Physician Assisted Suicide Argumentative Essay

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Today throughout the medical world, there has been a highly controversial topic to preserve life, and never to take life. Some people believe it's okay to end the suffering of those with a terminal illness with no cure and no hope of recovery out a position of being humane. In the following paragraphs, I will explain the views of those for and against Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS). Pages one and two will provide arguments of those in favor of PAS, and pages three and four will be of arguments of those in opposition to PAS. Having excruciating pain everyday sounds terrifying, and not a pleasant life to live. The life of those with a terminal illness can be full of depression, many tears, and psychological distress. PAS involves …show more content…

Soldiers in the armed forces fight for life everyday, and surgeons undergo surgeries to save lives. Although, with the rise in requests for Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) it can feel like the sanctity of life is being harmed. Several people who oppose PAS see it as murder, and question whether it should be legal. There’s fear that Physician-aid-in dying has the potential of becoming an ethical slippery slope. People who are in distress, but are not terminally ill, may also want the offer of assisted death. It raises the question of where does this stop and who will decide when Physician-aid-in dying is permitted. Another argument is that good palliative care can; help control pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. With this many believe the option of PAS wouldn’t be chosen, and is unnecessary. Infact, some would even say it is the physician's job to keep the sick from harm and injustice. The Hippocratic oath declares “I will keep the sick from harm and injustice. I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.” When physicians make the choice to assist in suicide many see it as the opposite of compassion and caring. One of the reasons people oppose PAS is because they feel it violates human dignity and equality before the law. This means that the government should take the steps needed to prevent anyone from feeling devalued as a human, and killed. Religion also is a key reason why most people are on the opposing side. Those who believe in a God think that killing someone goes against the purpose for that person's life, and that it belongs to God alone to control the times of when someone lives and dies. Another viewpoint of people that oppose PAS, is that doctors often make mistakes. Mistakes can happen, and sometimes doctors make them. The Journal of the American Medical Association states that the third leading cause of death is due to medical errors, “2,000

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