Arguments for/against
Arguments For:
- Patient’s pain and suffering will end
- Patients will die a noble death, consciously aware of so.
- Health care costs may be reduced
- Hospitals can move on to patients which may be in a condition that could be saved
- Vital organs may be used to save other future patients
- The alternative to suicide may result in a traumatic way, or one that is unsuccessful and causes more harm.
Arguments Against:
- Violates the hippocratic oath
- Arguably decreases the value of the human life
- Difficult to determine whether or not a patient is in the right mind to consent to medical assistance in death.
- Some religions believe that suicide is a sin
- Doctors may be prompted to give up on recovery too early
- Doctors may feel pressure to end patients’ lives