Should physician-assisted deaths be an option for NWI terminally ill

Debate about this controversial topic and the moral implications of taking one's life, even as a terminally ill patient, has exploded in recent years, especially with the story of Brittany Maynard.

The 29-year-old California woman with terminal brain cancer in 2014 became a face of the right-to-die movement when she announced her plans to take her own life. 

Thursday's IUN panel participants centered on moral implications at times; however, those at the table also weighed the practical pros and cons of ending one life's and the effect on family relationships. 

Advocates called it "medical aid in dying," or physician-assisted death, while opponents argued taking one's life, regardless of circumstance, is a form of suicide. 

Medically assisted death is banned in most states, though it has been a legal practice in Oregon for 20 years. Colorado, the District of Columbia, Vermont, Washington and California also have passed such laws.

Dan Lowery, previously a faculty member at IUN and former president of Calumet College of St. Joseph, argued the move would lead the U.S. on a slippery slope toward involuntary euthanasia of the elderly, disabled, mentally ill and those with dementia. 

"I'm not at all confident in our ability to hold the lines on these kinds of issues," Lowery said.

"To have confidence that we could make substantial changes in the trajectory of our values in Western culture and that we can engage in these kinds of activities and they will not have a devastating impact when put in the hands of others ... is a major concern that we all ought to have. We ought to be careful."

Lowery said his opposition is borne of personal convictions, pointing to two instances of suicide in his family and the pain felt by those left behind. 

He was joined by Bev Hmurovic, president of the Indiana Chapter of Compassion and Choices, who advocated for a change in Indiana law to allow such assisted deaths in terminally ill patients.

Dr. Susan Zinner, associate professor in the school of public and environmental affairs at IUN, moderated. Dr. Anja Matwijkiw, a professor of philosophy at IUN, also participated.  

'A national discussion'

Maynard's advocacy and death in 2014 "created a national discussion," about an individual's right to die, Hmurovic said, adding that legislation modeled after states that have passed similar legislation will be introduced in Indiana this year.

The Indiana bill would allow physicians to prescribe life-ending medication to terminally ill patients if certain criteria are met.

The patient must be mentally sound and make the request in writing twice with a 15-day waiting period in between, she said, and two physicians must diagnose the patient as terminal and sign off on the prescription.

Additionally, two witnesses — who cannot be a relative, heir or physician — must state the person is "not being coerced and that it is a voluntary choice," Hmurovic said.

"We respect the right of anyone who decides this option is not right for them," Hmurovic said. "However, we believe one person's religious or moral values should not prevent another person who does not share that belief from using this option."

Richard Smith, a senior research professor at Valparaiso University, asked the panel to consider how having the readily available option could harm family relationships and foster guilt in the dying individual if they choose not to end their lives. 

The dying individual may feel they are an emotional and financial burden "once it becomes a choice," he said, and the family is "bound to feel some resentment." 

Matwijkiw, however, noted she has witnessed families "practically destroyed" because their loved ones did not have the option.

Joseph Gomeztagle, professor of public policy and environmental affairs at IUN, said he brought his students to the panel to open a dialogue on a controversial subject. 

"This provided a dialogue so people can demystify suicide, assisted suicide, and medical aid for dying. Those are completely different subjects altogether. As we start to talk about it, taboo as it may seem, it will give us and our family members the courage to talk," Gomeztagle said.

"It's therapeutic," he said.