Let's Go Crazy

Dr. Everything'll Be Alright & Dr. Kevorkian

“Let's Go Crazy” from the album Purple Rain (1984)

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to talk about euthanasia. This is a very polarizing topic to discuss because it strikes at the core of our humanity, life. Whether for religious reasons (all life is sacred) or humanistic reasons (the continuation of the species is the reason we evolve) people have strong feelings about Physician Aid in-Dying (PAD). There are many ethical and moral considerations on both sides of this discussion to be considered when determining whether this should be a legal option or not. There are so many different arguments for and against it but we will limit this article to three of them. The first reason we will look at for wanting euthanasia to to be legal is quality of life vs. the sanctity of life.

If you don't like the world you're living in
Take a look around you
At least you got friends

Quality of life vs. Sanctity of life. This argument states that individuals have the right to choose whether quality of life or sanctity of life is more important to them. In situations where people are suffering intense pain or are profoundly limited in their daily lives by illness, or they are completely dependent on medication or other people to get through life; proponents of euthanasia would argue people have a right to choose quality of life over the sanctity of life (APS, 2008). Those who oppose PAD contend that people who are considering this option, they are in emotional and physical duress, it is scientific fact that the more stress we are under the more our decision-making abilities degrade and because of that these sufferers should not be legally allowed to make a life or death decision (Cleiren, M; Diekstra, R.F.; Kerkhof, A.J.& Van Der Wal, J., 1994). Oftentimes people who express a desire to end their life may be impacted by a state of depression, constant pain or dysphoria (Cleire, M., et al., 1994). These conditions often can be relieved or lessened with proper treatment. If people in this condition are given proper care, some argue that they may no longer want to die (APS, 2008). In the above lyrics Prince speaks about this. People sometime get so desperate that they become hopeless; people become hopeless when they decide there is no hope. Every once in awhile we have to take a look around. Even if we are dying of cancer, even if we are paralyzed no matter how bad life is there is still some good. Someone might be dying of cancer and are in constant pain but what if they have loved ones who love them and don't want to let them go. Maybe a war vet lost both his legs to an IED and their spouse left them because they couldn't accept this new change. He might still have health care and with it gets top notch rehab that allows them a new lease on life. This new vigor causes them to seek out love again and find the true love of their life. Of course there are times to be distraught, grief stricken and depressed but not all the time. If you are looking for hope you will find it, if you stop looking for it you won't find it.

We're all excited
But we don't know why
Maybe it's 'cause
We're all gonna die

To allow regulation of procedures regarding euthanasia. It is common knowledge that even though PAD is illegal in most states it still occurs just like gambling, drug use and other illegal activities. Legal recognition would enable regulators to be draft laws to prevent harm to those seeking out PAD (mandatory counseling for patients and families, discussions about modes of death with physicians, etc.) (APS, 2008). However, by making euthanasia legal that opens the door to the possibility of coercion or the loss of autonomy. With this as a legal option some people may become pressured by family members or caregivers to ask for PAD (APS, 2008). Or the guilt and/or burden they place on others might weigh on their minds so much that they seek out death and their perception might be wrong because just because they feel like they are a burden to their caregivers, the caregivers might see it as an act of love, not a burden (Cleire, M., et al., 1994). Also the ethical issue cuts both ways because if euthanasia became legal than medical professionals who oppose it would be forced into violating their own morality. In addition, we have to remember that mankind has a natural preoccupation with suffering or as Dostoevsky so eloquently put in the novel Notes from Underground, “Man is sometimes extraordinarily in love with suffering, that is a fact”. We all sometimes enjoy suffering. Sometimes we find comfort in pain and sadness so we seek it out. That's why for every poppy love song there is an emo song that ruminates on death and lost love. For every romantic comedy movie there are horror films and sad dramatic films. This fascination with death Sigmund Freud called it thanatos. Sometimes the anticipation of death is something that we become fixated on. This natural concern for death can become unhealthy when it becomes an obsession (Cleire, M., et al., 1994).

Dr. Everything'll be alright
Will make everything go wrong
Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill
Hang tough children

To reduce the legal jeopardy of those who implement euthanasia. Many people including those in the medical believe ethically in the practice of euthanasia (APS, 2008). Even some in the religious community believe in euthanasia. The way that the laws are now those who euthanize another person are subject to legal punishment even when it is determined that the death sprung from a request from the sufferer, and that the motives behind it were empathy and compassion, not malice or any criminal reason (APS, 2008). The argument here is that those who ethically and morally believe in PAD have no legal protection. Some counter this stance by saying that a legal adoption of euthanasia could lead to a reduction of earnest efforts in diagnosis, treatment, and long term care (APS, 2008). Prince alludes to this when he says, Dr. Everything'll be alright, will make everything go wrong, physicians are people too and sometimes people will take shortcuts. Doctors tell patients that everything will be okay but even the most well meaning physician can make a mistake. Every year there are thousands of malpractice lawsuits against doctors and the availability of euthanasia might push some to lean on it to protect themselves from potential lawsuits. Furthermore, it might be cheaper for insurance companies or families members to euthanize a person (APS, 2008). Life is hard but at the same time it is joyous. We only get one life and no matter side you land on this debate, I hope we take to heart the line, Hang tough children.

References

The Australian Psychological Society, Ltd. (2008). Psychological perspectives on euthanasia and the terminally: An APS discussion paper prepared by a working group of the directorate of social issues. Level (11): 1-26.

Cleiren, M; Diekstra, R.F.; Kerkhof, A.J.; Van Der Wal, J. (1994). Mode of death and kinship in bereavement: Focusing on "who" rather than "how." Crisis 15 (1): 22–36.