Question

Dr. Jim Witcher was a 57-year-old retired veterinarian who owned a horse farm in Louisiana. He had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease), which was gradually causing him to lose muscle control. He had been active on his farm and enjoyed caring for his horses but was now wheelchair-bound in a power-assisted chair. He could, with assistance, get out on his farm but was losing the ability to feed himself. He worried about his gradual decline and loss of control. He also worried about the enormous costs that were depleting the resources set aside to support him and his wife during their retirement.

His wife provided around-the-clock care. She resisted suggestions that she place her husband in a nursing home or even hire help for his care. Their children were grown and occupied, raising their own families. Dr. Witcher knew the burdens on his wife were enormous.

Dr. Witcher realized that he would soon lose all ability to consume food and medicine unaided and anticipated the day when he would not be able to hold his grandchild or even breathe on his own. He knew what he did when one of the horses under his care developed an incurable disability. One day during a routine visit with his internist, he raised the question of why humans could not get similar assistance to quickly end their misery when their suffering and disability became unbearable.

               a) Apply the principle of justice to examine whether it is morally permissible for Dr. Witcher to have access to physician-assisted suicide. Describe the principle as well as the decision that it would lead to in this case.

Answer 1

Whether it is morally permissible for Dr. Witcher to have access to physician-assisted suicide.

It is morally permissible to have physician assisted suicide if it improves the quality of life of the patient by reducing the suffering untill he's alive . However it is a much debated subject and it is totally subjective to the people who wishes to opt this procedure.

Principles

• Request of patient
• Self decision made by the patient
• His disease condition
• His level of pain
• Tolerance towards pain

The decision that is made by the patient since he understands how deteriorating his disease condition is and doesn't want to be a burden to anyone even though his wife is actively looking him after with every needs . It is a sole decision made by the patient in order to end his sufferings.