1. The American Pain Society maintains that the treatment of the painful symptoms of terminal illness should take precedence over the promotion of physician-assisted suicide. Bobbie Far- sides agrees that the terminally ill should have a right to effective pain management, but contends that physician-assisted suicide should be an option for those whose symptoms do not respond to medical treatment. Which author do you agree with, and why?
2. Kirsten Backstrom argues that the pain associated with serious illness should not necessarily be avoided because it may “allow us to see beyond ourselves to something larger and deeper.” Backstrom suffered from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and though her life was threatened, she did not die of the illness. In your opinion, is Backstrom qualified to draw conclusions about the suffering associated with terminal illness? Why or why not?
3. Jerome P. Kassirer and Robert L. Maginnis disagree...