Physician-Assisted Death and Why People Want It
- Elizabeth Molina
- Oct 2, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 7, 2019
Discussing the reasons people make the final decision and what got them there.
They're in hospitals everywhere.
Patients in beds, taking a plethora of medications, hooked up to tubes and various machines.
Young and old.
They're terminally ill people, and the next course of action can be confusing for some. Do they continue receiving growing doses of drugs that only slightly combat the discomfort, should they live out the rest of their days finding comfort in hospice care, or do they consider another route that is final for them and their loved ones.
Using numbers from 2014, more than 65% of terminally ill patients choose to spend the rest of their time in a hospice environment, whether it be at home or in a hospital bed. Since physician-assisted death is not legal throughout the states the comparison can't be equated, but in Oregon, the first state to legalize the act, the percentage of people opting for medical-induced death is about .37% since 2016; this is roughly 37 deaths per 10,000 total deaths. The people choosing this method are definitely in the minority, but what are the forces leading them there?
A major concern people have, approximately 90.9% of people, is the loss of autonomy, or their independence in living life. Being resigned to needing constant assistance or spending the majority of time in bed trying to find comfort can lead to depression, hopelessness, and spiritual belief as noted in a case study.
The next concern, applying to 89.5% of people and overlapping the previous statistic, is the inability to do things in life that were once enjoyable. This ranges from simple movement to activities with loved ones. Many patients have the inevitable approaching quickly, and I can see that mindset affecting daily life. This also can lead to depression and overall negative outlooks.
A final major point 75.7% of patients cite is feeling as though they have no more dignity. They need assistance to do the things they maybe could once do effortlessly, and their loved ones watch as this happens.
These are the big reasons many people may choose the physician-assisted death route, and if not actually taking the prescribed medicine, they can fill it out and have it as a source of comfort; they can go on their own terms, knowing it was their decision to take matters by the reigns.
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Hi Elizabeth! I really enjoyed reading this blog in particular. I think you have a great point towards this topic. These people are left alone and no one seems to care for them and its important to let people know that they still have a voice and should be heard until the last minute. many people don't know what they go through, so Good job for opening this up for people to know about.