Panel Day Reflection

The panel I experienced on March 28 was made up of panelists Dr. Robert Macauley, ethicist of Fletcher Allen Healthcare, Claire Weis, a palliative care hospice nurse, Dr. David Babbott, a retired doctor, and special guest Marnie Woods, a woman who's sister had a physician assist her suicide in the state of Oregon.Macauley and Weis both believed that Vermont should not legalize PAS, whereas Babbott and woods were completely for it. All panelists put up great arguments, and you could tell how strongly they all felt about the issue. Babbott mention multiple times how this law would be pretty much the exact some law now active in Oregon, and how well its been working for them. However Macauley  provided more solid facts on how statistically, only few will ask to be assisted in suicide, even fewer will actually qualify, therefore the number of people this law will even apply to will be so minimal, yet it  could have negative impacts on us all. Also, Weis pointed out how there are so many other options for terminally ill patients, and there is no reason that patients should feel like killing themselves is the only way to stop the pain.      

Stakeholders

For Physician Assisted Suicide, there are two very emotional sides on weather or not it should be legalized. One of the sides is pro, or they support the idea of death with dignity. The fundamental belief is that everyone has the right to choose and control their own life.This side also acknowledge that in the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution it affirms that no state shall not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property. By denying them the right to die, they feel that the state is has taken away their freedom of controlling their own life, which I guess you could consider their most valuable possession.

The other side of the issue, or the con side, has people equally as passionate about the issue. They believe that it would be extremely irresponsible to legalize physician assisted suicide. Despite popular belief, there are more than two extremes in these situations, it isn't just die slowly and painfully or have a physician help you commit suicide. For many patients, even with PAS legal, choosing to die still will not be an option for them. It is extremely hard for patients to qualify, and it wont even be an option for patients with advanced dementia chronic pain, or ALS. And possibly the most effective argument of all, there is the fact that there are so many other options. Patients can have palliated care to ease them into the end of there life, or if they are really set on dying so soon the can deny food and treatment, or even possibly qualify to be put into a sleep they cannot wake up from.