2006-12-10 13:37:11 · 13 answers · asked by aruma berura 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Only with the permission of the patient, or in the case that the patient is unable to make that decision, with the permission of the patient's family.
Even then, all they are allowed to do is remove the patient from life-sustaining machines and devices... they cannot actively "kill" a patient, nor do they have the right to.
It is solely up to the patient, or the patient's family... no doctor has the authority to decide when one's life should end.
2006-12-10 14:31:31 · answer #1 · answered by xxandra 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They have both the right and the obligation to passively end the lives of the terminally ill. Doctors make the decision every day whether you make one more attempt at rescucitation of someone who is slipping intoo death.
The right to actively end someone's life is a different matter, and no, they do not have the right of decision over the active end of another person's life. Only that person and/or their family may have the right to that life and the decision to actively end it.
I don't think they have even the obligation to help a person who wishes to end his life actively, if they are asked - but I hope that most doctors would refer those who asked, if they could not in good conscience help them, to either someone who will, or a counselor or pain management doctor, which ever is appropriate. Sometimes you can change someone's mind about whether they can still live a bit more enjoyable or useful life.
Being alive is a terminal illness. Many people who know they are dying of something have many active years between this discovery and eventual natural death from that cause. Just because you are going to die you do not need to have untreated pain or depression.
In the end, a life belongs to the person living it, and it is only a doctor's job to fully inform a patient, and consult, giving his best advice on reducing suffering and adding to living, not just breathing.
2006-12-10 22:07:26 · answer #2 · answered by Gina C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Oregon, the patients have the right to commit suicide but doctors do not have the right to end their lives without their permission.
2006-12-10 21:44:36 · answer #3 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
doctors don't have the right to end the live of ill patients. if the patient or the patients family want his/her life to end they could sign a dnr. in which the patients begans to die they wont try to bring him to life
2006-12-10 21:54:12 · answer #4 · answered by 2sexy4u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that is what the patient wants, I don't see a problem with it. Better to do it with a doctor's guidance than attempt it on their own and cause more problems.
2006-12-10 21:39:12 · answer #5 · answered by Gypsy Girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
legally speaking, that's murder. in the state of, um, i think oklahoma, maybe oregon, i'm not sure, if the patient is proven mentally competent, they can be given a prescription for a drug that will kill them. then the patient is free to take this drug any time they choose, if they ever do so.
2006-12-10 21:39:43 · answer #6 · answered by Nick C 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They should not really but seeing someone you love suffering is very painful. My mum passed away from colon cancer seven months ago and I myself prayed every day for the end to come.
2006-12-14 17:56:10 · answer #7 · answered by superstar68 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally no they do not, I would bet money on it happening more than we think with or without patients wishes.
2006-12-10 21:41:51 · answer #8 · answered by cam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should be able to. Trust me. Watch someone you love ask you day after day to end it all because they're suffering so much, and it's just spending day after day watching them suffer.
If there is absolutely zero hope of survival, they should die with whatever sense of dignity they feel necessary.
2006-12-10 21:41:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Hippocratic oath- Do no harm. Euthanasia is considered harm even though the pt may want it.
2006-12-10 21:40:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋