Author(s)

Jiahang Zhang

Corresponding Author

Jiahang Zhang

ABSTRACT

As far as the medical professional codes, physicians are forbidden to assist the patients’ suicide even though it is the aspiration of patients. The practices of physician assisted suicide is still controversial. Voices of the advocates focused on two main arguments, 1. Physicians Assisted Suicide is incompatible with physicians’ role; 2. It was recognized as “irrational” to take suicide due to the pain that the patient was suffered from the illness. Suicide is therefore considered a “moral injunction” which is a violation of human rights. However, compared with the against opinion, Physicians Assisted Suicide is supported by the increasing number of people including patients, physicians, and the family members of the patients. Proponents of physician-assisted suicide argue that this practice is crucial and helpful to relieve the unnecessary end-of-life suffering of patients. This paper will discuss the major arguments of Physicians Assisted Suicide and illustrate the reasons for the importance of PSA legalization from social reality and morality.

KEYWORDS

Medical, professional ethics, patients