Arguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide One hundred of those surveyed cited lack of knowledge as a barrier to their ability to control pain. There are fundamental physician-related barriers that stand in the way of providing appropriate and compassionate care to the dying. How can we let doctors decide on end-of-life care when they are incompetent in this area (Levine 2012, p.121)? We must protect the patient and the value of life and not let the doctor decide what is