Physician-assisted suicide has been and still is a major issue in American society. Questions whether a physician should be able to help a terminally-ill patient to commit suicide by prescribing him lethal medications and if such an act is morally justifiable have long split the population. The first real discussions started in 1828 when the first American statute was passed in New York which explicitly made assisted suicide illegal. Many other states followed this example and legally the issue was settled at that time.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Arguments for and against assisted suicide
- Religious arguments
- The Death with Dignity Act
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the complex issue of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in the United States. The text explores arguments for and against PAS, examines the legal and ethical considerations, and analyzes the role of religion in the debate.
- The right to self-determination and the right to die with dignity
- The role of palliative care in end-of-life decisions
- The ethical implications of physician involvement in PAS
- The religious perspectives on suicide and PAS
- The legal and societal implications of legalizing PAS
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of physician-assisted suicide in the United States and its historical context. It highlights the legal and ethical challenges surrounding PAS, referencing the Karen Ann Quinlan case and the introduction of advance directives.
- Arguments for and against assisted suicide: This chapter examines the main arguments for and against PAS. Supporters emphasize the right to self-determination and the need to alleviate unbearable suffering for terminally ill patients. Opponents argue for the importance of palliative care and the potential for abuse of PAS.
- Religious arguments: This chapter explores the religious perspectives on suicide and PAS, focusing on the Roman Catholic Church's stance. The text discusses the concept of suicide as a sin and the church's belief that only God can give and take life. It also examines the ethical implications of PAS as "playing God."
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This text explores the key themes of physician-assisted suicide, self-determination, palliative care, ethics, religion, and legal considerations in the United States. The debate revolves around the rights of terminally ill patients, the role of physicians in end-of-life decisions, and the societal implications of legalizing PAS.
- Quote paper
- Jasmine Thomas (Author), 2007, Physician-assisted suicide in the United States, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/149658
