Sigmund Freud and the Psychodynamic Perspective

Sigmund Freud and the Psychodynamic Perspective Introduction The origins of The Psychodynamic Perspective can be traced to the early work of Sigmund Freud. Using sub headings this essay will identify the main tenets of Freud’s approach to the understanding of human behaviour: his views on determinism; his use of hypnosis as therapy; his belief that human behaviour is controlled by separate yet interlinked layers of the mind (conscious and unconscious); his views on sex and aggression; and the importance he placed on unresolved and unseen conflict involving the ‘ego’, the ‘id’, and the ‘superego’ (Cave: 1999, p.31/2). The work will then explore how the perspective might be used in a healthcare setting, and will assess inherent strengths and weaknesses. Determinism Determinism, the belief that ‘every state of affairs, including every human event, act, and decision is the inevitable consequence of antecedent states of affairs’ (GuruNet: for details see References) greatly influenced Freud who sought to identify hidden causes for human behaviours. His theory is a dynamic process from the early years of a human’s life where the first interactions with others affect the development of the personality, through to the adult years where the person learns and adopts social values. Hypnosis During his time in France, Freud observed the work of Jean Charcot whose use  of hypnosis led to his ‘inducing and curing hysterical paralyses by means of direct  hypnotic suggestion.’ (Gay: 1998, p.49). Later work with Josef Breuer involved hypnosis where patients recalled traumatic experiences and expressed their emotions as a way to release the conflict within; this was the cathartic method. Freud began to develop his idea that emotionally disturbed patients had problems that were sexually orientated, and, as a development on his work in hypnosis he worked on the idea of ‘free association.’ (Nye: 1975, p.11). Instead of sending patients into a trance using his voice, Freud altered the technique of hypnosis so that the patient independently drew forth words and feelings which might be analysed or explained by the analyst. Unconscious and Conscious activity ‘Freud himself regarded the concept of the unconscious as fundamental to psychoanalysis. It is what makes the psychoanalytic approach distinctive; it is the defining characteristic of the Freudian perspective towards human action.’ (Bocock: 2002, P.32) One of the fundamental beliefs behind Freud’s work was indeed his distinction  between the unconscious, preconscious, and conscious areas of the human mind. He stipulated that the unconscious was the governing force where dreams, habits, thoughts and feelings originate from. In order to investigate these phenomenon he used psychoanalysis; as Nye phrases it in The Three Psychologies ‘it is the role of psychoanalysis to unravel the mystery by seeking the sources of thoughts, feelings, and actions in hidden drives and conflicts.’ (1975, p.10). Through using this technique Freud aimed to identify the nature of crucial communications occurring in early childhood which would affect adult behaviour. Dream interpretation is another of Freud’s infamous techniques; occurring when a person is asleep and unguarded he claimed that this was an opportunity for  unconscious drives and desires to manifest themselves through symbolic images. The  waking human mind however is conscious, meaning that it is aware of what is  immediate to it, and the preconscious is the level between. As Nye summarises it: ‘the unconscious consists of all aspects of our personalities of which we are unaware. The preconscious consists of that which is not immediately at the level of awareness  but is fairly accessible.’ (1975, p.13). The id As part of his understanding of human behaviour Freud identified the human personality as constituting three different structures: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is what the human child is born with instinct which contains base biological drives; the id seeks immediate satisfaction of primitive impulses, and operates on the ‘pleasure principle’ (Freud: 1927, p.30), seeking to avoid pain and maximise gratification. The instincts that a person is born with remain with them for life: life energy and death energy, which exist side by side, respectively concern the drive to survive (eat, drink, reproduce), and the primitive tendency to return to the ‘inanimate state’ (Nye: 1975, p.14) which has its origins in the prehistory of the world where life forms were unstable. Sex and Aggression ‘In proposing two psychological entities: our animal selves, in the form of the id, and our social selves, the ego and super-ego, (Freud) directly addressed the relationship between biology and socialisation, and the dynamic between them. For Freud, being human was individual peoples endless negotiation between the two.’ (Bland: 2003). It is precisely such negotiation that causes the varieties and extremes of behaviour seen in human beings. As well as the life and death instincts, humans are driven by their sexual drive and their aggressive drive; these being underlying causes of human behaviour. Freud made no distinction between what people might class as ‘everyday’ feelings and sexual feelings. Because humans are animals they are driven to  experience primal urges and desires but simultaneously live in a society where  standards contain and condition human behaviour. Thus, this is where the conflict arises between the drives of the id and the learnt morality of the superego so that anxiety, fear, and neuroses can all be traced to a basic incompatibility of the human  instinct with the socialised world which has evolved around it. The nature of Freud’s concept of aggression is that it is innate and thus a natural state. As one of the most powerful energies within the human mind aggression can cause serious damage mental and physical if it is not released in some way. Freud’s claims that some of the innate destructive energy is never released and so a person harbours the death instinct which eventually overcomes the other drives resulting in death. (Nye: 1975). Ultimately, the emotional life of a human being is destined to be a turbulent one: powerful energies conflict and override each other, and it is the role of psychodynamic therapy to uncover and understand the layers and symbolism within the psyche. A further understanding of these complex processes may be achieved through examining Freud’s concept of the ego and the nature of its functions. The Ego Freud suggested that the ego is a form of mediation between the urges of the id and the learnt morality in the super-ego, evolving as a person grows older in order to help them cope with the world. As the ego develops so does the person’s perception of reality, and a wider view is attained than simply the pleasures of subjective gratification. Freud’s pleasure principle thus becomes replaced by the ’reality principle’ (Stoodley: 1959, p.169). The desires of the id cannot always be realised, so the ego causes humans to convert them into other modes of behaviour;  not only in cathartic sport activities but also in people’s careers. Understanding the work environment in the context of the Psychodynamic Perspective will be discussed later. Freud likens the ego to a ‘a man on horseback, who has to hold in check the superior strength of the horse; with this difference, that the rider seeks to do so with  his own strength while the ego uses borrowed forces. () Often a rider, if he is not to be parted from his horse, is obliged to guide it where it wants to go; so in the same  way the ego constantly carries into action the wishes of the id as if they were its own.’ (Freud: 1927, p.30). Freud’s approach was radical for his time because he saw psychology very much through the same eyes as he saw evolution; as a process involving accumulative and transferable energy. Freud suggested that the energy levels in a person originating from the id and controlled, to an extent, by the ego (depending on circumstances) were affected by restrictions placed on that person by those around them. If these energies were not allowed to have an outlet then the person might suffer from anxiety. A strong ego will therefore develop as the person’s circumstances allow them to adjust to the real world while also going part of the way to satisfying the demands of the id. The Superego The superego incorporates the values and morals of society which are learnt from a person’s parents and other influential figures, and develops as a result of rewards and punishments as the individual grows up. The superego provides the personality with a conscience; a form of overview concerning right and wrong actions, which can cause a person to feel guilty. Freud termed the superego’s internal standard of what a person should be as the ‘ego-ideal’. (Nye: 1975, p.20). The superego is responsible for extremes of behaviour such as introvert behaviour, where  it will concern the person with too many of society’s rules, inhibiting the id and ’immobilizing the ego’s attempts to achieve satisfaction in the real world (Nye: 1975, p.20). On the other hand it can also cause extrovert behaviour where the individual abandons the expected standards of society. Anxiety and defence mechanisms When anxieties develop they can often be explained through the processes which  Freud termed ‘anxiety or defence mechanisms.’ The problem is to do with the  desires of the id they can be controlled by the superego and directed by the ego, but they still remain as very strong inclinations within the psyche. A desire of the id to act in a particular way may be thought of as wrong or punishable and thus creates guilt and tension anxiety within the person. The impulse might be expressed in a disguised form that society does approve of for example becoming a racing car driver or boxer as an outlet for aggression. Other ways of coping with the presence of inner energies are: Repression This is the phenomenon of forcing the uncomfortable desires, painful feelings and memories into the unconscious, only for them to affect our behaviour and mental states on a subliminal level, maybe emerging as Freudian slips or as symbolic imagery in nightmares. It is the job of the ego to try and prevent the ‘forgotten’ thoughts from returning to the conscious mind. Projection This occurs when someone assigns their own negative thoughts to another in order to  absolve themselves of the feeling. Denial Negative aspects of a situation may be avoided if the ego simply does not  acknowledge that they are there; this may be conscious or unconscious. Sublimation When forbidden impulses are channelled into socially acceptable behaviour or a socially beneficial situation for example, an aggressive man might choose to become  a martial arts teacher or a soldier. Alternatively, when a substitute action or transfer  of energy replaces the reaction to the person or object that originally caused the upset it is called displacement. The Psychodynamic Perspective in a healthcare setting Freud’s work has been influential not just in the field of psychology but also in conjunction with the sphere of mental health and social care. His group dynamics where he suggests that a group of people admit the same person a leader into their superego and identify with each other (Cave: 1999, p.57) can help individuals to understand the sometimes complex relations between work colleagues. For example, when a new worker joins a team it takes time to become integrated: Freud would say that this was due to the ‘personal space’ barrier (Cave: 1999, p.58) not yet being broken. Once the person is accepted then the group directs hostility to others outside of it, the barrier changing to a ‘group space’ barrier. More importantly an awareness of group processes can help ‘inform, promote insight, change behaviour or alleviate suffering.’(Cave: 1999, p.50). Understanding the relationships between individuals within a group is crucial for healthcare professionals who work in hospitals and care homes. For example, it could be beneficial to understand what facilitates group cohesion when working with discussion/therapy groups. Alternatively, a patient who is afraid of group work may  be best understood in isolation Freud’s psychoanalytic approach is commonly used in counselling and therapy for drug users, those who have been/are abused, and can be  beneficial to those suffering from obsessions and neurotic disorders. It is vital to have a good rapport and understanding between healthcare workers and patients to provide the best professional environment for recovery. Difficult situations often arise which require tact and discretion such as bereavement and can be understood in terms of Freud’s distinctions between the ego and the id and the conscious and unconscious mind. For example, an unusual pattern of behaviour (possibly anger or guilt) seen in a bereaved person might be attributed to a  defence mechanism which is masking the hidden conflict or upset associated with the death. Critical evaluation of the Psychodynamic Perspective Like all psychological theories, Freud’s is susceptible to heavy criticism because it is one of many perspectives all of which are formed by people trying to study other people making it difficult to attain complete objectivity. Skinner’s behaviourist theory criticises Freud for his belief that many guilt and anxiety complexes are sexually orientated (Nye: 1975, p.52), and there is also conflict between Freudian theorists and those psychologists who view behaviour as controlled by external factors: an example being the issue of suggestion in psychoanalysis and hypnosis. Take for instance, the case study of ‘Dora’ (Cave: 1975, p.37) whose abuse was suggested by Freud to be imagined, the consequence being that after counselling sessions with Freud she showed no signs of improvement. There is discrepancy about the meaning of dream symbols, and the outcome of hypnosis and psychoanalysis is often ambiguous and unreliable. Further problems occur when using hypnosis as therapy because the patient might not be properly under, and, as Freud himself found, they may even fall asleep. Nye notes that Freud used a restricted sample while developing his theory so  that it was not fully representative, and therefore his ideas only have limited applicability. (1975, p.146). Freud’s studies might also have been selectively chosen  to represent his ideas considering the complex nature of concepts such as the Oedipus complex it is unlikely that his findings were reliably consistent. As Webster says in criticism of Freud: (He) made no substantial intellectual discoveries. He was the creator of a complex pseudo-science which should be recognized as one of the great follies of Western civilization. In creating his particular pseudo-science, Freud developed an autocratic, anti-empirical intellectual style which has contributed immeasurably to the intellectual ills of our own era. (Webster: 1995, p.438) A large amount of Freudian theory is indeed based around hypothetical concepts such as the id and the ego, and is restricting in the sense that all behaviour can be traced back to some hidden primal source. Yet it is necessary to bear in mind that much of Freud’s theory has found its way into everyday language such as the ‘unconscious’ and ‘conscious mind‘, the ‘ego‘, etc, and this in itself suggests that the theory makes adequate sense to the human mind. Thus, we are left with a theory that is at the very least plausible but left very much open to interpretation: like many opposing theories evidence can be found for and against it, and it is left to the individual to determine whether or not the theory is acceptable to them. References Bland. J., 2003, About Gender: Freud, the Father of Psychoanalysis. Available from URL (http://www.gender.org.uk/about/01psanal/11_freud.htm). Bocock, R., 2002, Sigmund Freud. London: Routledge. Cave, S., 1999, Therapeutic Approaches in Psychology. London: Routledge. Gay, P., 1998. Freud: A Life for Our Time. New York: Norton. GuruNet, online dictionary, available from URL (www.questia.com). Freud, S., 1927. The Ego and the Id. Contributors: Joan Riviere transltr. London: Hogarth press, and the Institute of psycho-analysis. Messer, D., and Meldrum, 1995, Psychology for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals. Prentice Hall: London. Nye, R., 1975, The Three Psychologies, 3rd Ed. California: Brooks. Stoodley, B., H., 1959, The Concepts of Sigmund Freud. Glencoe: Free Press Webster, R., 1995, Available from URL (JavaScript:parent.bookWindow(../books/bookstz.html l WebsterR_1995) Background Reading Fine, R., D., 1962, Freud: A Critical Re-Evaluation of His Theories. New York: David Mckay. Jones, E., 1953, The Life and Work of Sigmund Freud: The Formative Years and the Great Discoveries, 1856-1900. Volume: 1. New York: Basic Books. Levine, M., P., 2000, The Analytic Freud: Philosophy and Psychoanalysis. London: Routledge. Mansfield, N., 2000, Theories of the Self from Freud to Haraway. St. Leonards, N.S.W: Allen Unwin.

Comparing Confucianism and Christianity Essay -- Christianity Confuciu

Comparing Confucianism and Christianity The premise of Confucian teachings are centered around the idea of Jen or the  ³virtue of humanity (Ching 68). ² To accomplish this divinity, five relationships must be honored: ruler and minister, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger brother, and friend and friend (Hopfe). These relationships led a push for a revolution of the political system to adopt the methods of Jen. Confucius sought to revive the ancient Chinese culture by redefining the importance of society and government. He described a society governed by  ³reasonable, humane, and just sensibilities, not by the passions of individuals arbitrarily empowered by hereditary status ² (Clearly). He felt that this could be achieved through education and the unification of cultural beliefs. He believed that a nation would be benefited by citizens that were  ³ cultivated people whose intellects and emotions had been developed and matured by conscious people ² (Clearly). He felt that those born into the feudal system were had a personal duty to excel socially by means of power. Those who were of lesser class should also seek out education to better themselves. All purposes for betterment of man and society as one whole is known as Li. Li means  ³the rationalized social order ² (Yutang). Confucius felt that love and respect for authority was a key to a perfect society; this strict respect was practiced through rituals and magic (Smith). The Confucius traditions have caused a tradition to set within its institution and is extremely active. It has, unfortunately, allowed the political institution to manipulate the Confucius system. As with Christianity. Christianity also preaches a divine, brotherly love. Modern Christianity seeks to discover a  ³rational understanding of the person ² as did Confucius (Ess ed. 381); yet, Christianity feels that faith in the Jesus Christ as a personal savior is essential to this enlightenment. It was also under the guise of Christianity that it had to confront totalitarian systems  ³[dehumanize] uses of power in its sphere of influence (state and church, and [these] systems triumphed under the banner of de-Christianization (Ess ed. 384). Unlike Confucius reformers of their corrupt state pushed the beliefs of the true ideals of Confucius, Christians believed in an  ³Absolute against all absolvi... ...942. Hughes, E. R. and K. Religion in China. Hutchinson's University Library, London; 1950. Kelen, Betty. Confucius: In Life and Legend. Thomas Nelson INC., New York; 1971. King. Hans and ed. Christianity and the World Religions. Doubleday, New York; 1986 McCuen., Gary E. The Religious Right. Hudson, Wisconsin; 1989. O'Briare, S. J. Fifty Years of Chinese Garment. Lutterworth Press, London; 1951. Siu, R. G. H. The Man of Many Qualities: A Legacy of the I Ching. Smith, Huston. The Religions of Man. Harper & Row, New York; 1958 Smith, Howard. Confucius. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York; 1973 Soper, Edmund Davison. The Religions of Mankind. Abingdon Press, New York; 1966. Toynbee, Arnold. Christianity Among the Religions of the World. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York; 1957 Weber, Max. The Religion of China. The Free Press, New York; 1951. Wieger, L. History of Religious Belief and Philosophical Opinions in China. Catholic Mission, Hsein-sein, China; 1927. Yang, C. K. Religion in Chinese Society. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles; 1961. Yutang, Lin. The Wisdom of Confucius. The Modern library, New York; 1938.

Communication and Proffesional Relationships Essay

1 Information from supporting teaching &learning n schools by Louise Burnham To establish respectful, professional relationships with children and young people you should adapt your behaviour and communication accordingly. You should also be able to show that you are approachable and able to work in an environment of mutual support. When working with children or young people, it is important to earn their trust to enable an honest relationship to develop. This can usually be done by ensuring that your behaviour is professional, relationship and fair at all times. Children of all ages, cultures and abilities must feel secure and valued. In order to get these relationships correct from the start you should all discuss rules and how they will be important when working together. Always respect others at the beginning and remember that this is crucial, start by talking about how you are going to work together and what each individual wants out of it. This will enable that you develop a mutually respectful relationship. All of teachers / assistants need to be aware of the kinds of issues which are vital to pupils and always be able to take time in talking these through when necessary. To show children they are part of the school community you should positively communicate and involve pupils. This however is not the same as giving pupils attention when they demand it! HOW TO BEHAVE APPROPRIATELY FOR A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON’S STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT 1.2 Information from supporting teaching & learning in schools by Louise Burnham and internet. Communication with children and young people differs across different age groups and stages of development, which may require varying levels of attention at different times. The younger the child, the more reassurance is required, especially when first starting school. They also may need to have more physical contact as a result. As children become more mature, they may require more help with talking through issues and reflecting their thoughts. For example, in Key stage 1 the manner in which I communicate in is being more adapted, to come down to the child’s level of speaking and repeat what is said for them until it is clearly understood. Where as a child in key stage 3 or 4 the language is used informally and formally depending on their confidence to communicate what they think and as technology as evolved emails and text are used as a form of communication. To have patience, act sensitively and take care with children who have  communication difficulties, as they will need a lot more time to understand and comprehend what the task in hand is. Also to feel a reassurance that they don’t feel pressurized when speaking. Some children or young people may not have many opportunities to speak or may be anxious or nervous. The level of communication is adapted to the needs of the individual. For example, if they have a speech disorder, such as a stammer, which makes it difficult for them to speak aloud, then extra time should be allowed, for them to collect their thoughts. Also trying not to finish their sentences, or guess what they are trying to say, to give the child independence of their speech, to encourage self-esteem and confidence. HOW TO DEAL WITH DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE . 1.3 Disagreements between children and their peers will often happen regularly and teachers or assistants will have to deal with these situations. This can happen in the classroom but is usually in the playground or while having lunch. It is very important for pupils to know that you have listened to their view in what has happened. Always make sure you hear from all sides of the story and find out exactly what has happened from the beginning. Then you should decide whether anyone was in the wrong and if apologies are required or any further steps. For example referral to head teacher. Children and young people should also be able to understand how their own feelings may influence their behaviour and this might have to be discussed. For example saying to a child‘ I understand you are upset today because you could not do baking today’ will help them link between emotion and behaviour. This will able them to understand how to think about others. An effective way of encouraging children to understand and respect others feelings is discussing this as a whole class or making it an activity such as ‘circle time’. Circle time is very effective for older children however very young children may not be able to sit for a length of time and be able to wait for their turn before speaking out. Some schools use strategies such as the restorative justice programme. Which is taken from the criminal justice system and have worked well as a method of resolving behaviour issues.

Role for Physician-assisted Suicide in Cancer - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 11 Words: 3197 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/06/12 Category Law Essay Level High school Topics: Assisted Suicide Essay Did you like this example? A woman suffering from terminal cancer became the first person to die under the law of physician-assisted suicide in Oregon in 1998. The New England Journal of Medicine states that more than 4,000 doctors have approved of the physician assisted suicide law (The Anguish n.pag.). In just the United States, forty-two percent of people have had a friend or relative suffer from a terminal illness (The right n.pag.). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Role for Physician-assisted Suicide in Cancer" essay for you Create order Although cancer is the leading cause of death in terminally ill patients, many other illnesses destroy someones quality of life. Most treatments for terminally ill patients are long, expensive and leave the patient and family in an intense amount of physical and emotional pain. Assisted suicide is frowned upon by some people, these concerns are usually rooted in religious beliefs. In the United States that practice is legal in Oregon, Vermont, Montana, Washington and California. Patients throughout the US with ALS, terminal cancer and paralysis should have the option to receive a lethal dose of prescription medication to die peacefully. ALS is a complex disease that sends the patient into a slow cycle of physical suffering. The disease attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Sometimes early stages of ALS are hard to diagnose because the symptoms fatigue, nausea and muscle weakness can be easily diagnosed as other illnesses (Leveneand Parker n.pag.). Assisted suicide would not be optional for someone in early stages of ALS although each patient progresses differently. It usually takes about five years until patients are in the final stage of the disease. Patients who are considering assisted suicide should start planning when to do it in their third or fourth year. Doctor Lorne Zinman of Health Sciences center states ALS has sort of been at the forefront of the physician assisted death debate because of how awful the disease is(Zinman n.pag.). With the progression and severity of this disease other doctors can agree with Zinman that assisted suicide should be an option to patients with ALS. Physical suffering progresses the later the patient is into the disease. By the final stages patients are usually paralyzed, unable to swallow and breathe on their own. Patients at this stage are usually living off of feeding and breathing tubes. The physical pain arising from complications of the feeding or breathing tube can sometimes cause more pain than the disease itself. Some complications can be UTIrs, pneumonia and even collapsed lungs (Zinman n.pag). Assisted suicide will benefit the patient before reaching the late stages and prevent him or her from suffering the complications along with ALS. These complications can be treated but include serious side effects. The most commonly used treatment for ALS is Ritalek, which has been connected to liver failure. The patient would therefore have a chance to end the suffering before any painful side effects. Many doctors who treat ALS patients have to watch their patient slowly deteriorate, eighty percent of ALS doctors believe t hat in the moderate-severe stages the patient should be eligible for physician assisted suicide (Zinman n.pag.). Physical quality of life may be the number one reason behind some patient requests for assisted suicide but they are also struggling through their emotions. The social and emotional quality of life deteriorates for patients with this disease. Some doctors believe that the patients quality of life is based on psychological factors(Zinman n.pag.). Along with two specialty doctors patients must also be seen by psychiatrists before they are eligible for assisted suicide. It is possible for the patient to have a bad hqol (health quality of life) but a decent QOL (quality of life) (Rummans, Botswick, Clark, n.pag.). Both of these play into the patients needs for assisted suicide. The support system that the patient has plays a big role in the quality of life which can affect them emotionally. This physical and social strain can deeply affect the emotional quality of a patients life. Although ALS patients lose control of their physical and sometimes social abilities, their minds are still competent. Many patients either become over-emotional or not emotional at all. The feeling of not being able to express themselves can be deeply damaging (Weiss et all n.pag.). In this stage the patient may feel extreme loneliness or burdensome and all of this plays into the emotional quality of life. Giving them some kind of control will allow them to feel some peace while living before they pass away , without that control patients could easily start to feel anxious. Anxiety is a common psychological problem developed in patients with ALS. Itrs caused by the feeling of the body slowly shutting down but not knowing exactly when they will die. Assisted suicide could help eliminate this problem by allowing the patient to plan the date of their death (Weiss et all n.pag.). Giving patients control when they die would deeply benefit them, especially since theyve already lost control of their bodies. Anxiety and lack of control can easily manifest into depression. Depression in ALS patients is fairly common especially if the patient is under the age of forty (Cirino n.pag.). Psychiatrists are brought into evaluate the patients depression just in case the patient was depressed before diagnosed although this is usually not the case (Zinman n.pag.). Under certain circumstances, depression can be caused by the profuse amount of medical bills. Costs for terminal illness are extremely expensive and can deeply affect the patients quality of life. For ALS alone, the annual patient cost is $31,000.. This amount is before the final stage where a feeding/breathing tube is introduced (Weiss et all n.pag.). It can be very stressful to the patient spending such an exorbitant amount of money on a terminal disease. Assisted suicide would reduce the costs drastically. A lethal dose of prescription medication for assisted suicide costs between $35-50, while a breathing tube can cost up to ten thousand dollars (Gardner n.pag.). By allowing the patient to receive a lethal dose of medication, the burden of medical bills would be almost nothing on the patient and their family. The family plays a crucial role into the patients life during their illness. Death is hard on loved ones either way, but in many cases the lack of suffering assisted suicide offers the patient is merciful to the family as well. Many patients are required to have counseling sessions with their loved ones, to help with the processing of letting them go. In most cases the patient talks with the family and the family physician before requesting assisted suicide (Zinman n.pag.). Loved ones influence the patients decision critically, but at the end of the day the patient still gets to decide. Families often feel many emotions under these circumstances. In typical suicide cases families often experience anger and abnormal grieving, while in terminal cases assisted suicide often makes the grieving process easier on the family because they have a chance to say goodbye without seeing their loved ones suffer (Zinman n.pag.). Overall the disease takes a toll on the family because of how little the patient can do in the progressing stages. Assisted suicide has been the right alternative for many ALS patients. Betsy Davis, a forty-one year old woman living in Southern California, was diagnosed with ALS and told with her progression she had about six months to live. She talked to her family and decided to exercise Californias law to participate in physician assisted suicide. Betsy decided to embrace this opportunity to die on her own terms by celebrating with her friends and family in an end of life ceremony(California women n.pag). The party she threw had dancing, laughing and one rule: no crying. Betsy became an advocate for assisted suicide in ALS patients because she proved that patients and their families didnt have to spend their time in constant grief (California Women n.pag.).These circumstances are unlike any party you have ever attended before, requiring emotional stamina, centeredness and openness(California Women n.pag.). With this option, Betsy was able to take control of her illness and say goodbye in her o wn way on her own terms. Although ALS is a detrimental disease there are other terminal illnesses to which assisted suicide should be available. Being diagnosed with terminal cancer is one of longest and hardest processes a patient endures. Each patient that is diagnosed with terminal cancer takes the news in a different and personal way. Its hard to imagine the thought process that a patient takes on knowing that s/he is going to die. Certain patients fall into a pit of depression, this is why psychological evaluation is required (Llevene andMichael n.pag.). The level of their depression is based on different factors, the patients support system and family. Depression is extremely common among terminally ill patients, especially those with cancer. Before their request for assisted suicide is approved psychologists work together to determine whether the depression is caused by their terminal illness or if the depression was already present before diagnosed. If a patient is suffering from depression due to his or her terminal cancer, a psychologist will try and help pull the patient out of the depression (Yun et all n.pag.). Some terminally ill patients are at higher risk for depression if they have a past of social stress, addiction, family problems or history of depression (Weiss et all n.pag.). Terminal cancer patients with depression go through different stages of emotions. Common ones include anger, bitterness, grief, loneliness, acceptance and for some peace. Baylor University Medical center states up to seventy-seven percent of terminal cancer patients experience some kind of depression (Cirino n.pag.). The grief and depression pa tients endure can cause more pain than they already have. With assisted suicide patients would receive comfort knowing that they will die in peace. There is no cure for terminal cancer but there are many treatments and medications the patient can receive. The problem with these is that it causes pain medication resistance. Over eighty five percent of terminal cancer patients and oncologists believe in assisted suicide. Their number one reason being pain resistance (Cirino n.pag.). As cancer withers away the body, doctors prescribe more pain medication until they are unable to prescribe anymore and the patient builds up a tolerance to it. Ten percent of terminal cancer patients turn to street drug opiates such as heroin just to decrease their pain (Gardner n.pag.). Allowing the patient to receive a lethal dose of medicine before the cancer reached this stage would give the patient a chance to live without daily pain. Eighty percent of patients suffer in the last six months of their illness with severe pain but only twenty nine percent want to increase medications (The long n.pag.). This is caused by the fear of addiction, being drugged out and increasing tolerance. Overall, medication can be helpful in the beginning stages of terminal cancer. However, many patients would benefit from assisted suicide once they got to a certain point where medication was of no help. The quality of life for cancer patients can vary from patient to patient. Over 75% of patients spend their last days on a morphine drip in the hospital (Gardner n.pag.). This is no quality of life the patient or the patients family wishes. Radiation is another treatment that can prolong life but it comes with serious side effects such as skin irritations, muscle fatigue, nausea and sometimes even radiation poisoning (Rummans n.pag.). These treatments may prolong life two to three months but assisted suicide would be an alternative to patients who dont want to live their last moment in extreme pain. No death is easy on family but with the assisted suicide law cancer patients are able to plan their death, where they want it and who they want with them. This would make saying goodbye easier. By dying in the comfort of their own home the patient would feel more in control and feel less bad for his or her family. Sister of Kay Schellenberg, terminal cancer patient was relieved when my sister finally passed because watching her suffer was the hardest part and knowing that she died in pain broke me (Schellenberg n.pag.). Kays family often believes that if assisted suicide would have been an option at the time both Kay and her family would have had an easier time saying goodbye. Another advocate that became the spokesgirl for assisted suicide was twenty-nine year old Brittany Maynard who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and a prognosis of six months to live. Her and her newly husbands life consisted of doctor visits, medical research and hospital stays which was no life brittany wanted (Griffin n.pag.). With four months left Brittanys doctors offered her the idea of full brain radiation that would give her maybe six more months, this did not appeal to her at all. Full brain radiation horrified her; she was told it would singe her scalp and she would be extremely sick with first degree burns all over her head. After talking with her husband she decided to exercise her right to assisted suicide, she traveled around the country for the next month until she got too sick. After being approved for assisted suicide by two oncologists and a psychiatrist she said goodbye to her family and died peacefully in her home with her husband (Griffin n.pag.). Termin al patients such as Brittany are often the front runners for assisted suicide but other patients that are suffering deserve the right to pass peacefully as well. Patients that suffer an injury causing permanent paralysis go through a long process of learning to adapt to their new lifestyle. Every patient who suffers an injury like this is different. It depends on their personal resources such as home, family life, hobbies and coping style (Levene, Ilana, and Michael Parker n.pag.). For some patients becoming paralyzed is a struggle that they can overcome with a good support system but for others its an ongoing struggle. Assisted suicide should be an option for adults with severe paralysis that have no treatments left. Coping with the initial injury is one of the first steps after becoming paralyzed. Many patients need time to think and consider how their life is changed and if they can live like this, especially if they are considering physician assisted suicide. Paralysis is not a terminal illness but it puts some patients in the same position and mindset as a terminal patient may feel (Levene, Ilana, and Michael Parker n.pag.). Patients with paralysis face getting denied for assisted suicide more than terminally ill patients because they are technically not dying (Levene, Ilana, and Michael Parker n.pag.). Although these patients are not dying, assisted suicide should still be open to them due to the quality of life they are living. Complications are extremely common among patients with paralysis. Some are UTIrs, autonomic dysreflexia, depression and infections (Levene, Ilana, and Michael Parker n.pag.). Before the initial injury, patients may have been healthy all their life. These complications add on to the costs which averages around seventy thousand a year for patients (Burns n.pag.). The burden of healthcare and complications can cause the patient anxiety and depression. Depression in paralysis patients following the initial shock is extremely common. Obviously for some people, depression is part of the healing process and they work through the difficulties of this new life. Rates of depression differ from twenty to forty-four percent of patients depending on their situation. Some psychologists have presented that certain patients depression decreases when they know that they have the option to end life on their own terms (Yun n.pag.). The sense of relief when patients find out they can make a choice is what the option of Assisted suicide gives them. Personal resources play a major role in the patients feelings toward assisted suicide. This ranges from a wide variety of things such as family members, care facilities and the money to afford living as a fully paralyzed person (Levene, Ilana, and Michael Parker n.pag.). The simplest things such as bathing or using the bathroom becomes impossible. This causes the patient to rely on family members or friends which can be inconvenient and embarrassing. The feeling of being trapped inside a body unable to move is a nightmare to any healthy person. Nobody should take the right to die away from patients with paralysis. Tony Nicholson, a fifty eight year old paralyzed man lost his case to assisted suicide. He was a former rugby player and after an accident he was unable to speak or move. His life was described as a nightmare and he described the feeling of being locked in(Burns n.pag.). Pneumonia was a complication Tony endured and although he was not pronounced terminally ill doctors said he would most likely not be able to defeat the pneumonia (Burns n.pag.). He desperately begged the court for the option to request a physicians help to suicide but when he was denied he felt devastated and heartbroken. If assisted suicide more available to patients with paralysis others like Tony would not have to suffer and could put their mind to ease peacefully. Although many people agree that Tony should have had the right to assisted suicide some believe it would have been unethical. Some opponents of assisted suicide challenge the idea by saying doctors are violating the hippocratic oath when they are allowing and supporting the patients wish to take a lethal dose of prescription medication. There are still many doctors today fighting against assisted suicide law by sticking to their hippocratic oath. In Washington DC at the international symposium Dr. Margaret Cottle spoke out, Euthanasia kills the patient twice once when we say, Yes, your life is not worth living, and then when we help him die(St.Clair, Jane n.pag.). Although doctors who believe in assisted suicide are technically violating the hippocratic oath no doctor believes their patients life is not worth living. The oath has been around for thousands of years and should be modified as new technology and diseases are understood (St.Clair n.pag.).. Doing no harm which is one of the first lines in the hippocratic oath does not necessarily mean death, harm can be suffering as well. Doctors number one job i s to treat the patient but when there is no treatment left doctors must be able to understand and accept the patients wishes for assisted suicide. With the amount of suffering terminally ill patients go through, physician-assisted suicide should be an alternative for them. Death is a natural part of life, and patients should have the option to pass peacefully. Euthanasia has been an ethical issue since the beginning of western medicine but as new knowledge grows in the medical field, many doctors are realizing assisted suicide is the ethical option for patients. As human beings, we must put ourselves in the place of the patient or the patients family before we judge someone who is terminally ill and chooses to go through with assisted suicide.