Indeed, it could be argued that one of the most meaningful acts within someone s life is in how he or she deals with suffering in the face of death. Palliative care can improve the quantity and quality of one s remaining life. Formerly unattainable goals may become attainable. Beyond physical and psychological comfort, spiritual comfort is an important goal of hospice care. Physician assisted suicide obliterates the opportunity to transcend suffering and find meaning also in the existence of one s relationship with self and loved ones.
Hospice provides a wonderful setting for the terminally ill and their loved ones.
This type of care is ethically responsible and distinctly different from the administration of a drug whose primary intent is to end life. It also does not leave loved ones to contemplate whether death was the only method of relieving a patient s suffering. The very presence of euthanasia as an option can erode trust that the health care system will do everything possible to relieve suffering before terminating life. Rather, euthanasia provides a clever disguise that encompasses harm to the patient, family, and society at large. Copyright 2000 Arizona Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.