Physician-assited suicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Physician-assited suicide - Essay Example As a treatment of last resort, physician-assisted death becomes a legitimate option only after standard measures for comfort care have been found unsatisfactory by competent patients in the context of their own situation and values (Quill, 1993). In the cases of Vacco v Quill and Washington v Glucksberg, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that there is no constitutionally protected right to physician-assisted suicide, its decision clearly endorsed the use of intensive palliative care and seemed to give a green light to experimentation at the state level so that this "earnest and profound debate" can continue (Burt, 1997). The injury suffered by actor Christopher Reeve (Reeve, 1998) and his response to his condition has been the subject of numerous news stories. The public sees a man who previously enjoyed a physically active lifestyle, but who now relies on a respirator to breathe, and on other people to provide for his every physical need. Rick Hansen (Hansen,1987) and Teny Fox (Scrivener, 1981) are examples of people who have not only contributed to the society in significant ways, but who have also captured the imagination of the public in their courageous journeys to help others suffering from spinal cord injuries and cancer respectively. The actions of Dr. Jack Kevorkian (Pfeifer, Brigham & Robinson, 1996), a doctor committed to aiding the terminally ill in their quest for death, continually places this issue about the value of life before the public and the courts in the United States. Flach (1988) defines mental health in terms of resilience. He proposes that when we experience disruption in our lives, it is through resilience that we are able to move through our experiences in good mental health. He argues that it is how well we are able to integrate each new experience and circumstance into our lives that leads to successful adaptation throughout our lives. In her book,