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PATIENTS RIGHT TO PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE
Patients Right to Physician-Assisted Suicide
The debate over physician-assisted suicide has intensified over the last few decades. In
the modern era of palliative medicine, technology allows medical professionals to prolong the
life of a terminally ill patient. However, medical technology has limited capacity to eliminate
pain for terminally ill patients or ensure that they die with dignity. The proponents of physician-
assisted suicide argue that human beings have a fundamental right to dignity which supersedes
any other theological, religious, or ethical principle (Benatar, 2012). Conversely, opponents of
the procedure invoke moral and religious principles to argue for the immorality of physician-
assisted suicide, pointing out potential abuses that would come with recognizing patients’ rights
to physician-assisted suicide (Benatar, 2012). In appreciation of the fact that suffering, loss of
independence, and indignity are undesirable, there are compelling reasons to assert that if a
terminally ill patient is competent to make decisions, he/she should have the right to access to
physician-assisted suicide.
Firstly, it is imperative to note that there has been a remarkable achievement in medical
technology. For example, innovations such as respirators can prolong the life of a patient with
failing lungs and sustain the patient’s physiological processes (Benatar, 2012). Hence, for
patients who have a realistic chance of surviving from an accident or illness with no loss of
dignity, medical technology offers a solution. However, for terminally ill patients, the use of
medical innovations to sustain life translates into prolonging suffering. Medical professionals are
obligated to alleviate suffering for patients. However, what medical technology for terminal
illness does is to extend the period of suffering and agony (Benatar, 2012). In light of this, it is
prudent that a patient reserves the right to physician-assisted suicide.
