Essay on Mental Health and Assisted Suicide - 1532 Words

Mental Health and Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide It is obvious to the TV viewer that under the banners of compassion and autonomy, some are calling for legal recognition of a right to suicide and societal acceptance of physician-assisted suicide. Suicide proponents evoke the image of someone facing unendurable suffering who calmly and rationally decides death is better than life in such a state. They argue that society should respect and defer to the freedom of choice such people exercise in asking to be killed. This essay intends to debunk this point of view on the basis of mental illness among those patients involved. What would be the consequences of accepting this perspective? Let us examine the facts. Accepting†¦show more content†¦Few people, if any, simply sit down and make a cool, rational decision to commit suicide. In fact, studies have indicated that 93-94% of those committing suicide suffer from some identifiable mental disorder(Barraclough). In one such study, conducted by Dr. Eli Robbins of suicides occurring in St. Louis, Missouri, 47% of those committing suicide were diagnosed as suffering from either schizophrenic panic disorders or from affective disorders such as depressive disorders, dysthymic disorders, or bipolar disorder. An additional 25% suffered from alcoholism while another 15% had some recognizable but undiagnosed psychiatric disorder. 4% were found to have organic brain syndrome, 2% were schizophrenic, and 1% were drug addicts (Robins). The total of those with diagnosable mental disorders was 94%. An independent British study came up with a remarkably similar to tal figure, finding that 93% of those who commit suicide suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder(Barraclough). Persons with mental disorders make distorted judgments. Suicide is often a desperate step taken by individuals who consider their problems so intractable as to make their situations hopeless. But experts in psychology recognize the evaluations these individuals make of their personal situations are flawed. The suicidal person suffering from depression typically undergoes severe emotional and physical strain(APA). This physical and emotional exhaustion impairs basic cognition(Beck),Show MoreRelatedPhysician Assisted Suicide1226 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Physician Assisted Suicide There are instances when people who are terminally ill or severely injured who want to terminate their own lives. Sometimes, due to the state of their injuries or conditions, those people are unable to end their own pain. It is in many of these cases that the patients request assistance in their suicides. This kind of request is like to happen in facilities where the patient receives long term or permanent care. Physician assisted suicide is a hotly contested issueRead MorePhysician-Assisted Suicide and Psychology Essay example1246 Words   |  5 Pagesliterature presented on Physician Assistant Suicide and its relationship particularly to psychology, PAS is my opinion is in fact a psychological issue. Psychology by definition is a discipline that studies both the human mind and behavior and seeks to understand and provide explanation pertaining to thought, emotion, and behavior (Cherry, 2011). Applications of psychology can range from mental health, self- health, and a myriad of ar eas that can affect health and daily life (Cherry, 2011). AlthoughRead MoreThe Debate Of Physician Assisted Suicide1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe Debate Surrounding the Topic of Physician Assisted Suicide Who gets to make the choice whether someone lives or dies? If a person has the right to live, they certainly should be able to make the choice to end their own life. 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Currently in the United States, following the same process of a judicial or legislative processesRead MoreEuthanasia: The Case of Susan Wolfs Father1150 Words   |  5 Pagesa quite a while, Euthanasia and assisted suicide have been a topic of debate. The concern stretches from the legal, moral, religious and emotional basis. The query at hand is what is the appropriate response to assisted suicide? As opposed to Wolfs hastened response of No. It is widely accepted that there are varied reasons for allowing Physician-assisted suicide. However, Euthanasia is not as widely permitted. Reason to this is that physician assisted suicide is not like to be abused; sinceRead MoreA Lack Of Psychiatric Or Psychological Evaluations Underpin The Concerns Made By Those Against Odwda Essay1419 Words   |  6 Pagespersons with chronic and terminal illness. 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Euthanasia is currently legalized in seven countries and parts of the United States (New Health Guide). This number is not likely to increase soon because of the high controversy, which is due to the very serious topic of this matter: a person s life. The generalRead MoreLegalizing Physician Assisted Suicide1140 Words   |  5 Pagescurrent society, legalizing physician assisted suicide is a prevalent argument. In 1997, the Supreme Court recognized no federal constitutional right to physician assisted suicide (Harned 1) , which defines suicide as one receiving help from a physician by means of a lethal dosage (Pearson 1), leaving it up to state legislatures to legalize such practice if desired. Only Oregon and Washington have since legalized physician assisted suicide. People seeking assisted suicide often experience slanted judg ments