29 year old refuses treatments
The legality of physician-assisted suicide violates the Hippocratic Oath
A 29-year-old woman is about to find out what happens when life or death becomes a legal choice.
This past spring, after just one year of marriage, Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with a type of terminal brain cancer that has one of the lowest survival rates. Even after months of fighting it, there still seems to be no end in sight, according to CNN.
Tragic — Brittany Maynard plans to ‘die with dignity’ Nov. 1. Photo credit: Jaron Davis
Standing at the door of a dismal future, Maynard has made the decision to end her life on Nov. 1, according to CBS News.
“Nov. 1 became kind of a date for me to almost, like, make it to,” Maynard said in an interview with CBS News. “I may be alive on Nov. 2, or I may not. And that’s my choice.”
While some may argue it is her life and she has the right to make this choice, this process is essentially legal suicide. Physician-assisted suicide is also a practice that many medical professionals do not support, for good reason.
“If I were her doctor, I would certainly try to talk her out of it,” Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, a University of Chicago medical ethicist, said in an interview with CBS News. “I would try to tell her what the opportunities are for her to live to the fullest possible extent that she can even when she is dying.”
The American Medical Association (AMA) also shares this view.
“Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control and would pose serious societal risks,” the AMA Code of Ethics states. “Instead of participating in assisted suicide, physicians must aggressively respond to the needs of patients at the end of life. Patients should not be abandoned once it is determined that cure is impossible.”
Doctors should attempt to make the patient as comfortable and happy as possible, but assisted suicide should never have a seat at the table. These decisions not only have a detrimental effect on families of the patients, but on society as a whole.
“We had to uproot from California to Oregon, because Oregon is one of only five states where death with dignity is authorized,” Maynard said to CNN.
If this practice were to be legalized by more than the five states that already allow it, “death with dignity” could become more mainstream. It is difficult to choose this option in society today because of limited access, but, with increased availability, physician-assisted suicide could become more popular.
Additionally, who is to say if someone is in the right mental capacity to make a decision to end his or her life? For example, Maynard has an aggressive brain tumor that has given her excessive headaches. Doctors have suggested that the tumor may be clouding her judgment, according to CNN.
Abuse of physician-assisted suicide is also a risk. According to a recent CBS News poll, 67 percent of healthcare providers said they opposed the practice of physician-assisted suicide. The poll described that many fear it could be misused in cases involving the elderly and disabled.
Spiritual concerns have also come to light with Maynard’s decision. The Bible describes the importance of respecting our lives and bodies in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Unsure of Maynard’s faith, I cannot comment on her personal journey. Regardless, God is not biased toward certain persons or situations when it comes to miracles. Should Maynard embrace her innate value and God’s power to heal, her perspective might change.
“I don’t want to die, but I am dying,” Maynard said in an interview with People magazine.
Her husband, Dan Diaz, gave some heartfelt words about his wife in an interview with Time magazine.
“The idea of wanting my wife at my side forever — that was the original plan, right?” Diaz said.
The reality is, though, this can still be the plan. We never know what is to come tomorrow or next week or even next year. This simply shows us that not one moment on earth should be wasted and not one should be lost either.
Maynard’s life is not being taken from her. But, she may just choose to give it up. This is a choice — a life choice — that Maynard can reexamine, should she so choose. Hopefully she will change her mind and choose life.
STEFANICK is an opinion writer.