Physician Assisted Suicide PAS

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Physician Assisted Suicide(PAS)
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Definition

• The voluntary termination of ones own life by
  administration of a lethal substance with the
  direct or indirect assistance of a physician

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Hypothesis

• The opinions of society, regarding the practice
  of physician assisted suicide, will differ from
  those of terminally ill patients. Furthermore,
  the opinion of doctors regarding physician
  assisted suicide will also differ from those of
  patients and members of society.

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The Surveyed

• 160 students completed the questionnaires
• 40 from grade 9,
• 40 from grade 10,
• 40 from grade 11 and
• 40 from grade 12 and 12
• People from the library and cafeteria were given
  the questionnaires as well as classes taking
  place during period B and C.

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The Variables

• Independent
• the role one plays in society.
• the religious beliefs of an individual
• Dependent
• whether the individual displays a positive or
  negative attitude towards PAS

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The Results

Quick Overview Of 160 people 56 agreed with
PAS 21 disagreed with PAS 23 were undecided
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Results
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Extra Studies and Statistics

• Opinion Research Business and the Right to Life
  Organization completed a U.K. survey in March and
  April of 2003. Doctors were interviewed and
  asked
• 1. As a doctor are you in favor of Assisted
  Suicide?
• 25 said yes
• 60 said no
• 2. If it were legal, would you be prepared to
  perform Assisted Suicide?
• 26 said yes
• 74 said no

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Extra Statistics Continued

• Information suggests that
• Doctors are not generally in favour of physician
  assisted suicide
• Those who know someone who works with terminally
  ill patients may be influenced by such peoples
  views, therefore causing them to lean towards
  being less accepting of the issue

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Results
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Results

• 93 people surveyed have been in a hospital
  themselves either for minor or major injuries
  and/or illnesses.
• Of these 93 people, 45 agreed with PAS.
• Note Major illnesses and injuries included
  severe head traumas, depression related
  illnesses, suicidal attempts, cancerous illnesses
  and other conditions in which immediate surgery
  would have been required.

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Extra Studies and Statistics

• Medscape Today conducted research which lead to
  the finding that psychosocial and psychiatric
  issues are among the most powerful predictors of
  desire for death and interest in PAS.
• The Journal of the American Medical Association
  concluded in a study that sick and dying people
  are often responding to pain or psychological
  anguish, or searching for meaning and control
  when they explore the option of PAS

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Results
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Extra Studies and Statistics

• The Journal for the Scientific study of Religion
  conducted a study in which they found that those
  with no religious affiliation are generally
  supportive of physician-assisted suicide

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Schools of Thought

• Structuralism
• Binary Opposites ? people see every thing as
  night and day good and evil right and wrong
• Those who have had past experiences with
  hospitals are more inclined to regard Physician
  Assisted suicide as acceptable while those who
  have not had such experiences will regard it as
  unacceptable.
• The binary opposites are defined logically
  according to its members (ie. doctors can be
  considered a culture)

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Schools of Thought

• Functionalism
• Core of functionalism ? belief that society is
  itself a logical institution that functions in
  the best interests of the majority
• Institutions ? todays society has formed the law
  that PAS is illegal. When we think of a doctors
  practice in society, we first think of them
  saving lives, not ending them. These are the
  types of set practices and laws involved with
  functionalism that might explain why individuals
  will yield to societys views and particular
  practices
• Whether PAS is accepted or not may depend on the
  views of the majority in a society.

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Conclusions

• The hypothesis was correct!
• There is a positive correlation between ones
  past hospital experiences, be it their own or an
  acquaintances, and ones accepting attitude
  towards physician assisted suicide.
• It could be concluded that ones surrounding
  relationships and ones role in society does
  affect whether they are more or less accepting of
  physician assisted suicide.

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Further Implications

• It is evident that we as humans are inclined to
  allow societys values and our surrounding
  relationships affect our attitudes towards
  serious topics such as PAS.
• Knowing this, do you think that your attitudes
  and opinions towards important topics such as PAS
  have been influenced by what society in general
  values most or what you value most?

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QUESTIONS???