As we continue to look at the topic of Euthanasia and Physician-assisted Suicide, I would like to remind you that the quotes come from F. Michael Gloth, III M.D. and his article ?Physician Assisted Suicide: The Wrong Approach to End of Life Care.? They are in bold and my commentary is in regular font.

Arguments concerning loss of autonomy and impaired quality of life are also offered to justify physician-assisted suicide. Advocates of assisted suicide add that systemic changes to medical care, such as improved palliative care, won't benefit the individual currently dying in discomfort. They argue from the premise that immediate death is preferable to suffering with pain or "lack of dignity" in the last days, weeks or months of life.

Let me begin by saying that for Catholics there is no way that a person can lose their dignity. There can be times when we are embarrassed because of the things we do or cannot do but this in no way should be confused with losing our human dignity. Our dignity comes from who we are and not what we do. We are all infinitely dignified because we are created by God and children of the Heavenly Father. We are like paintings that are priceless because of who painted us and not because of the content of our painting.

Another argument in favor of assisted suicide is the prevention of "botched" suicide. Most terminally ill patients who wish to commit suicide want it accomplished by medical means, nonviolently ? suicide by self-administered drugs is not always easy to accomplish. Failed attempts can cause greater trauma for the patient and caregivers than the natural course of the disease itself. In such circumstances, patients may beg caregivers to complete their failed attempt to die. This scenario is meant to bolster the argument for physician-assisted suicide, on the theory that such assistance prevents a greater harm than it causes.

First off let us simply say that the Catholic Church believes that it is never moral to teach or encourage someone to sin. Psychologists and other mental health workers also inform us that many ?suicides? are actually ?cries for help or attention,? and the person really does not want to succeed. He or she simply wants someone to notice them.

In fact, the chief argument ? that assisted suicide is needed to avoid the excruciating pain and suffering that may accompany a terminal illness ? is based on a fallacy. Advances in pain management now make it possible to control pain effectively in dying patients; only rarely is it necessary to induce sleep to relieve pain or distress in the final stage of dying. But it is true that many physicians don't provide adequate pain relief. It is also true that changes in health care are required to better train and prepare physicians for pain control, and to better understand and provide end of life care. However, health care providers who specialize in pain relief and those involved with hospice are much more knowledgeable than the average physician about providing comfort and dignity at the end of life. In 2002 the American Geriatrics Society released guidelines emphasizing the availability of treatment for pain in older adults.

As stated before, medical technology has come a long way. According to Dr. Gloth and others pain management as a part of medical technology has also grown leaps and bounds. Just as it should be rare for a person to die of small pox or polio today because of medical technology so in the same way a person should not find themselves in immense pain if properly cared for.

The more compelling arguments for physician-assisted suicide ? about avoiding great pain and suffering ? do not seem to be motivating requests for physician-assisted suicide in Oregon. Based on current evidence, people seeking physician-assisted suicide there are more often concerned about loss of autonomy and control. We question whether it is medicine's role to give patients control over the timing and manner of death.

I have heard it said that the most used words in the Bible are ?Be Not Afraid? and I believe this to be good advice because it seems that at the root of all our sins is ?fear?. We fear the loss of autonomy and control because we continue to define ourselves by what we do and what we produce. We are all more than what we produce. Our value comes from who made us. We are all name brand human beings filled with God?s image.

*F. Michael Gloth, III, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Director, Outpatient Services, for the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD.