Euthanasia In Hispanic Culture

            Data taken from the state of Oregon between the years of 1998 and 2010 strongly indicates that almost every person to opt for physician assisted suicide in Oregon has been Caucasian (of the total 525 cases, 514 have been Caucasian). The Oregon population is 83.6% Caucasian so these results do not match the population distribution. This could lead one to assume that in other racial groups there might be motives for rejecting the practice of physician assisted suicide. Oregon’s current population is 11.7% Hispanic. Only .4% of the participants of physician assisted suicide were Hispanic so it becomes apparent that per capita Hispanics are not opting for physician assisted suicide at the same rate as other racial groups (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). The question one must ask in response to this data is why this number is so much lower than expected. This discrepancy could possibly be explained by looking at the religious profile of the Hispanic population in America.

            More than 90% of the Spanish-speaking world identifies as Roman Catholic and this religious affiliation carries over to the Hispanic population in the United States (Clutter and Ruben). The Catholic Church’s public stand on euthanasia and physician assisted suicide maintains that both are the moral equivalent to murder. It is considered murder not only on the part of the physician assisting with the act but additionally on the part of the person who is essentially committing suicide. “According to Catholic teaching, suicide or self-murder is gravely immoral for basically the same reasons that murder is wrong” (Catholic Insight, 2006). It appears likely that the strong presence of Roman Catholicism in the Hispanic culture would render individuals much less likely to undergo physician assisted suicide or euthanasia because both would, according to Catholic doctrine, be prohibited. It is possible that the elderly in Hispanic communities would reject both practices even if the alternative was prolonged pain and a decrease in the quality of life. It is clear to me that further research regarding how religious demographics impact the rate of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide is called for.

Clutter, Ann W., and Ruben D. Nieto. "Understanding the Hispanic Culture." Ohioline. The Ohio State University Extension. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5237.html

"Euthanasia Part I: Catholic Doctrine." Catholic Insight. 3 Dec. 2006. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. http://catholicinsight.com/online/political/euthanasia/article_318.shtml

Oregon Health Authority. Public Health. Oregon.gov. 7 Jan. 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. http://public.health.oregon.gov/ProviderPartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/index.aspx.

United States of America. U.S. Census Bureau. Oregon Quick Facts. 17 Jan. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/41000.html.