The Doctor Stole My Heart! (Post 4)
Patients and doctors can become best friends too!
In the Intelligence Squared debate entitled “Legalize Assisted Suicide,” posted on November 13, 2014, four debaters — Peter Singer, Andrew Solomon, Baroness Ilora Finlay and Daniel Sulmasy — argue for and against the motion of legalizing assisted suicide in order to persuade and capture the votes of the live audience. In the first round of the debate, each debater made his/her opening statements. Andrew Solomon and Peter Singer said their statements in support of the legalization of assisted suicide, while Baroness Ilora Finlay and Daniel Sulmasy said their opening statements against the motion of legalizing it.
Then, in the second round, the debaters addressed one another directly and answered questions from the audience and moderator, John Donvan. For the third round of the debate, each debater was asked to say their concluding statements. Donvan then points out that despite their differing views, both sides of the motion brought up the topic of dignity and the places where assisted suicide is legal — Oregon and the Netherlands. At the end, the moderator announces that the side arguing against the motion won the debate because the team’s numbers have changed the most between the two rounds of voting.
Like other issues in the world, there are many sides that need to be explored in order to truly understand a certain subject. Throughout my previous posts, I’ve always brought up stories and articles that deal with patients’ supportive view on Euthanasia and never the doctors’. The Intelligence Squared debate on the legalization of assisted suicide included the views of two doctors who opposed the motion. During my previous research, I already had the knowledge that some people find Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, unethical. However, both Finlay and Sulmasy bring up the fact that Euthanasia can destroy the doctor-patient relationship. When both physicians discuss alternatives to assisted suicide, it made me realize that doctors aren’t just the people who examine, diagnose and treat people; they are also emotionally invested in their job and the patients they work with.
Providing Effective Alternatives
After watching the debate, I realized that doctors use a lot of their effort trying to find alternatives to Euthanasia so they can effectively treat the excruciating pain that their patients are experiencing. For instance, Sulmasy brings up the fact that when doctors decide whether to end or increase the dosage of a certain treatment, their aim “is not to eliminate the patient, but to eliminate the patient’s pain.” In some way, it is pretty touching for me to hear that some doctors would rather want a patient to die when all of their pain is relieved rather than die with excruciating pain. In other words, Sulmasy wants to show respect to patients by making them die pain-free. I feel like doctors want to eliminate their patients’ pain because it also hurts them to see the people they care about go through all of the sufferings.
Quality Over Quantity
Moreover, I noticed that doctors are truly concerned when they try to provide and improve the quality of life that their patients are yearning for. For instance, in one part of the debate, Finlay brings up a story where one of her patients, a woman, desperately wanted her ventilator to be taken off, however, everything changed once she got a facial and “realized that she could be a woman again and have personal worth.” This made me realize that there is still a chance for a person to change their mind on requesting Euthanasia or assisted suicide.
Also, I was surprised and gratified with the fact that Finlay went out of her way and provided a facial service for her patient, which truly shows that she wants her patients to feel valuable. Thus, if people receive the care that they really want, then their dignity is respected. When people see themselves dying, they feel like they are a worthless human being, and of course, that is NOT true. I think both physicians want to convey that all doctors should strive to improve patients’ quality of life because it could lead to improving a difficult situation.
Although I’ve always leaned towards supporting the legalization of Euthanasia, I realized after watching the Legalization of Assisted Suicide debate that we also need to consider doctors’ view before making a final decision on how we want to die. After writing four blog posts about Euthanasia, it was very interesting to explore both sides of the argument, as well as the people who are affected and involved. All of this caused me to slightly rethink my position on the issue, however, I still maintain my position on legalizing Euthanasia in the country. All I know is that one day, we are all going to eventually die…
…the only difference is HOW.
