Functions and Conflict of Physician Assisted Suicide.

Physician Assisted Suicide

Structural functional paradigm

Individuals, who elect to end their lives by physician-assisted suicide, typically have an incurable illness. These people are suffering with severe pain and no hope for the future. There is no way of making the suffering bearable for terminal patients. The terminal patients are in good mental health and understand what they are asking for. The person has a right to a merciful and acceptable death. In using physician assisted suicide the terminal patient is relieving their pain and suffering. The patient's family will no longer have to see their loved one suffer in agony. The financial burden such as hospital and medication bills will be lifted. These people are asking for help to end their suffering. Ending their lives because of the grim prospects of a healthy recovery should be their right. There is no valid distinction between the acts of disconnecting life support equipment and connecting equipment designed to cause death.

Patient Recognition Month Poster

A patient having his blood pressure taken by a phy...

English: Dr. Jack Kevorkian, best known for his ad...

Most people who desire to end their life in this way, does not see death as an end in itself. Terminally ill patients have a right to retain their dignity in death as they did in life. People make life-altering decisions everyday. Death is a part of life.

Social conflict paradigm

Assisted suicide has long been a crime in the United States and Canada. It is not necessary these days for anyone to die because they are suffering from intolerable pain. There is better and more effective medical technology and medication. Medical advancements should keep terminally ill patients from asking for physician-assisted suicide. The possibility of a cure is always at hand. Physicians should heal and provide pain relief. There are many downfalls to physician-assisted suicide. Family members wanting life insurance money may coerce terminal patients. Doctors could...