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The debate over patient's rights to relieve his/her own suffering and the family wishes are, undoubtedly in my opinion a decision that should be involving everyone within that family core. There are so many "what if" factors that can play a major role in the process of decisions, however,[a]responsibility of emotional committment to a patient's loved ones is in itself a dichotomy.

Presumably a patient has at least one soul that has a direct link to that patient. This may or may not be a loved one or family member. It is imperative to define what classifies as family to that patient. There have in some extreme cases been people that did fall into the classification of not having any family members alive at the moment of the patient's health crisis. A friend or an associate should be considered in the time of crisis if the patient does not have any surviving family members. "What if" the only surviving family member has had their relationship, for what ever reason, terminated with the patient. Do you ask for intervention in the decision of right to 'relieve his/her own suffering from a estranged or disagreeable person. I wouldn't want my father-in-law to aid in the decision process, nor my estranged husband for that matter. Just thinking of the outcome should they make the decision to determine my life makes me cringe.

As a mother, or parent, I think of what may or may not happen to my children should something horrible happen that I am unable to decide for myself my fate. They, being minors, naturally would have to have legal guardianship, and I curiously wonder what kind of outcome would be the result should a legal representative of my children make a assuration of my life and livelihood. Would it be for the best interest of my children. As far as I know today, they do and will remain my three closest and most cherished "loved ones" that I am emotionally attached with. They are the ones that I would want to have peace of mind and personal assurance that if something drastic or tragic happened to me, they would be protected from emotional loss as well as their legal rights and responsibilities.

It seems logical to me that the family should have certain rights to their loved ones' determination of their "right to relieve their own suffering". As much as a person might insist that they should have their rights upheld, I believe the family or person's of interest to them should have some rights to decide as well.

There is always a chance for a miracle and I am of the belief that maybe even if all the circumstances suggest otherwise, maybe this might be the one time that defeats the statistics.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Edge.
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