I believe that death with dignity is a good option for some people. I had to watch my grandmother get sicker and suffer through a disease that was never going to get better. I would not wish that pain on anyone, not the person that is sick or their loved ones. I know that several illnesses can deteriorate a person past how they should be living. I believe that this is one of the safest ways for a terminally ill patient to pass. There are other options, but they can cause suffering for the patient and loved ones. If the days become a fight that isn’t worth living for and cause too much pain, I think that people should have the choice to die with dignity.
Nonmaleficence, or do no harm, is an ethical principle that I stand by. It can seem as though assisting someone to their death is harmful. I would say that letting them suffer through life may cause them more harm than good. If someone is living with a terminal illness and they are suffering day to day, they may take to other means to die. These means could be dangerous and harmful without the intended effect to no longer suffer. Healthcare professionals can help with a controlled environment to ensure the end of life does not cause more harm than necessary. It will still be a loss, especially to loved ones, but they can also find comfort knowing that pain and suffering is over. I would say that death with dignity is still under the ethical principle of nonmaleficence. Do no harm can mean numerous things and I believe helping a person not suffer anymore is doing just that.
