Question

Would they show that all slippery-slope argument against physician-assisted suicide are unsuccesful? Trying to develope a nonreligious argument against euthanasia.

PART 3 LIFE AND DEATH Cases for Evaluation physicians, or institutions or insurers about their own profits," the researchers asked, The American College of Physicians said in that it was "concerned with the risks that legaliza tion (of physician-assisted suicidel posed to v able populations, including poor persons, patients with dementia, disabled persons, those from mi. 2005 CASE I Doctor-Aided Suicide and "Vulnerable Groups" (ScienceDaily)-Contrary to arguments by critics, a tion, those confronting costly chronic illnesses, or University of Utah-led study found that legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Oregon and the NethBattin's team analyzed data on assisted suicide erlands did not result in a disproportionate number and voluntary active euthanasia in the Netherlands of deaths among the elderly, poor, women, minori ties, uninsured, minors, chronically ill, less edu during 1985-2005-data taken from four cated, or psychiatric patients ment studies and several smaller ones s annual study, only AIDS patients used doctor-assisted sui- reports for 1998-2006, and surveys of physicians cide at elevated rates. Of 10 vulnerable groups" examined in the Oregon Department of Human Services and hospice professionals Fears about the impact on vulnerable people The findings fell into three categories, based on have dominated debate about physician assisted the strength of the data. The researchers found suicide. We find no evidence to support those fears .Direct evidence that elderly people, women, where this practice already is legal," says the study's and uninsured people do not die in dispro- lead author, bioethicist Margaret Battin, a Univer-portionate numbers where physician-assisted sity of Utah distinguished professor of philosophy death is legal, but AIDS patients do. (The and adjunct professor of internal medicine. insurance data is from Oregon onlys everyone is insured in the Netherlands.) Evidence that is partly direct and partly inferred showing that physician-assisted death does not kill disproportionate numbers of people who are poor, uneducated, racial The study will be published in the October 2007 issue of the Journal of Medical Ethics. Battin con E ducted the research with public health physician Agnes van der Heide, of Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam; psychiatrist Linda Ganzini at Oregon Health & Science University, phy sician Gerrit van der Wal and health scientist Bregie Onwuteaka-Philipsen, of the VU University nter. Portland; and phy and ethnic minorities, minors, or people wit chronic physical or mental disabilities or chronic but not terminal illnesses. edical Center, Amsterdam. Van der Wal currently is inspector general of the Netherlands Health Care Inspectorate, which advises that nation's health minister. . Evidence that is based on inference or that is partly contested showing that people with psychiatric illness--including depression and Alzheimer's disease-are not likely to die in The research deals with the so-called "slippery- slope" argument that has been made by critics of lopsided numbers. doctor-assisted suicide and has raised concern even "Those who received physician-assisted dying among proponents. The argument is that by making it legal for medical doctors to help certain patients educational, professional and other privileges appeared to enjoy comparative social, economic the end their lives, vulnerable people will die in dispro- portionately large numbers researchers write. Would these patients be pressured, manipulated the Netherlands, people who received a docos The researchers noted that in both Oregon help in dying averaged 7o years and or forced to request or accept physician-assisted dying by overburdened family members, callous were cancer patients.

Answer 1

The slippery slope of the argument of physician-assisted suicide leads to the extent of euthanasia involuntarily. It is against the human rights and self-determination of the individual. Dying with dignity is an individual right and euthanasia will weaken the society. The terminally ill patient should approach with palliative care. Euthanasia will increase the power of the doctor and limits the research of advanced treatments. It increases the psychological pressure on the individual at the end of life care. It increases stress on elders and undermines the relationship and trust in the physician. It undermines the relationship of elders among the family members.