|
Yang Yilin
Ms. Lionberger
Persuasive Writing
29/November/1999
Can You Endure Extreme Pain until Your Life
Ends Naturally?
When I was born, I had an innate heart disease?a
small hole in the partition between
the left
and right auricles. Now, I fortunately
recovered
after an operation at the age
of seven. However,
I have a vivid 20-centimeter
long scar extending
vertically like a giant centipede
on the
center of my large chest, and
it was made
while the operation. It always
reminds me
of my suffering before I recovered.
At that
time, I particularly had difficulties
in
breathing because the hole in
my heart caused
the bad circulation of blood.
Unlike healthy
people, the normal breathing
through my nose
was not enough for me. Accordingly,
I repeatedly
drew deeper breaths through the
widely opened
mouth in order to send more blood
with oxygen
to my body. Also, as soon as
I got easy exercise,
my heart beaten very fast as
if my heart
had pierced the body, so I was
told not to
play hard sports. What is worse,
the disease
caused me a kind of acrophobia?irrational
fear of heights (�gAcrophobia�h).
When I
was crossing pedestrian bridges,
I used to
imagine something bad. For example,
I thought
the pedestrian bridges were shaking
and it
would break into pieces. As you
can see,
I�fd been suffering from my heart
disease.
According to my parents, when
they saw I
was suffering, they worried whether
they
should choose euthanasia to release
me from
hardship or not for several months.
Although
they decided to fight against
my disease
together finally, I�fm very sensitive
to
the worldwide controversy euthanasia.
I think
I can share the pain and troubles
with terminally
ill patients to some extend although
my disease
was less serious in comparison
to them. In
my case, if my disease had been
progressive
and had no cure, I would have
chosen death
before the end of my life. Therefore,
euthanasia
is the best solution for terminally
ill patients
who want it.
First of all, I would like to tell you about
the definition of euthanasia
and what I mean
in terms of solution. According
to The American
Heritage Dictionary, the term
euthanasia
comes from Greek and means a
good death [�geu�h
means good, and �gthanatos�h
means death],
and also the definition is �gthe
action of
killing an individual for reasons
considered
to be merciful�h(�gEuthanasia�h).
Then, the
term solution in this paper means
whether
terminally ill patients accept
any kinds
of medical treatment to prolong
life despite
serious pain or they refuse medical
treatment
for living longer and choose
death to end
unbearable pain.
Next, there is a brief chronological history
about euthanasia. In fact, the origin of
the 1st documented historical case of euthanasia
was in the ancient Greece, and then it was
also allowed in the ancient Rome. However,
it had been thought as a taboo as religions
such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
became popular in the world (Douglas). According
to Ph.D. John A. Pridonoff, the executive
director of the Hemlock Society, before the
medical progression in the 20th century, many people died of their first
illnesses because of the lack of medical
technology throughout the world, and also
the average life expectancy was short. Then,
medicine killed as many people as it cured.
It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that medicine was mainly used to
save people. The medical breakthroughs
began
with the discovery of antibiotics,
and then
artificial life-support system
such as respirators,
feeding tubes, artificial nutrition,
hydration
and artificial organs followed
(Wekesser
73). 30 facts from the world
health report
1997 by the UNESCO Courier tells
us that
�glife expectancy at birth was
48 years in
1955; 59 years in 1975; and 65
years in 1995�h
and between 1980 and 1995 it
increased globally
by 4.6 years (�gPopulation and
Life Expectancy�h).
On the other hand, this medical
progression
also has a negative effect. That
is, patients
must prolong life with unbearable
pain under
the improved medical technology
although
they are terminally ill. Therefore,
the1970�fs
began to see trials for the patients�f
rights
to die (Wekesser 73). For example,
let�fs
focus on the famous case of Karen
Ann Quinlan,
who was 21-year old woman. She
stopped breathing
for at least two fifteen-minute
periods for
reasons that were never completely
determined.
As the result, her brain was
severely damaged;
in other words, she was in the
chronic persistent
vegetable state and had no cognitive
function.
Although there was no hope of
recovery, doctors
refused to remove the respirator
that made
her keep alive artificially.
Therefore, her
family sued the New Jersey hospital
for the
right to refuse life support
for a brain
dead patient and won in 1976,
but Karen remained
alive until 1985 (�gThe Case
of Karen Ann
Quinlan�h). What is more, the
number of reported
cases of euthanasia rapidly soared
in the
1980�fs. Of the 519 reported
cases of assisted
death between 1920 and 1993,
476 happened
after 1979. By 1994, over 91%
of the reported
cases of euthanasia in the past
80 years
have been reported in the last
14 years.
In fact, these cases of euthanasia
were often
caused by the fact patients with
unbearable
pain would choose rather life
with suffering
than death itself (Wekesser 74).
The UNESCO
Courier reported that globally
more than
52 million people died in 1996
(�gCauses
of Death�h). �gAbout 1.5 million
people died
of HIV/Aids in 1996�h (�gInfectious
Diseases�h).
�gAbout half of the more than
6 million deaths
from cancer in 1996 were due
to cancers of
the lung, stomach, colon-rectum,
liver and
breast�h (�gCancer�h). From these
data, I
can say some people may die of
extremely
painful diseases such as HIV
and cancer.
Of these suffering people, some
may want
to choose euthanasia before they
die of their
diseases. However, euthanasia
is not supported
in many countries today. If euthanasia
is
legalized, these terminally ill
patients
can have the alternative choice
to escape
from terrible pain. Therefore,
I want to
demonstrate euthanasia is essential
for terminally
ill patients who want it through
this research
paper.
In fact, the movements of to support euthanasia
have been becoming more active
all over the
world. Accordingly, I want to
tell you about
some major ones. In 1935, the
first Euthanasia
Society was founded in London.
In 1938, the
Euthanasia Society of America
was founded
in New York and it renamed the
Society for
Right to Die in 1974. In 1975,
Dutch Voluntary
Euthanasia Society [NVVE] launched
its Members�f
Aid Service to give advice to
the dying.
In 1980, the Hemlock Society
was founded
in Santa Monica, California,
by Derek Humphry
and launched the campaign for
assisted dying
in the US. In the same year,
Right to Die
Societies were formed in Germany
and Canada.
In 1986, Americans Against Human
Suffering
was founded in California, launching
a campaign
for what would become the 1992
California
Death with Dignity Act, but it
was defeated
by the margin of 54-46% in 1992.
In 1993,
Oregon Right to Die was founded
to write
and subsequently to pass the
Oregon Death
with Dignity Act. In 1994, the
Oregon�fs
Death with Dignity Act was passed
by a margin
of 51-49 and retained by a margin
of 60-40%
on 4 November 1997 and officially
took effect
on 27 October 1997. What is more,
World Euthanasia
Conference is planned in Boston
in 2000 (Humphry).
As you can see, these movements
I have told
you so far have become popular
globally.
There are my standards of �gthe best solution
for terminally ill patients who
want it�h.
I believe �gthe best solution
for terminally
ill patients who want it�h can
physically
help patients, mentally or psychologically
give satisfaction to patients,
and socially
support patients and others.
I think euthanasia
fits all of these criteria, but
before explaining
the reason, I want to inform
you of my criteria
of �gthe best solution for terminally
ill
patients who want it�h more clearly
in the
next three paragraphs.
My first criterion is that �gthe best solution
for terminally ill patients who want it�h
can physically help patients. Longman Dictionary
of Contemporary English defines physical
as �grelated to someone�fs body rather than
their mind or soul�h(�gPhysically�h). As
this definition shows, I want to focus on
body, and especially pain that body suffers
from. Therefore, physically helping patients
can mean to stop body�fs pain. For especially
terminally ill patients, body�fs pain is
a serious problem. The International Association
for the Study of Pain [IASP] defines pain
as an unpleasant �c arising from actual or
potential tissue damage or described in terms
of such damage (Carr). Also, physically helping patients include
the meaning to end the body�fs
decline. For
example, in the body�fs decline,
there is
function, such as the disability
of digestion
and excretion, and appearance,
such as the
loss of hair, hands, and feet.
Second, to give satisfaction to patients
mentally or psychologically is
also my criterion.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary
English
defines mental as �gaffecting
mind or happening
in the mind�h(�gMental�h). Furthermore,
this
dictionary defines psychological
as �gconnected
with the way that people�fs minds
work and
the way that this affects their
behavior�h(�gPsychological�h).
As you can see from these two
definitions,
the term mind is the key word.
This is also
the same as what I mean in terms
of mentally
and psychologically. Hence, giving
satisfaction
to patients mentally or psychologically
means
to relieve their mind�fs troubles,
such as
anxiety and frustration. In addition,
the
mind of patients can be satisfied
because
they can end mind�fs troubles
when they die.
Last, socially supporting patients and others
is important, too. Longman Dictionary
of
Contemporary English defines
social as �gconcerning
human society and its organization,
or the
quality of people�fs lives�h(�gSocial�h).
However, this definition is too
broad and
vague, so in this paper, I want
to focus
on the physical, mental or psychological,
and financial burdens toward
others?caregivers
such as family members, nurses,
volunteers,
and friends in addition to the
financial
burdens of patients themselves.
Longman Dictionary
of Contemporary English defines
financial
as �gconcerned with money or
the management
of money�h (�gFinancial�h). Accordingly,
the term financially means money
in this
paper like this definition. As
you can see,
I mean that socially supporting
patients
and others is to remove the financial
burdens
of patients and the physical,
mental or psychological,
financial burdens toward caregivers.
For
example, there are burdens through
hard nursing,
watching many terrible deaths,
and high medical
costs.
Now, I�fm sure you have already understood
my standards for �gthe best solution for
terminally ill patients who want it�h, so
I want to begin to explain how euthanasia
fits these standards. As you know, my first
standard is to be able to physically help
terminally ill patients. As I mentioned before,
some people suffer from diseases with severe
pain before death. What is worse, pain becomes
severer in an advanced stage of disease in
almost all cases (Lema). In the US, approximately 2 million people
die every year, and two of three deaths are
caused by chronic disease, such as cancer
or heart disease (�gBackground on End-of
life Issues�h). Let�fs take an example of
cancer that is one major cause of death and
brings about the severer pain. According
to Eduardo Bruera, MD, cancer causes death of more than 54,000
Canadians and 500,000 Americans
every year.
Most cancer patients increase
pain before
death. Furthermore, Twycross
reported that
most cancer patients have over
one distinct
pain site, and more than 40%
have four or
more sites (Lema).
At this point, many people will think painkillers
or analgesics are useful because
they can
stop pain. Of course, it is true.
In reality,
they are often used in medication,
and we
have benefited from them. In
my case, I used
and benefited from them especially
when I
had an operation of heart disease.
Also,
other people may benefit from
them when they
have their decaying teeth treat
or remove
in the dentist�fs. However, you
shouldn�ft
forget the fact they are addictive
drugs
and have side effects.
I�fm sure you have heard the well-known drug
morphine. It is very helpful
to stop pain
in medication, but it often has
a negative
image because it is highly addictive.
It�fs
common to other drugs. Once people
begin
to abuse drug, it is very difficult
for you
to give up. This is similar to
cigarettes
that are familiar to you and
also addictive
like drugs. If people who are
used to smoking,
it is difficult to give up smoking
because
their bodies don�ft work clearly
and comfortably
without smoking. In other words,
they will
become more aggressive and irritable
unless
they smoke. As you can see, these
are the
reasons of the negative image
toward drugs
like smoking.
Also, patients using drugs to stop pain must
suffer many side effects. For instance, there
is respiratory depression, dependence, sedation,
itch, nausea, coagulation defects, gastrointestinal
bleeding, and liver and kidney toxicity (Stein). American Journal of Public Health�fs research
showed in 1993 that 80% of hospital
physicians
agree that the most common form
of narcotic
abuse is under treatment of pain
(�gAdvocating
for Better Pain Management�h).
As you can
see, terminally ill patients
using analgesics
to stop pain can be suffering
from its side
effects.
Consequently, patients can�ft really get
rid of every pain and trouble
even though
they use analgesics. If the pain
of patients
directly from diseases are stopped
or weakened
by analgesics, they must struggle
against
the addictive effects and the
side effects
of analgesics. In addition to
these bad effects
of analgesics, one research shows
that cancer
patients who are often in advanced
stage
of their diseases are still suffering
seriously
even though they use analgesics
to stop pain.
It was caused by the lack of
physicians�f
knowledge about pain, and this
is the main
reason of this suffering despite
using analgesics
today (Lema). Therefore, I want
to say analgesics
don�ft effectively remove every
pain of terminally
ill patients in most cases.
Then, I want to introduce two examples about
physical suffering of terminally
ill patients
in this and the following paragraphs.
Theresa
M. Stephany, a registered nurse
who cares
for patients in a hospice, testifies
that
despite the best efforts by caregivers
in
the hospice, some deaths are
too horrible
to believe. Caregivers including
her saw
it?the toes that turn black and
fall off;
the cancer that eats through
the patient�fs
face, exposing jawbones and eye
sockets;
the blood that spurts out of
friable, irradiated
skin; and the inhuman secretions
that ooze
from head and neck cancers. Such
deaths,
beyond their control despite
the finest symptom
management, are not even remotely
life-affirming.
She also said that although most
patients
wanted to live because they were
expecting
something miracle would happen
and they would
be cured. However, there were
some terminally
ill patients who really wanted
to choose
assisted euthanasia to stop their
suffering,
but they couldn�ft realize the
desire in
hospice, so they couldn�ft help
suffering
from unbearable pain and looking
forward
to the time their diseases killed
them (Wekesser
112).
In addition, there is another example of
Bob Dent, who was suffering from
a prostate
cancer in 1991. He chose physician-assisted
euthanasia finally after doing
everything
possible. During his struggle,
he had seven
important operations and lost
several cancerous
lymph nodes and both testicles.
Despite these
efforts, his condition became
worse, and
he was told nothing further could
be done.
Then, he had difficulty in urinating
and
breathing, and also his bones
infiltrated
by the cancer are so fragile
that he couldn�ft
be hugged. He had to take 30
tablets a day.
The side effects of drugs caused
a roller
coaster of pain, particularly,
morphine caused
constipation-laxatives taken
work erratically,
often resulted in the loss of
bowel control
in the middle night. Before his
euthanasia,
he left his comment. He said
he was immensely
grateful that he had had the
opportunity
to use the �eRight of the Terminally
Ill
Act�f to ask his doctor Philip
Nitschke to
assist him to relieve that interminable
suffering
and to end his life in a dignified
and compassionate
manner (�gFinal Statement by
Bob Dent�h).
As you can see, some terminally ill patients
must physically suffer from unbearable
pain
and troubles in the advanced
stage before
they die naturally even though
they use analgesics.
Of them, although some people
want to live
despite pain and troubles, you
must not forget
the fact others may prefer death
to life.
Therefore, euthanasia is clearly
appropriate
for the best solution of these
terminally
ill patients who want it in order
to escape
from the physical suffering.
Bob Dent said,
�gIf you disagree with voluntary
euthanasia,
then don�ft use it, but don�ft
deny me the
right to use it if and when I
want to�h (�gFinal
Statement by Bob Dent�h).
Second, euthanasia is essential for the alternative
choice of terminally ill patients who want
it because it can mentally and psychologically
give satisfaction to them. As you know, some
terminally ill patients must experience really
severe pain before death. In fact, pain can
mentally and psychologically affect patients.
Let�fs use the example of cancer patients.
According to the report of Dr. Kathleen M.
Foley on 29 April 1999, there is strong correlation
between pain and psychological
symptoms in
cancer patients. The prevalence
of cancer
related pain was 39% in those
who had a psychiatric
diagnosis, and only in 19% in
those without
such a diagnosis. Psychiatric
problems happen
in upwards of 60% of patients
with advanced
cancer. This includes adjustment
disorders,
depression, anxiety, and delirium.
Also,
Foley said that studies showed
that if pain
was removed adequately, psychiatric
symptoms
such as anxiety and depression
commonly would
disappear. In addition, he warned
patients
are suffering from many factors
that negatively
affect prevalence and severity
of psychological
distress. For instance, there
is the presence
of advanced disease and distressing
physical
symptoms?especially pain, disability,
feelings
of frustration and hopelessness,
strained
interpersonal relationships,
a controlling
personality trait, economic concerns,
and
impaired cognitive abilities.
Also, the presence
of advanced disease and distressing
physical
symptoms include unresolved previous
experiences
of loss or separation, lack of
perceived
support from at least one loved
person, difficulties
in adapting to illness and its
implications,
and inadequate communication
regarding illness
or treatment. What is worse,
there is existential
distress?the prevalence of a
variety of other
factors that lead to distress.
For patients
with advanced disease, existential
distress
includes hopelessness, futility,
meaninglessness,
disappointment, remorse, death
anxiety, and
disruption of personal identity.
From these
data, you can imagine how terminally
ill
patients are heavily suffering
mentally and
psychologically (Foley).
In this and the next paragraphs, I want to
show how euthanasia can mentally
and psychologically
give satisfaction to terminally
ill patients
in comparison to natural death.
According
to death certificate data about
the death
place of about 62% of the 2.3
million deaths
occur in hospitals, 16% occur
in nursing
homes in the US, homes [38% of
those over
85 die in nursing homes], and
17% occur in
homes (Folley). From the statistics,
I can
say approximately 95% of the
US people�fs
deaths occur in places: hospitals,
nursing
homes, and homes. Of course,
there includes
terminally ill patients. In some
cases, people
could die surrounded by family
members and
close friends. However, many
deaths occur
alone or surrounded by few loved
people in
the real world because today�fs
medical technology
can only predict the time of
death. In other
words, no one knows the specific
time and
date when people die excepting
God. Also,
family members such as grown
children and
close friends cannot always be
in time for
hospitals, nursing homes, and
homes of dying
patients before death. This is
because these
people are not always live near
the places
where the deaths of friends or
family members
would happen. Also, they may
not always be
convenient to say good-bye to
their family
members or friends.
In contrast to death directly caused by diseases,
euthanasia is more comfortable and peaceful
way to end life. The reason is because terminally
ill patients who choose euthanasia can plan
the specific time and date for death, so
they can die surrounded by more family members
and close friends. Through my research for
this paper, I could see that almost all cases
of euthanasia happened surrounded by several
loved people. Furthermore, terminally ill
patients hardly had regrets and they felt
happy, comfortable, and peaceful when they
died because they were watched and surrounded
by loved people. For example, there are several
cases of assisted euthanasia reported by
Professor Meinrad Schaer. In the case of Rubin T., his diagnosis
was Amyotroph/c Lateral Sclerosis
[ALS].
He decided to choose assisted
euthanasia
with the help of EXIT, Society
for Human
Dying in Switzerland, because
his pain became
severer and he was totally dependent
on other
people�fs care. Furthermore,
his wife caring
for him was suffering cancer
metastases and
worried about the fact she wouldn�ft
look
after his husband soon. He also
refused to
go to a nursing home. These were
the main
reasons he chose euthanasia.
When he died,
he was surrounded by his wife,
son, daughter,
and son-in-law, and there was
a contented
smile on his face. In addition
to this Rubin�fs
case, the case of Patient Wily
B. is very
impressive. Her diagnosis was
cancer of the
pancreas with multiple metastases.
She could
utter only unarticulate sounds
and had problems
swallowing. Moreover, her health
rapidly
became worse as time went by,
and there was
no cure. Finally, she chose assisted
euthanasia
and died peacefully in the arms
of her husband
surrounded by him, tow sons with
their wives.
Through my explanation and these examples,
I hope you can clearly understand how terminally
ill patients are mentally suffering mentally
and psychologically and how euthanasia is
good in comparison to death naturally because
patients can plan death. Also, in the case
of Bob Dent, he could do little by himself
and needed 24 hour nursing care. He said
that he increased much mental and psychological
pain that was caused by watching his wife
suffering as she cared for him such as bathing,
drying, and cleaning up, and the pain could
never be relieved by medication (�gFinal
Statement by Bob Dent�h). Therefore, euthanasia
is absolutely necessary and the best solution
for those who are terminally ill with severe
pain and who want it.
Finally, socially supporting patients and
others is the most important
component that
we should keep in our minds in
discussing
the best solution for terminally
ill patients
who want it. At first, I want
to begin with
physical burdens toward others.
As I mentioned
in the previous paragraph, Bob
Dent could
do little alone and needed 24
hour nursing
care. Also, I said his caregiver
was his
wife, and she was tired because
she cared
for him such as bathing, drying,
and cleaning
up vigorously. In addition, his
body was
very weak, and he had troubles
like a child
who is not yet toilet trained
(�gFinal Statement
by Bob Dent�h). As you can imagine,
it was
very difficult to care for terminally
ill
patients like Bob Dent because
what they
can do by themselves is limited
or almost
nothing in most cases. Also,
I think caring
for terminally ill patients and
children
is similar in terms of difficulty
because
children also can do almost nothing
by themselves.
Additionally, what a terminally
ill patient
can do is various and depends
on the disease
and its progress, but what a
child can do
is relatively universal. Therefore,
I want
to use the example of a child
to describe
how the jobs of caregivers are
physically
hard in the following paragraph.
Just imagine you must care for a child. Assume
you are the only caregiver of
the child and
we just think about the care
for the baby
here. Needless to say, you must
spend much
time to care for the baby in
daily life.
For example, you must feed the
baby several
times a day. In this case, if
you are not
female or your breasts don�ft
have enough
milk, you have to make liquid
milk of milk
powder. Of course, you need to
prepare milk
powder [if you want] and clothes
for the
baby. Also, you need to play
with or communicate
to the baby. When it excretes
feces and urine
not in the toilet but in the
bet, you must
wash its hip and change the baby�fs
wet underpants
into a new or cleaned one, too.
Moreover,
you must wash its clothes regularly
and clean
the dirtied bed. Also, you must
treat the
baby carefully because it is
very delicate.
Furthermore, you must pay attention
to how
the baby cries because it�fs
an important
signal. Maybe, the cry implies
hunger, sorrow,
sick or fever, pain, and unpleasant.
If the
baby is sick, you must take it
to the hospital
and then you may have to have
the baby take
medicine regularly that a doctor
prescribes.
These are the main job you should
do for
the baby. Although I could only
include one
part of care here, I�fm sure
you can understand
how caring for delicate people
who can do
almost nothing is physically
hard.
Then, it�fs also significant to discuss the
mental or psychological burdens
for others,
especially caregivers. As you
can imagine
from my explanation and examples
so far,
this kind of burden is very serious
although
these problems don�ft come out
generally.
For example, caregivers may do
relatively
dirty works that mentally or
psychologically
annoy them, such as washing futon
and clothes
with feces and urine. According
to the testimony
of Bob Dent, he sometimes excreted
feces
and urine while he was sleeping,
and his
wife used to wash and clean the
futon and
clothes (�gFinal Statement by
Bob Dent�h).
In addition, the most serious
point in the
mental or psychological burdens
is that caregivers
must see the physical and mental
or psychological
suffering and decline of terminally
ill patients.
For example, caregivers may come
across the
scene a patient is screaming
with loud and
strange roars like an aggressive
lion suffering
from extremely pain while destroying
the
television and radio in the bedroom.
Also,
caregivers may see a patient
is sobbing on
the bed because they must say
good-bye to
their family members in the near
future while
gazing the memorial photograph
with his or
her loved people when being healthy.
In addition,
caregivers may face patients�f
terrible deaths.
As I mentioned before, Stephany,
a registered
nurse in a hospice, has run across
the lousy
and cruel scene of patients�f
deaths many
times. She strongly emphasized
that it made
her crazy when the righteous
talked about
how there was no need for suicide
because
hospice can provide a comfortable
death with
dignity (Wekesser 112). As can
see from these
examples and testimonies, you
can understand
how caregivers are suffering
mentally or
psychologically.
In addition to physical and mental or psychological
problems toward others, you must
not forget
the financial burdens of terminally
ill patients
and others?their families. In
fact, the medical
expense is very expensive. Michael
P. Guerin
reported that recent medical
costs have soared
at more than twice the inflation
rate globally.
One reason is that a hospital
must purchase
the newest medical equipment
for high-tech
medication. What is more, the
greatest expense
is the cost of huge staff to
operate a hospital,
which account for 70% of the
costs. With
a ratio of more than two staff
members for
every patient and over 3.6 million
full-time-equivalent
personnel, hospitals in the US
spent more
than $153 billion in 1985, up
from $52.1
billion in 1975. Costs for general
health
care increased to $458 billion
in 1986, up
8.4% over the previous year.
This figure
covers 10.9% of the GNP, making
heat care
the largest single industry in
the US. Over
70% of all medical bills were
paid by insurance.
As you can see, the rapidly developed
medical
technology has also caused the
high jump
of medical costs. There is specific
report
about a medical cost in 1970.
In the next
paragraph, I will show you one
specific case
of medical costs, the testimony,
and how
it is meaningless to pay for
medical expense
for terminally ill patients.
In the Atlantic Monthly published in March
1970, Michael Crichton criticized
the high
cost of care. He described one
case of medical
expense in detail. According
to his report,
a fifty-year old man in perfect
health was
suddenly taken ill and hospitalized
for 31
days without any kinds of health
insurance.
This elderly man was charged
$6172.55 that
was just a few less than the
man�fs annually
salary for his medical bill of
a month. Although
he had to pay the whole expense
because he
didn�ft have health insurance,
you can see
how medical costs were expensive
in even
1970�fs. In this case, his illness
had the
hope to recover, so it�fs worth
to pay for
the expensive costs. However,
for terminally
ill patients, the costs are also
the huge
financial burden although the
health insurance
can cover much of the costs.
Maybe, some
patients are very rich and can
afford to
pay for the rest part of the
medical costs
by their savings even though
they have no
income, but in almost all cases,
the expense
is becoming the huge burden of
other family
members, such as wives and grown
children.
Stephany also testified though
her job as
a nurse in hospice, �gGrown children
may
live in distant states and cannot
afford
to take unpaid family leave time.
Most must
work full-time to keep their
health care
insurance and make mortgage payments�h
(Wekesser
112). What is more, some of these
patients
want to die because of physical
and mental
or psychological sufferings.
In this situation,
don�ft you think it�fs worth
to pay the expensive
medical costs for these terminally
ill patients
against their desires to die
at the sacrifice
of other family members? It�fs
too wasteful.
All in all, it�fs the obvious fact that for
some terminally ill patients
who want to
die, prolonging life brings about
just meaningless
social burdens toward themselves
and others
in almost all cases. For not
only these patients
but also their families, euthanasia
is absolutely
the best solution because it
can stop these
social problems. From this social
point of
view, euthanasia is the best
alternative
choice for terminally ill patients
who want
it, too.
However, there is data we cannot ignore in
the modern society. That is, although many
physicians support physician-assisted euthanasia,
physicians who would be willing to help patients
in committing suicide are much less. In one
study of physicians in Washington state,
39% opposed physician-assisted suicide, but
53% believed it should be legal in some situations,
only 40% said they would be willing to do
(Wekesser 100). I think this is mainly caused
by the fact many societies in the world still
oppose euthanasia and punish those who assisted
in committing suicide. In such areas, many
people who are against euthanasia criticize
physicians who just support euthanasia, still
more those who helped in committing suicide.
For example, more than 100 people in New
York protested that Princeton University
plans to hire Peter Singer, who favors euthanasia, from June 1999 (�gProtesters
Hit Pinceton for Hiring Philosopher Who Favors
Euthanasia�h). Also, if physicians have helped
euthanasia, they would be labeled �gphysicians
who have helped committing suicide�hand be
criticized in many places by people who are
against euthanasia. Also, these physicians�f
names may appear in many places, such as
books, Internet, newspaper, and magazines.
Though my research, I saw the name Dr. Jack
Kevorkian many times. Of course, in some cases, he
is supported, but in other cases, he is notorious.
For example, writer Betty Rollin called him
a �gfearless reformer�h On the other hand,
publisher Malcolm S. Forbes Jr. called Kevorkian
a �gserial killer.�h(Wekesser 14). As you
can see, these are the main reasons there
is a big gap between the number of physicians
who support physician-assisted euthanasia
and that of those who are willing to do.
In order to prevent this gap, I strongly
suggest that people should learn and understand
its advantage or usefulness for terminally
ill patients who want it in many countries.
In conclusion, euthanasia is absolutely the
best solution for terminally ill patients
who want it because it can physically help
patients, mentally or psychologically give
satisfaction to patients, and socially support
patients and others?caregivers. Today, the
majority of people support euthanasia in
some situations. A 1993 national public opinion
poll indicated that 73% of Americans support
physician-assisted suicide (Wekesser 14).
Also, according to the National Angus Reid
Poll survey in October 1997, about three
quarter [76%] of Canadians supported the
�gright to die�h for people who want to end
their own lives rather than enduring the
full course of a terminal illness, and 21%
opposed this concept. This level was the
same as the survey in 1993 (�gCanadians�f
Views on Euthanasia�h). Although there are
still many people in the world opposing euthanasia,
I want to say to them, �gPlease consider
this euthanasia issue again after reading
this research paper Can You Endure Extreme Pain until Your Life
Ended Naturally?.�h Maybe, most of you don�ft wish to choose
euthanasia now, but I want to remind you
of the fact there are many terminally ill
patients who would choose rather life with
suffering than death itself. Also, you may
want to choose it when you become terminally
ill and cannot endure severe pain and troubles.
Therefore, I hope as many people as possible
to read this research paper for more knowledge
about euthanasia�fs advantage or usefulness.
I strongly expect you can find real and correct
answer of the issue euthanasia some days.
Finally, I want to introduce the famous quote
of Albert Schweitzer, who cared more than 2000 patients in Africa
and received the 1952 Nobel Peace
Prize,
to every physician who reads
this paper,
�gWe all must die. But if I can
save someone
from days of torture, that is
what I feel
is my great and ever new privilege.
Pain
is a more terrible lord of mankind
than even
death itself�h(�gAdvocating for
Better Pain
Management�h). Thanks for your
reading!
Works Cited
�gAcrophobia.�h The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Ed. Lesley Brown. 1993 ed. 2 vols. Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1993.
�gAdvocating for Better Pain Management.�h
Comassion in Dying: Pain Management. 10 Nov. 1999. <http://www.compassionindying.org/pain/pain.html>.
�gBackground on End-of life Issues.�h Choice in Dying Issues: Backgroud on the
Right to Die. 23 Sep. 1998. 10 Nov. 1999. <http://www.choices.org/issues.htm>.
Bruera, Eduardo. �gAlternate Routes for Home
Opioid Therapy.�h Pain: Clinical Updates. July 1993. 18 Nov. 1999. <http://www.halcyon.com/iasp/PCU93b.html>.
�gCanadians�f Views on Euthanasia.�h Angus Reid Poll. 6 Nov. 1997. 10 Nov. 1999. <http://www.web.net/dwd/angus.html>.
�gCancer.�h 30 Facts from the World Heath Report 1997. 1997. 17 Nov. 1999. <http://www.britannica.com/bcom/magazine/article/0,5744,215829,00.html>.
Carr, Daniel B. �gPain Control: The New �eWhys�f
and �eHows�f.�h Pain: Clinical Updates. May 1993. 18 Nov. 1999. <http://www.halcyon.com/iasp/PCU93a.html>.
�gCauses of Death.�h 1997. 17 Nov. 1999. <http://www.britannica.com/bcom/magazine/article/0,5744,215829,00.html>.
Douglas, Jack D. �gEuthanasia.�h Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Disc 1. Microsoft. 1997.
Crichton, Michael. �gThe High Cost of Cure: How a Hospital Bill
Grows 17 Feet Long.�h The Atlantic Monthly. 1970. 17 Nov. 1999. <http://www.theatlantic.com//unbound/
flashbks/health/crichton.htm>.
�gEuthanasia.�h The American Heritage Dictionary. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982.
�gFinal Statement by Bob Dent.�h Bob Dent-Photos and Statement. 21 Sep. 1996. 10 Nov. 1999. <http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dcar1946/deliverance/people/bobdent.html>.
�gFinancial.�h Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. 3rd ed. 1995.
Foley, Kathleen M.. �gMedical Issues Related
to Physician Assisted Suicide.�h Testimony April 29, 1996 Judiciary Subcommittee
on the Constitution. 10 Nov. 1999. <http://www.house.gov/judiciary/2167.htm>.
Guerin, Michael P.. �gHostpital.�h Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Disc 1. Microsoft. 1997.
Humphry, Derek. �gA Twentieth Century Chronology of Voluntary
Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide:
1906-2000.�h ERGO!. Apr. 1999. 10 Nov. 1999. <http://www.finalexit.org/chronframe.html>.
�gInfectious diseases.�h 30 Facts from the World Heath Report 1997. 1997. 17 Nov. 1999. <http://www.britannica.com/bcom/magazine/article/0,5744,215829,00.html>.
Lema, Mark J.. �gInvasive Procedures for
Cancer Pain.�h Pain: Clinical Updates. Mar. 1998. 18 Nov. 1999. <http://www.halcyon.com/iasp/PCU98a.html>.
�gMentally.�h Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. 3rd ed. 1995.
�gPhysical.�h Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. 3rd ed. 1995.
�gPopulation and Life Expectancy.�h 30 Facts from the World Heath Report 1997. 1997. 17 Nov. 1999. <http://www.britannica.com/bcom/magazine/article/0,5744,215829,00.
html>.
�gProtesters Hit Pinceton for Hiring Philosopher
Who Favors Euthanasia.�h Japan Times. 19 Apr. 1999: 9.
�gPsychological.�h Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. 3rd ed. 1995.
Schaer, Meinrad. �gSome Case Reports from 1997.�h The Practice of Assisted Suicide in Switzerland. 10 Nov. 1999. <http://www.finalexit.org/swissframe.html>.
�gSchweitzer, Albert.�h Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Disc 1. Microsoft. 1997.
�gSocial.�h Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. 3rd ed. 1995.
Stein, Christoph. �gMorphine-A �eLocal Analgesic�f.�h Pain: Clinical Updates. Mar. 1995. 18 Nov. 1999. <http://www.halcyon.com/iasp/PCU95a.html>.
�gThe Case of Karen Ann Quinlan.�h 25 Nov. 1999. <http://www.lcl.cmu.edu/CAAE/80130/part3/cases/Quinlan.html>.
Wekesser, Carol, ed. Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1995.
|
