Argumentative Essay: Physician Assisted Suicide

Madison Bowdish
Mrs. Clark
CP English 10
4 April 2014
Their Choice
He died in 2012, six days after a high panel of judges in England denied him his request for help in ending his life. Tony Nicklinson, a fifty-eight year old man suffered from locked-in syndrome, where people lose motor function but are still awake and aware. He was depressed and angered about having everyone do everything for him and not having the ability to speak (Burns). What would you choose: a slow degrading demise like Tony or ending on your own terms with dignity? Preferably leaving this world with self-respect. Euthanasia hails from the Greek word meaning “good death,” but the explanation of the word is ‘the act or practice of killing someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent anymore suffering’ (“Facts”). It is crucial for people to have their own decision about life or death. Euthanasia needs to be legalized. Indeed euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide, is legal in four states. Oregon was the first to legalize it on November 8th, 1994 by a 51% majority vote. Following that was Washington on November 4th, 2008 with a 58% majority vote, Montana on December 31st, 2009 by a 5-4 vote, and more recently Vermont on May 20th, 2013 with Act 39. All of these states have the same requirements.

In most countries, there is a shortage of health resources. So, if we allowed people to use euthanasia, it would open up valuable resources. Some patients who are ill and could be salvaged are not able to get quick access to the facilities they need for treatment. While at the same time, incurable people who would prefer not to keep living are using scarce health resources. Having the option of euthanasia to these people would open up health resources to people who actually wish to live (BBC “in favor”). We need to legalize euthanasia so both patient and economy can