Briana Beaver-Timmons
Research Proposal
Introduction:
Euthanasia is “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy (Source 1: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia).” It is an issue that I am interested in because I intend to attend medical school and become a physician. This is issue will be something I and other physicians will have to face when we enter the medical field.
A type of euthanasia is legal in 4 states: Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Vermont. Should a patient that is hopelessly sick be permitted to death to end their misery? Should the practice of euthanasia be legalized at the federal level?
Rationale:
I have always been interested the physiology and the medical field. I have seen the older generation of my family suffer from different illnesses. Many of them were bedridden in the hospital and not given much time left to live. I remember a specific family member, my great uncle suffered from an illness that I am still unsure of. I just remember that he was in a lot pain. The physicians kept pain- killers to reduce the pain and he would sleep and all day and could not leave his bed. There was talk in my family about ending my great uncle’s suffering. They could not do anything about it because he did not live in any of the four states that legalized a type of euthanasia. But this experience and my interest in the medical field has made me very interested in this ethical topic.
Research Plan:
I know that a type of euthanasia called Physician Assisted Death is legal in 4 states. The patient has to be terminally ill and must be competent enough to make the decision to die. In the Netherlands, assisted suicide and voluntary Euthanasia has been legal since 2002 (Source 2: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=7e0accd6-e8d7-45a9-aac2-2e170703e242%40sessionmgr114&vid=3&hid=118). I would still want to research how this practice conflicts with the Hippocratic oath professionals take when they become a doctor. I also would want to research what exactly does the Hippocratic oath entail. I would also want to research the religious and moral aspects of the practice. For example, does it contradict any religions and what are the immoral aspects of the practice. The mental health of the patient making this decision is important for doctors to take into account. How do doctors determine is the patient has the proper mental health the make this decision. Lastly, what is the possibility of the patient living? Is it possible for the patient to survive their illness or condition? These are all aspects that I think are important to consider when researching this issue.
Implications:
This topic is important because there are patients that are in constant misery and suffering that want to end their own life but they are now allowed and prohibited to do it because they are in a hospital setting. However people who are not at in a hospital have the ability to take their own life if they wish to. The argument is that patients in a hospital should have the same right. Physicians and doctors are faced with issue frequently depending on the type of medicine they specialize in. The public should care about this issue because it can affect you or the people you know. You or someone you know can be diagnosed with a disease and become terminally ill. If you or someone you know was in constant misery and suffering with a small chance of survival, would you want to end the suffering? Read this blog supporting Physician Assisted Death: http://www.deathwithdignity.org/2014/04/01/demystifying-death-a-life-moment
Source 1: “Euthanasia.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia>.
Source 2: Lipuma, Samuel H.. Journal of Medicine & Philosophy, Apr2013, Vol. 38 Issue 2, p190-204, 15p, Database: Humanities Source
Source 3: Degnin, Francis Dominic. “Levinas And The Hippocratic Oath: A Discussion Of Physician-Assisted Suicide.” Journal Of Medicine & Philosophy 22.2 (1997): 99. Humanities Source. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.
Source 4: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/oct/11/may-doctors-help-you-die/?pagination=false
WRT 102.22: Science & Society 
This is a really interesting and significant topic. I have two questions about this. First, what if the patient is in a condition that he/she couldn’t even express him/herself? Is that also qualified for Euthanasia? Who would make the decision in this case? Second, I’ve read articles telling the misery of the children whose parents are conducted Euthanasia. I think it is also a significant part of this topic, so what role do the children of the patient play here?
You stated towards the end that people in a hospital setting are not allowed to end their misery, while those outside of the hospitals are “allowed” to. Have you researched any state or federal laws on suicide? If a person fails a suicide attempt, they are put on “suicide watch” for an extended period of time in the hospital as well as are required to seek therapy and professional help. A person in the hospital has the same ability to end their life as one not in a hospital. The problem lies within doing it professionally and painlessly.
Also, do you have research stating that it is painless? I don’t think anybody has ever survived chemical euthanasia to testify whether or not it truly is. Chemical euthanasia, especially that in the legal system is an administration of an anesthesia, the the injection of liquid potassium into the subject, causing every single muscle fiber to contract, depolarize and lose its inability to polarize… I’d imagine its painful if the anesthesia doesn’t reach every part of the body.