Another disadvantage of euthanasia is that it may cause insurance companies to recommend against pricier and more extensive treatments for critical patients in favor of the cheaper option of euthanasia, according to Messerli. Additionally, patients may miraculously recover from otherwise critical condition due to human spirit, medical advances in terms of treatment and medicine or both.
The final disadvantage of euthanasia is that it places even more power in the hands of a doctor who is completely trusted by most in his care. If the doctor of a critical patient recommends physician-assisted suicide, the patient and his family are likely to believe that this is the only option. Giving doctors the ability to play God in such a way may preclude patients from seeking other opinions from other physicians and subsequently seeking euthanasia when there may be other treatment options that are available, according to Joe Messerli.