A request for euthanasia or assistance in suicide usually derives from
severe patient distress and indicates significant suffering. Although
the Hippocratic purview of medicine requires that suffering be acknow
ledged, its causes be identified, and that steps be taken to provide a
dequate relief, an appreciation of the diversity of factors that may c
ontribute to suffering underscores the need for methodical assessment
and familiarity with a range of therapeutic strategies, It may be argu
ed that when other options to effectively relieve suffering are availa
ble, euthanasia and assisted suicide fall outside of the purview of Hi
ppocratic medicine, Given the existence of other options, the capacity
for human maleficence, and the lack of resources currently allocated
to the relief of suffering, this paper presents a number of reservatio
ns regarding the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. In a
ddition, it is suggested that the current community focus on the issue
of inadequately relieved suffering should be harnessed to work toward
the provision of care that would diminish the impression that electiv
e death is necessary to ensure adequate relief.