I do not believe that it is ever ethically justified for physicians to give lethal injections to people, whether it is active or passive. Allowing physician assisted suicide (PAS) would cause people to have less faith in physicians. However, the issues that surround PAS are not only about death, they are about ones liberty, right to privacy and control over his or her own body. There are certain situations, which would be considered justifiable to others and I will present a few of them to you. However, I do not agree with PAS no matter what the case may be. The case concerning Tom Youk and Jack Kevorkian is an example of one of these situations. Although this is not a black and white issue, and the right action requires consideration of all applications and scenarios.
PAS could be considered ethical in certain situations to others. Compassion and beneficence are required. They are also desired; every caregiver wants to help his patient, deliver treatment with excellence, compassion, and the intent of beneficence. Doctors can be given a course to teach them the situations in which it would be ethical to perform a lethal injection to patients who request it. Tom Youk had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Both, he and his family, requested active euthanasia from Jack Kevorkian. Violation of personal autonomy constitutes deprivation of freedom and, is in turn, in itself wrong. Everyone has the right to privacy and control over his or her own body. Does this apply all situations? I do not believe this is the answer. There is not a guarantee either way, but when would a patient ever have hope? The hope for amazing recoveries would soon fade among many in society ...