1
Is Physician Assisted Suicide Morally Acceptable When a Person Is Suffering from a
Painful, Incurable, Terminal Condition?
]
The University of Arizona Global Campus
PHI103: Informal Logic
, 2
Introduction
The topic I have chosen for exploration is “Is physician-assisted suicide morally
acceptable when a person is suffering from a painful, incurable, terminal condition?” The topic
of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) raises profound ethical questions, particularly when
considering individuals suffering from painful, incurable, terminal conditions. This paper
addresses the moral acceptability of PAS in such contexts, seeking to evaluate whether it
aligns with ethical principles and the sanctity of life. By exploring various scholarly
perspectives, this paper aims to present a balanced view of the arguments for and against PAS,
ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of its implications for patients, families, and
healthcare providers.
Three Scholarly Article Summaries
1. Brodrick, R., & Keown, D. (2012). Against physician-assisted suicide in terminal illness:
ethics from a Theravada Buddhist perspective. BMIT Supportive & Palliative Care, Suppl. 1,2.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2012-000196.89
The article presents a case against physician-assisted suicide through the framework of
Theravada Buddhist teachings. The text stresses that suffering plays a fundamental role in life
according to Buddhist principles while questioning whether physician-assisted suicide fits
Buddhist ethical standards. The authors argue that life preservation and spiritual development
through suffering should outweigh the impulse to accelerate death. They support palliative care
methods that emphasize life preservation instead of assisting death.
Is Physician Assisted Suicide Morally Acceptable When a Person Is Suffering from a
Painful, Incurable, Terminal Condition?
]
The University of Arizona Global Campus
PHI103: Informal Logic
, 2
Introduction
The topic I have chosen for exploration is “Is physician-assisted suicide morally
acceptable when a person is suffering from a painful, incurable, terminal condition?” The topic
of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) raises profound ethical questions, particularly when
considering individuals suffering from painful, incurable, terminal conditions. This paper
addresses the moral acceptability of PAS in such contexts, seeking to evaluate whether it
aligns with ethical principles and the sanctity of life. By exploring various scholarly
perspectives, this paper aims to present a balanced view of the arguments for and against PAS,
ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of its implications for patients, families, and
healthcare providers.
Three Scholarly Article Summaries
1. Brodrick, R., & Keown, D. (2012). Against physician-assisted suicide in terminal illness:
ethics from a Theravada Buddhist perspective. BMIT Supportive & Palliative Care, Suppl. 1,2.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2012-000196.89
The article presents a case against physician-assisted suicide through the framework of
Theravada Buddhist teachings. The text stresses that suffering plays a fundamental role in life
according to Buddhist principles while questioning whether physician-assisted suicide fits
Buddhist ethical standards. The authors argue that life preservation and spiritual development
through suffering should outweigh the impulse to accelerate death. They support palliative care
methods that emphasize life preservation instead of assisting death.
