In: Operations Management
Jesse is a terminally ill Minnesota resident. She has expressed dismay over her worsening condition and asked whether the doctor would “help me to die.” A prolonged discussion with Jesse and her family regarding hastening death followed. After the discussion, both Jesse and the physician were convinced that she really wanted this. Accordingly, the physician described the options of palliative sedation to unconsciousness (PSU) and VSED. But Jesse was unwilling to pursue either of those two options because she found dehydrating to death to be morally repugnant. Since it is illegal in Minnesota, the physician never discussed physician aid-in-dying. Jesse subsequently died a protracted death with significant suffering. Jesse’s family has just consulted with you, a Minnesota attorney. They think that the physician should have presented Jesse with the option of obtaining physician aid-in-dying in Oregon or Washington (or even Switzerland, Belgium, or other jurisdictions where PAD is legal).
Part 1: Do you believe Jesse’s physician had a duty to discuss alternatives like the option of obtaining physician aid in dying in Oregon or Washington with Jesse and her family? Why or Why Not?
Part 2: Do you believe there should be a federal right to die statute in this country, why or why not?
1-After analyzing this case, i can say that Jessie's physician had no duty to discuss alternatives like the option of obtaining physician aid in dying in Oregon or Washington with Jesse and her family because Jessie was admitted in hospital of Minnesota where discussing PAD is illegal by physicians and physicians can lose their job because of illegal discussion even it would be legal in other country.
The state laws binds the hand of physicians if they want to provide the alternatives but they could not.The family could have discharge Jesse and take to Oregon or Washington if they knew that PAD is legal there then why put physician's practice in danger. Physicians was doing all he could do in legal constraints of the Minnesota law.
2-yes, i believe there should be right to die statute in this country because suffering is more painful and unethical than death if there are no chances to be treated then die statute should be legal which should be based on the decision of patient, family and physician.