Good Morning My Fellow Introverts,
I suspect that we have all heard of physician assisted suicide aka (also known as) death with dignity aka medical aid in dying aka physician assisted death. This process goes by many names, but regardless of the term used, the whole idea behind it is this - a doctor who is caring for a terminally ill patient hastens their imminent death through the use of medications prescribed for that purpose.
Of course, there legal requirements such as, the patient must be 18 years and over, with less than 6 months to live, has the mental capacity to make their own medical decisions, and is not suffering form mental health issues, must live in a place where it is practiced etc etc. I do not mean to bore you with details. It is a very controversial topic which has ethical and religious implications, but irrespective of whether or not you agree with the procdeure, if you are being true to yourself, the majority of us will understand it.
Imagine that you are terminally ill and suffering every minute of every day. It's only natural that you will want it to stop. Be honest, if medical aid in dying is an option, you will consider it.
But that's not really my focus today. My big question, is what do you think about physicians that do not attempt to intervene in the impending deaths of patients who are a threat to the community. So let me explain what I mean. My medical school training occurred in a country where there was (and still is) a lot of violence. There were numerous gangs that mutilated and killed countless innocent people daily. And one day, one of the well-known gang leaders was brought into the Emergency Room suffering from a gun shot wound to the chest. I was too junior at the time, to objectively ascertain the severity of his injuries. So there is no way, I can stay here and say for sure that prompt and appropriate medical intervervention would have saved his life. But what I can say to you is that we will never know. The senior doctor placed this gentleman in a back room, locked the door, and proceeded to treat other persons that were injured in the incident. I could not believe what I was seeing, so after a few minutes I spoke up and asked him why. To which he responded, 'I have just saved the lives of over 50 people today alone, not to mention tomorrow, next week and next year!"
I did not know what to think or how to respond. After about 2 hours, this medical professional calmly unlocked the door and pronounced the gang leader dead.
My question to you is, was this physician right or wrong? Did I witness a murder?
And honestly my feeling about it is this : Just like in physician assisted suicide, I can kinda understand. I can kinda understand his reasoning and actions. But they were wrong. It is not for us to decide someone's fate. We are here to save lives. We have all taken an oath, so abide by it. If the patient so happens to live through the ordeal, it is then up to those in law enforcement to bring him to justice. And yes, I do know about the issues and corruption that exist in the law, but, physicans should not be vigilantes (like Robin Hood)
What are your thoughts?
Until next time
MDSaga signing out
Comments
I guess we can all understand both scenarios. I know that deliberately delaying the treatment for someone who you deem to be evil is wrong but.......I wonder how I would feel if I lost someone close to me at the hands of someone who fits thar description.
I think that if you lost a loved one to someone like that, you would defenitely support the actions of that physician
But at the same time, can you imagine how that gang leader felt (if he was conscious), to have been seroiusly wounded and finally reach hospital, then to be locked in a room all alone. And feel yourself slowly dying with no help on the way. Must be an awful sensation