbitrary.
2. I have no idea how they might determine if someone was in fact being coerced.
3. I like the requirement of two doctor's opinions, but this just clogs up the medical establishment with more paperwork.
4. I have no idea how a mental health professional could overrule two physicians.
5. What if dementia is part of the terminal illness?
6. How do we know that the patient will actually die from the pill?
7. I like the idea that physicians are not involved in giving the pill, but they are involved in prescribing the pill.
8. Physicians may be forced to participate and so might patients. It is very hard to determine coercion.
This is a tough issue and there are compassionate views on both sides of this enduring mystery.
(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including "Religion for Dummies," co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman.)
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