1. Physician Assisted suicide
A Bioethics Debate

2. What is Physician-Assisted Suicide?
Upon request of the patient, the physician provides the means or information necessary on how to end one’s life.
The physician does not participate in the action of ending the patient’s life
If they were, it would be considered euthanasia (illegal in the US)

3. Some facts about Physician-Assisted Suicide
Four states have legalized PAS
Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana
57% of physicians practicing today have received a request for physician- assisted suicide
Physical pain alone accounts for 3% of PAS requests, depression in the patient can increase the chance of a request by 4-5 times

4. Video #1

5. Video #2

6. Stephen Hawking Article summary
In 2006, he became the poster child for opponents of assisted death, saying, “I think it would be a great mistake. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there's life, there is hope.”
Changed his mind in 2013, telling The Guardian,“I think those who have a terminal illness and are in great pain should have the right to choose to end their lives and those that help them should be free from prosecution.”
assisted-suicide-divides-die- movement/story?id= &singlePage=true

7. Popular arguments for and against PAS
A person should have the right to die to end great suffering
People will still commit suicide if they are desperate
Financial strain on families with terminal patients will be reduced
People will begin to request PAS on the basis of depression alone
With current palliative care methods, we should be able to reduce a person’s suffering without death
Violates the Hippocratic Oath “first, do no harm”
But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

8. Why should physician assisted suicide be/not be legalized in the US?
Debate Questions
Why should physician assisted suicide be/not be legalized in the US?

9. Debate Questions
In places where physician assisted suicide is already legal, how should it be regulated/carried out?

10. Debate Questions
Why should/shouldn’t doctors be allowed to suggest physician assisted suicide to a patient?

11. You’re ALL winners!