1. Physician Assisted Death
Presented by Mark B and Marc C

3. Respect for autonomy
Competent people  right to choose the timing and manner of death
Justice
Terminally ill people can refuse treatment  allowing them to die
Some people can refuse treatment  not leading to death
Very unfair
Compassion
Suffering can be physical pain but also existential, social, and functional (leading to a loss of dignity)
Individual liberty vs. state interest
Society’s right to preserve life vs Individual’s rights
Honesty & transparency
PAD already occurs
Openness could encourage more discussion and better care and more options

4. Sanctity of life
Most religions and even secular traditions prohibit suicide or assistance in dying  morally wrong
Passive vs. Active distinction
Allowing people to refuse treatment may be OK (passive)
PAD = killing (active)
Potential for abuse
Vulnerable people, lacking quality care  choose PAD
May be about saving money  impossible to stop all cases
Professional integrity
Against Hippocratic oath “do no harm”
Fallibility of the profession
Doctors make mistakes
 diagnosis & prognosis may be incorrect
 inadequate treatment of pain

5. ???

6. The End