Question

Why does Quill think he acted appropriately in Diane's case?

Answer 1

Diane, acute leukaemia patient with history of alcoholism and clinical depression was not ready to take chemotherapy for her cancer.She was going to survive for another 2 to 3 months and dies not want to feel the pain of death due to the disease condition.All patients always doesn't want to make their life complicated at the end of life filled with pain and misery. She visited Dr.Quill who reffered her to Hemlock society for making a decision with support.Then she reached Dr.Quill for her complaints of insomnia, the doctor prescribed the medication, informing her about the safe dose and the dose needed for ending her life.After her death the doctor mentioned the cause of death is due to acute leukaemia. There was a lot of controversy on the decision made as it is called as Physician assisted suicide and so was not mentioned in it.After a lot many years rolled on one over the other cases which where similar to these types of cases got a constitutional right to die under physician assistance. Quill's action was appropriate in this case by principle of autonomy and by principle of beneficence.