Assisted Suicide California Once Again Term Paper

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However, research shows that even though suicide risk may be increased in cancer patients, it only accounts for only a small minority of deaths (Storm et. al., 1992). When cancer patients do try to commit suicide or actually commit the act, they have some major psychiatric disorders, particularly depression (Breitbart, 1990) study of 100 men with AIDS, the "interest" in physician-assisted suicide was predicted by high levels of psychological distress and the experience of terminal illness of a friend or relative, as well as a perception of lower levels of social support. No significant association existed between interest in assisted suicide and severity of the disease (Breitbart, 1990). Chochinov et. al analyzed the desire for death with over 100 terminally ill cancer patients and found only 8.5% had a lasting and clinical desire for death, and of these 59% were depressed, compared with 8% of those without a stated desire for death.

Another concern besides the mental state, say Varghese and Kelly is that the doctor's own belief regarding the suicide may become a factor on whether or not the person decides to go ahead. Hendin (1994) argues that doctors may presume that decisions can be based on what they themselves would wish if they were in the patient's situation, bringing the doctor-patient relationship to a new dimension: the wishes of the doctor for the patient are presumed to be identical to those of the patient.

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As can be seen by the above information, states are now allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court to pass legislation for doctor assisted suicide, and several states in addition to California are considering the law. Given the fact of the Supreme Court ruling and my own personal belief that a person should have control over his or her life, I support doctor assisted suicide.

However, the research on the outside influence factor shows that a person does not necessarily make his or her decision only on the extent of the illness. The decision is also made on the degree of depression and the doctor's attitude toward this issue and the person's illness. That makes me argue for assisted suicide, but the person should have to get more than one opinion and the second opinion from an objective third party who is neither for nor against doctor assisted suicide and will provide his or her recommendation based on the particular circumstances. The patient can then make a decision based on 1) his or her own feelings; 2) the primary care physician's recommendation and 3) the third party's objective decision. This truly is a "life and death" decision, which cannot be made lightly, and more than one recommendation should be considered......

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