Laws on Assisted or Passive Suicide
Assisted suicide or Passive suicide has long been a topic of debate in various knowledge fields such as sociology, psychology, ethics, human rights and so on. Assisted suicide is a situation wherein the terminally ill patient or the patient in irreducible pain is given the means to end one’s life. Perhaps, each knowledge system provides a unique understanding of the idea that concerns one’s right to life, right to body and right to death. The theme is further complicated by the layers of religion and culture that come to define and value the ideas of life and death in their own way. A theme that carries the load of multiple beliefs and perceptions cannot be reduced to a universal law, and hence one can observe the differences in laws pertaining to euthanasia. The state of Texas also beholds certain set of assumptions and ideas to maintain its laws on assisted suicide, which are different from other states of USA.
The code section of Texas laws, Health and Safety166.45-51 states that euthanasia or assisted killing is not authorized or condoned by the state. It further establishes that no act that hinders the natural process of dying will be authorized by the Texas laws. Although any form of mercy killing is illegal in Texas, yet the doctors have the authority to remove life support systems with the consent of the patient. In cases wherein obtaining a consent is not possible, it is important to have a durable power of attorney that grants another person or the family member to make medical decisions on the behalf of the patient.
A controversial legislation that changed the course of this theme in the history of Texas Laws was the Senate Bill, 414. The bill stated that any doctor, in the province of Texas, who denied lifesaving treatment or withdrew from any act of life revival on the request of the patient, cannot be charged under civil or criminal act. The bill was rejected stating that even if the doctor or the hospital terminates lifesaving procedures, the caregiver must continue them till another caregiver can be found who would take over this role. This led to the formation of the Advanced Directives Act, which now marks the law of Texas. According to the act, the hospital and the doctor provides a 10 day notice before withdrawing the life support systems or denying lifesaving activities. The 10 day period is utilized by the healthcare facilities to find a surrogate facility that would take care of the patient, in the absence of which, the treatment can be terminated. Perhaps, Texas laws do not openly support the idea of assisted or passive suicide; however, it has been sensitive to the variety of circumstances and the limited resources that it is subjected to.
Assisted or passive suicide is not only a matter of right to life or right to death; rather it is a question upon one’s right to choose. On one hand this theme contests the grounds of democracy by demanding one’s fundamental rights, while on the other hand it expects one to value the cultural ideations of the theme. Perhaps the theme that reshapes the meaning of life, death, choices and relationships cannot be simplified through the paragraphs of legislature; the law at present, struggles to balance the complexities of the context it is placed in.
Works Cited
Sasser, B. New debate over human euthanasia in Texas. 2014. Web
Texas Right to Life. Euthanasia: President Bush and Texas Law. 2011. Web.
