Physician Assisted Suicide Speech

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What would you do if you only had a month left to live? Although hypothetical, the question often rings true for those who have a terminal illness. Everyone is going to die, the only factor that changes that is the matter of time. Often times, people view death as a painful loss, and while that is true, it can sometimes instead be viewed as the end of one's suffering. A death can have several consequences, and therefore many people debate the issue of whether those who are terminal should be able to cut their lives short. American health standards do not allow the practice of physician-assisted-suicide, but many people think it should legal, while others disagree. Assisted suicide is the act of directly intervening in order to end the life …show more content…

They feel as though they are burdens to their family. Arguments say that if we allow assisted suicide, then those who are dying will feel pressured to kill themselves, as it would be a viable alternative to trying to survive. An article from the Nevada newspaper said that people would feel pressured into killing themselves. Assisted suicide is a much safer alternative. If we do not legalize assisted suicide, then we are not getting rid of suicides, rather getting rid of safe ones. Independent.com said that, ¨lonely suicides or botched attempts, ghastly pilgrimages to Switzerland for those who can afford them and are still fit enough to travel, slow death by starvation and dehydration, and amateur assistance from loved ones who face the possibility of prosecution and the place where they said goodbye to their loved one turned into a crime scene.¨ Suicides are very dangerous and therefore by offering the safer alternative, people feel more at ease. We have to remember that these suicides are for the disabled and for those who will not survive and wish not to suffer. On the other hand, many different religions …show more content…

There have been reports of non-consensual assisted suicides in the Netherlands, where the practice is legal(CBS.com). The Netherlands became the first country to legalize assisted suicide back in 2002, and now assisted suicide counts for 4.5 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands. It is becoming increasingly common. "It looks like patients are now more willing to ask for euthanasia and physicians are more willing to grant it," said lead author Dr. Agnes Van der Heide of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam. Reports say that ninety-two percent of these people had terminal illness or problems that came with old age, such as dementia or Parkinson's Disease. About one-third of these people were over the age of eighty. The other eight percent consists of those who are mentally and physically competent and simply asked for help to die. Asking for assisted suicide is also seen as a ´cry for help´ as said in the article ´A Flawed and Dangerous Law´. But the states that allow assisted suicide require that patients be mentally competent and sure of their decision. In Oregon, they must wait fifteen days after the initial request in case the patient changes their mind. They require several witnesses to the event and requires multiple signatures from different people. With the safety measures in place, they can ensure that the patient

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