I also steer people away from Tylenol and toward NSAIDs when possible because of the potential (though generally unlikely) risk of liver damage.
What I'm trying to argue is that "one step away from death" is a state we too-often in American medicine treat as hum-drum.
For the overwhelming majority of patients, you simply fall asleep, avoid discomfort, and then go on with your life. Weighing that against the risks of a traumatic or very painful wakeful experience is not trivial.