3 answers
Danielle
Student
Wilmington, North Carolina
1
Question
Asked
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What do doctors think about assisted suicide in regards to their patients ?
As a student in bioethics and as someone who would like to pursue medicine, I am always intrigued by the argument behind euthanasia and assisted suicide with patients. I am curious to know what the common consensus is among doctors.
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3 answers
Brett Schlifstein
Anesthesiologist
17
Answers
Pittsboro, North Carolina
Updated
Brett’s Answer
Hi Danielle,
I see I am the first to respond to your question. I think that speaks to the controversy on this topic, and that there is no uniform consensus amongst physicians.
As physicians, we are trained to improve the health and well being of our patients. However, there comes a point where that is just not possible. In fact, our attempts to help the patient may prolong their pain and suffering. Quality of life has become an important factor in medical decision making, rather than solely prolonging life. Patients may choose to refuse medical treatment, such as CPR (DNR - do not resuscitate), or to only receive medications to make them feel better without treating the underlying disease (CMO - comfort measures only). There are physicians who specialize in palliative care who can be very helpful for these terminally ill patients. I'm no bioethics expert, but I believe these measures are all considered to be passive euthanasia.
Active euthanasia (assisted suicide) is very different, and has many other considerations. Is the patient truly terminally ill? How long is their life expectancy? What is our confidence on the answer to these questions? Are there family or friends with an ulterior motive influencing the patient? Is the patient competent to make this decision? If they are not, is it ok for someone else to make this decision?
I'm an anesthesiologist, so it would technically be very easy for me to take a patient's life in a comfortable manner - but I will never do it. In addition to it not being legal, there are a myriad of ethical issues. I have chosen to euthanize several pets, and I believe that it was the humane thing to do. And I have often wondered if we are more kind to our pets than humans when it comes to end of life issues. In order for assisted suicide to work, it would need to involve more than one specially trained physician, and this would need to be very carefully regulated, as this is a very slippery slope. All of these issues would need to be worked out before we start actively start taking lives.
It can be very easy to oversimplify many of these issues. When I met with estate attorney to make a will, she asked me a bunch of questions regarding what medical procedures I would want or not want if I could not make medical decisions for my own. I really couldn't answer these questions without context. Would I want to be intubated and ventilated? Probably, but not if I had an irreversible brain injury with little to no chance of having a meaningful recovery. Would I want a feeding tube , CPR, etc.? Once again, it depends. Bottom line, these are complicated questions, and I have just touched the tip of the iceberg with my response.
Hope that was helpful,
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital
I see I am the first to respond to your question. I think that speaks to the controversy on this topic, and that there is no uniform consensus amongst physicians.
As physicians, we are trained to improve the health and well being of our patients. However, there comes a point where that is just not possible. In fact, our attempts to help the patient may prolong their pain and suffering. Quality of life has become an important factor in medical decision making, rather than solely prolonging life. Patients may choose to refuse medical treatment, such as CPR (DNR - do not resuscitate), or to only receive medications to make them feel better without treating the underlying disease (CMO - comfort measures only). There are physicians who specialize in palliative care who can be very helpful for these terminally ill patients. I'm no bioethics expert, but I believe these measures are all considered to be passive euthanasia.
Active euthanasia (assisted suicide) is very different, and has many other considerations. Is the patient truly terminally ill? How long is their life expectancy? What is our confidence on the answer to these questions? Are there family or friends with an ulterior motive influencing the patient? Is the patient competent to make this decision? If they are not, is it ok for someone else to make this decision?
I'm an anesthesiologist, so it would technically be very easy for me to take a patient's life in a comfortable manner - but I will never do it. In addition to it not being legal, there are a myriad of ethical issues. I have chosen to euthanize several pets, and I believe that it was the humane thing to do. And I have often wondered if we are more kind to our pets than humans when it comes to end of life issues. In order for assisted suicide to work, it would need to involve more than one specially trained physician, and this would need to be very carefully regulated, as this is a very slippery slope. All of these issues would need to be worked out before we start actively start taking lives.
It can be very easy to oversimplify many of these issues. When I met with estate attorney to make a will, she asked me a bunch of questions regarding what medical procedures I would want or not want if I could not make medical decisions for my own. I really couldn't answer these questions without context. Would I want to be intubated and ventilated? Probably, but not if I had an irreversible brain injury with little to no chance of having a meaningful recovery. Would I want a feeding tube , CPR, etc.? Once again, it depends. Bottom line, these are complicated questions, and I have just touched the tip of the iceberg with my response.
Hope that was helpful,
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
763
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Danielle, while I'm not a doctor, I believe the issue of physician-assisted suicide is a complicated and ever-changing discussion in the realm of medical ethics. Studies reveal a wide range of views among healthcare professionals. My aunt and uncle, both medical professionals, have noted that opinions greatly differ depending on the specialty, location, religious beliefs, and personal experiences with patients facing terminal illnesses. However, recent surveys suggest a growing acceptance of this practice among doctors.
Doctors who support this practice argue that it respects patient autonomy, provides relief from suffering, and favors regulated methods over uncontrolled ones. On the other hand, those against it refer to the Hippocratic Oath, worries about patient vulnerability, possible loss of trust, and moral or religious objections. Different specialties within the medical field hold different views. For instance, palliative care specialists focus on providing comfort, while oncologists, who often deal with end-of-life scenarios, are generally more supportive.
Location and cultural factors significantly influence these views. European doctors are typically more accepting of this practice than their American counterparts, whose views can differ from state to state. Globally, professional organizations hold varying stances, but all stress the need for strict precautions and strong palliative care.
The field of medical education is increasingly emphasizing bioethics, understanding diverse patient views, and cultural competency. As we look ahead, the medical community is shifting towards a more patient-focused approach, with a growing acceptance of patient autonomy and the development of clearer guidelines.
For those entering the medical profession, it's crucial to comprehend different cultural views, legal structures, and to have strong communication skills. This is necessary to balance personal ethical boundaries with patient autonomy. The continuous evolution of this issue highlights the importance of giving compassionate, ethical care while respecting both the patient's wishes and the physician's moral conscience.
Doctors who support this practice argue that it respects patient autonomy, provides relief from suffering, and favors regulated methods over uncontrolled ones. On the other hand, those against it refer to the Hippocratic Oath, worries about patient vulnerability, possible loss of trust, and moral or religious objections. Different specialties within the medical field hold different views. For instance, palliative care specialists focus on providing comfort, while oncologists, who often deal with end-of-life scenarios, are generally more supportive.
Location and cultural factors significantly influence these views. European doctors are typically more accepting of this practice than their American counterparts, whose views can differ from state to state. Globally, professional organizations hold varying stances, but all stress the need for strict precautions and strong palliative care.
The field of medical education is increasingly emphasizing bioethics, understanding diverse patient views, and cultural competency. As we look ahead, the medical community is shifting towards a more patient-focused approach, with a growing acceptance of patient autonomy and the development of clearer guidelines.
For those entering the medical profession, it's crucial to comprehend different cultural views, legal structures, and to have strong communication skills. This is necessary to balance personal ethical boundaries with patient autonomy. The continuous evolution of this issue highlights the importance of giving compassionate, ethical care while respecting both the patient's wishes and the physician's moral conscience.
Parin Patel
OB/GYN
3
Answers
Newport News, Virginia
Updated
Parin’s Answer
That's a very unique question and probably varies person to person (physician to physician). Like all controversial topics, you won't find that an entire group of people agrees on this. I am grateful to have never been in a patient situation where this has come up. I have mixed feelings about it in that I can understand why some would prefer having control over their death, particularly when they have a medical condition that may alter their memories/behaviors/ability to care for themselves and live a life with any meaning. On the other hand, morally, I could not live within myself if I helped someone take their life, regardless of their reasons.