debate

  • Terminally ill

  • voluntary termination of one’s own life

  • Administration do lethal substance with assistance of physician

Where is it legal (PAS)

  • Oregon

    • Death with Dignity Act (1994)

  • Colorado

  • California

  • D.C.

  • Montana

  • Maine

  • New Jersey

  • New Mexico

  • Washington

  • Vermont

  • Hawaii

How many people have chosen to die from PAS

  • Oregon - 1997-2022

    • 3,280 prescriptions written

    • 2,159 people died using the medication

Why should or shouldn’t PAS be legalized

  • Patients desire to have control over their bodies/lives

Involvement for physician

  • Determine mental competence/sound judgment (can’t have dementia)

  • Palliative care - doing anything for the patient to make them comfortable (pain meds)

  • Withdraw life-extending technology (chemotherapy)

  • Prescribe sedation

  • Prescribe/administer medication that will hasten death

Against legalizing PAS

  • Traditional role of physician (help patient-do not harm)

  • What if the patient would eventually get better?

  • What if the patient is not in a coherent mental state?

  • What if the patient is being pressured by the physician or by others?