EUTHANASIA

Euthanasia: Start the Discussion

Nadia Silvestre
Elizabeth Cain
Jose Bautista
Jaznelly Tavarez
Allison Mejia-Rojas
Erika Santana
Kayla Sullivan
Jylene Garcia
Usman Badaru
Kiara Young
Juamiri Rivera
Tiara Perez
Daniya Isom
Makya Brown
Alexia Diaz
Alexa Sanjuro
Derlyn Contreras
Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College

Euthanasia: Start the Discussion

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Individuals are being stripped of their opportunities to understand topics such as
euthanasia in the United States of America, yet not enough people are acknowledging it. An
important asset to promoting change is having a profound understanding of what euthanasia
really is and the strong and weak sides of the argument. Euthanasia is something that needs to be
discussed nationwide; instead it is a topic so controversial that it is being put on the sideline
without being well enough understood by the people it could affect the most.
Euthanasia could be an issue in the life of anyone and their loved ones. It can affect
people of all ages, races, and genders. Whether someone is pro-euthanasia or against it entirely,
the topic of euthanasia can one day affect them too. The communication throughout the United
States is troubled. We learn as a nation that doctors are employed to extend life as long as
possible and for many that is what they believe. Others believe that death does not always have
to be a negative thing in instances where people are greatly suffering. Some individuals do not
know what to believe, because they are not well enough educated on the subject, so they avoid
any discussion at all. If there were more people interested in being educated on euthanasia,
change would come with that growth of understanding. Individuals can develop their own
opinions, and some sort of change can occur.
An alteration in the laws regarding euthanasia could also provoke change within the
economics of the United States. In the past, there have been fluctuations in our economy for
many different reasons. One change, like legalizing euthanasia, could greatly affect the present
day economy. Some sources say that euthanasia could financially strengthen the United States
because health care facilities could save money on resources, and families could save money on
medical expenses. There is also the argument that because patients could be euthanized, hospitals
could be losing money from the lack of ailing patients staying in the hospital.

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How is change possible?
Mainstream media has become the easiest way to communicate within the United States
population, and many topics are discussed everyday. The internet is also an extraordinary place
to learn about topics such as euthanasia. An individual could use mainstream media to further
their understanding of euthanasia, and view others opinions to form their own perspective on
what they feel needs to change. Posting about euthanasia online could become a viral trend, and
from there, change is possible.
Certain Precedents Must Be Set
One of the reasons that an individual could be against the legalization of euthanasia could
be that legalizing something this drastic could be easily taken advantage of when dealing with
disabled patients or patients who are incapable of making a decision independently.
So what about the patients that are able to choose?
It is important to consider all advantages and disadvantages when thinking about
legalizing euthanasia. The right for an individual to be in charge of their life and have the right to
choose is crucial to those who believe in having the right to die. Many individuals who are
against that theory, strongly believe that it is against a doctor's code of ethics to perform the act
of euthanasia. Physicians and patients who do not want to participate in euthanasia are not
obligated to. A common belief is that avoiding the experience of extended suffering and pain is a
significant reason to why euthanasia should be legalized.
Euthanasia is a very public concern since it can lead to tremendous abuse, exploitation,
and erosion of care for the most vulnerable people if the proper precedents are not set into place.
Legalizing euthanasia could bring many changes to the health care system. In the Journal of the
New York State Nurses association, they stated ...mechanisms for accurate diagnosis and

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determination of prognosis, informed and educated choice, assessment of competence for
decision making, caring collaboration from health care providers, and adequate control of
abuse. (Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, 4). There would also have to be
vigorous steps taken to ensure that euthanasia is not used as a form of abuse towards those who
cannot protect themselves. However, there is no way to guarantee that these criterion would
always be met.
Who gets to decide when it is time to pull the plug on a vegetable patient?
A vegetative state is technically defined as a disorder of consciousness in which patients
with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness, in other
words it is just a patient who is brain dead and unable to do anything on their own. In these
cases, the patient would have beforehand appointed someone as their durable power of attorney
(a power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone you choose the power to act in
your place. In case you ever become mentally incapacitated, you will need what are known as
"durable" powers of attorney for medical care and finances -By Shae Irving, J.D. The Durable
Power of Attorney: Health Care and Finances). If no durable power of attorney is legally
assigned, the default would be a parent, if the patient is under 18, or a spouse if applicable in
other cases. In the absence of both parents and a partner, the durable power of attorney is pushed
to the next closest family member.
Can Neglect be Correlated with Euthanasia?
John A Di Camillo, staff ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center said, We
dont give enough attention to people near the end of life because were afraid of the end of life
and dont want to come to grips with it. By way of explanation, many of those who are against
euthanasia believe the main reason why a patient in great desperation would consider death is

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because they are not getting the proper care and support they need. On the other hand, some
could argue that they would not be able to have this option available if there was any hope of
them surviving, therefore being unsatisfied with the quality of the care has little input on whether
or not one would have the opportunity to go through with a procedure such as this.
What Does The Data Show?
A national survey of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in the United States was
issued in 1996 to 3,102 physicians in the 10 different specialties in which doctors are likely to
obtain requests from patients for euthanasia or assisted suicide. Out of the questionnaires sent,
1902 were submitted fully completed. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, the
polls of the opinions of the public suggest that a majority of people favor legalization. ...7
percent said that they would provide a lethal injection (The New England Journal of
Medicine, 1193), the 7 percent were physicians that said that under certain circumstances they
would be willing to accelerate the dying process of a patient by lethal injection. The
questionnaire concluded that around 6 percent of physicians have complied with requests of
euthanasia and assisted suicide at least once. It was also reported, Fewer physicians (11.1
percent; unweighted number, 196) reported having received a request for lethal injection (The
New England Journal of Medicine, 1195). This shows there is not many patients considering
euthanasia, but that does not mean that it should be illegal for those who have. The opinions of
physicians are important because they are the most involved, besides the patient, during the
process of euthanasia.
A large part of why euthanasia has been so overlooked and ignored is that it is not well
enough understand by the general population. A recent survey was created and sent to 49
students and faculty members at RINI Middle College. The information gathered stated that

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although 79.1 percent of staff and students surveyed, believe that they have a clear
understanding of euthanasia, 57.1 percent have no feelings toward it at all. 44.9 percent of people
claimed to have never had to make any type of tough decision that may or may not have affected
the course of their life, but 38.8 percent said they would much prefer suffering from a terminal
illness than to have the option to painlessly end their life sooner.
When the participants were asked what they would do, as future health care workers, if
they were to ever be asked by a terminally ill patient about euthanasia many answered in a way
suggesting that although they would be sorrowful and want to offer alternatives, they legally
comply with the wishes of the patient. While one individual stated, I would encourage the
patient to weigh the options on both sides, talk about it with family, and make the best decision
for him/herself., others said things like, If it's what they want, then I can't really say no . But I
will ask if I can change patients or not be there while it's happening. Overall, the participants
seemed to understand that they are not in the position to try to change the wishes of the patient
based out of personal belief; if the health care provider cannot put the beliefs of himself beside
then he could be taken out of the procedure entirely. Neither the care provider nor the patient or
family, are legally obligated to participate or be present during the process.
Considering the facts and the arguments of both sides, it is evident that some degree of
change needs to be brought about. The first step in attempting to alter the law is speaking out on
this topic. If no problem is ever stated then how can any modifications ever be considered?
Undeniably, in legalizing a matter of life and death, distinct criterion must be put into place to
deflect higher chances of abuse. Starting a discussion is the only way the United States will see a
change in the debatable matter that is euthanasia.

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Works Cited
Euthanasia - ProCon.org. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://euthanasia.procon.org/
Irving, J. B. (n.d.). The Durable Power of Attorney: Health Care and Finances. Retrieved October
18, 2016, from http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/durable-power-of-attorneyhealth-finances
Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, (1997, June 28) 8-11.
Meier, D. E., Emmons, C., Wallenstein, S., Quill, T., Morrison, S. R., Cassel, C. K. (1998). A
National Survey of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia In The United States.
Article, 1193-1201.
Ritchie, L. (2016, May 1). Debating Euthanasia: Nurses, like the Rest of Society, Hold a Range
of

Views on Physician-Assisted Dying. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand.

Top 8 Euthanasia Pros and Cons | NLCATP.org. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from
http://nlcatp.org/top-8-euthanasia-pros-and-cons/