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Outline of the literature review
This literature review tries to make an analysis of the previous studies about the legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide. Three studies are reviewed and these resources are evaluated. The extent to which the review could affect the researcher is also included.
Introduction
Legalizing physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients is a highly debated topic of today. Many researchers argue for physician-assisted suicide (PAS) on grounds of mercy that the patients often suffer from unbearable pain, loss of privacy, feeling of helplessness, and discomfort of using medical equipment such as tubes or respirators. But if the patient is mentally incompetent or not informed fully about prognosis and treatment options then physician-assisted suicide cannot be justified. It may undermine the status of the physician as a healer if he indulges in taking life and also may diminish the public image of the medical profession.
This paper is an attempt to look deep into the issue of legalizing PAS and the review of studies conducted so far in understanding the varying views of both physicians and the general public on this issue. The organization of the paper is thus reviewing three studies first and analyzing them. The sources selected deal with a common subject of how people in different strata of society perceive the issue of PAS.
Resource 1
In the study, Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: a comparative survey of physicians, terminally ill cancer patients, and the general population by ME Suarez-Almazor, M Belzile, and E Bruera, they try to explore the views of patients as well as those of physicians and the general public. It was conducted in 1995 in the province of Alberta, Canada using a random sampling of 1240 people from the general population, 179 physicians, and 62 patients with terminal cancer.
The telephonic interview was carried out with physicians and a public and face-to-face interview with patients. The data obtained relating to the legislation of physician-assisted suicide was scored using a 1-to-7 Likert agreement scale. The study revealed that a slight majority of the general public and terminally ill patients agreed to the legalization of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. It comes around 50% to 60 %. But a great majority of physicians (60% to 80 %) opposed legalization. There is a polarization of opinion with respondents either strongly agreeing or strongly disagreeing with the questions in the survey. (Suarez-Almazor, Belize, & Bruera, 1997).
Resource 2
A similar study entitled A National Survey of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the United States was conducted by Diane E Meier, M.D. et al. which provides national data of how the physicians look at the issue of physician-assisted suicide after Oregon Death with Dignity Act that legalized PAS in that state was passed in November 1994. The researchers mailed questionnaires to 3102 physicians across the country who were working in areas related to terminal illnesses.
The study conducted in 1996 used a stratified probability sampling technique with a response rate of 61 percent. Questions were asked to find out their willingness to hasten a patients death by prescribing medication or by providing a lethal injection. The result of the survey showed that 36% of the respondents were ready to administer medication while 24% were willing to provide lethal injection if it were legal. The survey concluded that a good proportion of physicians received a request for PAS or euthanasia and about 6% did it at least once in their profession. (Meier, Emmons, Wallenstein, Quill, Morrison, & Cassel, 1998).
Resource 3
While these 2 surveys reveal the attitude of physicians, the general public, and patients; a study named, Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Legal Slippery Slope by Robert M. Walker, MD reviews several major cases regarding the issue of physician-assisted suicide and examines the possibility of legal extension of PAS to incompetent patients also. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act allows physicians to administer lethal amounts of medication only to competent patients.
The major results of this analytical paper published in 01-01-2001 show that significant public support exists for legalizing PAS and voluntary euthanasia in the United States. (Walker, 2009). According to him, the only defenses against sliding from PAS to voluntary euthanasia are adhering to traditional physician morality that stand against it and keeping the issue of voluntary euthanasia legally framed as a homicide. (Walker, 2009). The solution offered by the author for the legalization is the possibility of voluntary euthanasia becoming a medical choice issue.
Analysis of Resources
The above researches throw light on the different opinions and perspectives of people about the controversial topic of legalizing physician assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. The first research is a comprehensive study that seeks response from all levels people associated with the issue. This comparison provides us with an understanding how varied are the view of physicians from patients or the general population. The second one deals only with the opinion of physicians, but it could authentically state the current scenario and we can witness a small shift in their attitude compared with the result of the first study.
These two papers can provide further insight into the problem which is helpful in determining the legal status of PAS. The third research, though similar in topic, takes a different approach to the issue. It envisions the future of the law that allows physician assisted suicide. It supports the legislation and predicts that the law can be extended to reach incompetent patients also.
How the review affected the researcher
This part of the research provides deep background knowledge about a particular issue enlightening the researcher. Before reviewing the past studies the researcher had only a basic understanding of the problem. The process greatly enhances the awareness level of researcher and helps in creating an inquisitive attitude. The opportunity to assess the way scholars approach a problem and an attempt to learn from them also helped the researcher.
Now that there is a thorough understanding of the problem the researcher can approach the issue with a critical outlook that hinders any prejudiced view. The sources helped the researcher to comprehend the various opinions professionals and common people have about PAS and provided insight into the ethical issues relating to PAS and euthanasia. Now the researcher possesses the knowledge about existing legislations regarding the issue and also the suffering of the terminally ill patients and certain issues such as right to die.
References
Suarez-Almazor, M E., Belize, M., & Bruera, E. (1997). Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: A comparative survey of physicians, terminally ill cancer patients, and the general population. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 15, 418-427. Web.
Meier, D E., Emmons, C., Wallenstein, S., Quill, T., Morrison R S., & Cassel, C K. (1998). A National Survey of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the United States. The New England Journal of Medicine, 338, 1193-1201. Web.
Walker, R M. (2009). Physician assisted-suicide: The legal slippery slope: Abstract and introduction: Results. Medscape Today. Web.
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