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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper discusses how the rule of “do no harm” applies in cases where a patient asks the doctor to help them die. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
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3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVmedeut.rtf
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believe that the end of life should be left in Gods hands. The medical establishment often seems to be caught in the middle. This paper discusses some of the medical
issues relating to euthanasia, and in particular, the basic idea to "do no harm." Discussion At the moment, there are very few states in the U.S. where euthanasia is legal.
Oregon has had a "death with dignity" law for some time, and Washington State just approved a similar measure in November, 2008. This poses a dilemma for physicians, who are
bound by an oath that says, "First, do no harm." Physician-assisted suicide can certainly be considered as doing considerable harm to the patient, by depriving them of life. On the
other hand, when someone is in such agony that they want to die, it can be also be argued that letting them continue to suffer is doing harm. The
American Medical Association does allow what it calls "passive euthanasia," in which a physician can withhold treatment, knowing that the outcome of this will be the death of the patient
(Rachels, 1975). However, there are solid arguments against this; Rachels suggests that passive euthanasia may actually be worse than if the doctor helped the patient die (1975). Consider the case
of a patient with terminal throat cancer, who is in terrible pain which cannot successfully be alleviated any longer (Rachels, 1975). The patient will not survive for more than a
few days, even with treatment, but because the pain is so intense he doesnt want to live even that long, and asks the doctor to help him die, a decision
his family supports (Rachels, 1975). Under todays guidelines, the doctor could withhold treatment but not help the patient commit suicide; the result of this could be truly appalling, since it
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