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Pros and cons of assisted physician suicide
Assisted Suicide Pros
Pros and cons of physician assisted suicide
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Assisted suicide and euthanasia are phenomena developed in the past 20 years. They’re similar to each other because they both have to do with taking away another human being’s life. While assisted suicide is defined as the act of providing a drug prescription or lethal dosage to a patient by a physician and the person can decide when to take the dosage, euthanasia is the practice of killing a sick individual where a physician takes an active part on the process. PAS and euthanasia are legal in Belgium, Colombia, India, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Oregon, Washington , Montana and Vermont. For years a debate on assisted death has been going on. There are groups who believe it should not be charged as murder and there are others who believe it should. In this essay the reader will be introduced to some of the main reasons why a government pass a law to make them [PAS and euthanasia] legal. Assisted death should not be legalized because there are cases when it is hard to determine if it is murder or assisted suicide. This, because it is very similar to homicide. The difference between them lies on the reasons which push someone to end another person’s life. The Kenneth Minor case is one of the most popular cases in which the difficulty to make the difference between a murder and assisted suicide has grabbed the public’s attention. In 2009, Minor, a drug addict with criminal records, insisted he helped Jeffrey Locker, a public speaker, to commit suicide in order for his family to get nearly $16 million in insurance policies. Locker’s dead body had been stabbed to death. Minor even claimed he held the knife while Locker thrust his chest upon the knife. Then evidence came out that Locker had faced economic problems befor... ... middle of paper ... ... each other that life’s worth living and worth fighting for. They should never deal with the problem of suffering by eliminating those who suffer. The legalization of physician assisted suicide and euthanasia is a big step. Actually, it is a huge freedom. The problem with it is that human society is not ready to deal with such liberation. Statistics have shown that humans find it hard to manage it. Doctors might abuse with their power, individuals might make a wrong decision and things might get out of hand. If this happens some of the possible consequences are the death of thousands of patients by involuntary euthanasia, the abuse of vulnerable people or a damaged doctor- patient relationship. Does the society need to take this risk when the history of the past years shows that the assisted death procedure does not function properly? Are the people ready for this?
Assisted suicide and euthanasia is a controversial issue all over the world, and it leads to debate as to whether or not an individual should be allowed to decide the moment and form of one’s death, along with the
This issue has become a central concern to the medical profession, legislators, philosophers, social psychologists, as well as the public. Interests in this controversial matter continue to grow increasingly whether it should be legalized. Perhaps everyone would have one's own thought and opinion. Nevertheless, assisted death is never a proper expression of compassion. It shows no care for the patients.
Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide has been a hot topic of debate for quite some time now. Some believe it to be immoral, while others see nothing wrong with it what so ever. Regardless what anyone believes, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should become legal for physicians and patients. Death is a personal situation in life. By government not allowing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide they are interfering and violating patient’s personal freedom and human rights! Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have the power to save the lives of family members and other ill patients. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should become legal however, there should be strict rules and guidelines to follow and carry out by both the patient and physician. If suicide isn’t a crime why should euthanasia and assisted suicide? Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should be legal and the government should not be permitted to interfere with death.
As the years go by our society advances in all fields. As a result, we as a society have come to question many elements in our lives by comparing them to longstanding morals and traditions. The medical fields has always, and probably will always, raise many controversial issues. The latest concerns whether euthanasia or physician assisted suicide should be universally legalized in the U.S. Those opposed see that there are other alternatives other than taking a person’s own life, with the help of a doctor. Not only are they essential to incorporate into the options for people experiencing terminal illnesses, legalization would allow an overall upgrade in combating abuse with this treatment, at the same time, people are thoroughly against the
Imagine a scenario where you’re in tremendous pain and you want to end the pain before death comes over you. Even if you wanted to make that choice, the government of the United States has already made this choice for you by illegalizing what is called assisted suicide. There are 3 different kinds of suicide involving the assistance of others; assisted suicide, euthanasia and passive euthanasia, and mercy killing, these came to be a hot topic during the 1990s when doctors and nurses started going to jail because of helping their patients kill themselves, not for financial gain but because it was the humane and just thing to do(Ackerman). As a human we are given the right to life as an infant, so shouldn’t by default we be given the right to die? Assisted suicide should be legal for many reasons, because of our freedoms and liberties, to lessen the amount of end of life pain and to save money.
People have their own beliefs on certain topics like abortion, right to die assisted-suicide, and the stand your ground laws. These beliefs are either conservative or liberal. Liberal thinkers believe that a woman has the right to do whatever she wants to do with her body and that a person has the right to die if they want to. Conservative thinkers believe that a baby is a human being and that a loved one or doctor should not help a loved one kill itself. I am on the conservative side for these different types of murders:abortion,right to die assisted-suicide,and stand your ground laws. We in America have our freedom and we can do almost anything we want, but just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should do it for example
To die with dignity is everyone wish. Euthanasia is the practice of ending a life that releases the person from an incurable disease. It’s a quiet, easy and painless death. This can be done by doctors on patient’s wish. Previously, doctor was the person who treating the patient as companion. Now a doctor is person who cure the disease, but will not be companion always. What will never show sign of change is patient’s unbearable pain. Many times there is nothing a specialist can do to cure disease, except to wait for death of a patient. This make the patient and surrounding them to suffer. Thus to consent to euthanasia makes an individual free from increasing suffer, less economic burden and feel glad on self-choice.
In conclusion, euthanasia and assisted suicide should be legalized world wide. To end suffering, to keep one’s autonomy and their desire to perform daily actions, and to prevent the fear of burdening loved ones are among many reasons people resort to euthanasia or assisted suicide. A doctor is morally obligated to relieve the pain and suffering of a patient, and no one should be forced to suffer for any length of time. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are intimate procedures that only concern the involved parties. People have a right to choose how their life is lived, so they should have the same right to choose how to end their life.
So one is going about your business, doing your normal routine and it’s time for a doctor’s visit. You go in there, the doctor performs his regular examine and sends you home. The next phone call you get from your doctor is a tragic one. They have just diagnosed you with a disease that has a low survival rate. And so begins the medical treatments. These treatments could last weeks, months, or years, during which you will face some of the most difficult choices. Some of our family members or friends have heard these words before and unfortunately doctors can only do so much to help, and the cost of treatments are on the rise. According to the NY Times, you could be paying up to a million dollars in one year just to pay for treatments, drugs,
The PEW research group did a large study that got statistic data to support or refute assisted suicide. There were many studies and polls performed to look at the different views on assisted suicide.
When it comes to the topic of assisted suicide, most of us will agree that this is a very complicated debate.Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of assisted suicide being a crime. Whereas some are convinced that assisted suicide is a reasonable matter, others maintain that it is manslaughter.
According to most state laws assisted suicide is illegal. An assisted suicide is a form of murder since the doctor administers a lethal dose of medication to the patients. Therefore, a doctor who has performed this act should receive the jail sentence of a murderer. Some people believe that these doctors are not performing anything illegal and that they should continue their practices. This group of people believe in euthanasia, meaning an easy and painless death or a peaceful manner of dying (Webster 631). This includes committing suicide when the person is fully competent but wishes to end his life as a result of the pain that he must endure every day. Committing suicide is viewed by its opponents as an act of cowardice that many people perform because they do not want to deal with their problems in life. This type of action should be dealt with immediately. A study shows that one-fifth of all doctors and nurses have actively helped end a patient’s life (Van Biema 2). This is not a promising statistic for the future of America. One out of every five doctors has helped a person escape his life.
Today assisted suicide is no longer illegal. However, it is forbidden in forty-five of fifty states. One of the only legislation explicitly allowing assisted suicide is Oregon's Death with Dignity act, which allows doctors and physicians to assist terminally ill patients to end their own lives. I believe that assisted suicide should be permitted in at least half of the states because I don’t think assisted suicide is bad, while other people misunderstand it. Many people see suicide or assisted suicide as instinctive, they then think that it would be an act of freedom and assume there are no legal prohibitions. To clarify this topic we will first define assisted suicide and under what circumstances it should be practiced. Then discuss the history of assisted suicide and finally how it has evolved into today.
Throughout the course of history, death and suffering have been a prominent topic of discussion among people everywhere. Scientists are constantly looking for ways to alleviate and/or cure the pain that comes with the process of dying. Treatments typically focus on pain management and quality of life, and include medication and various types of therapy. When traditional treatments are not able to eliminate pain and suffering or the promise of healing, patients will often consider euthanasia or assisted suicide. Assisted suicide occurs when a person is terminally ill and believes that their life is not worth living anymore. As a result of these thoughts and feelings, a physician or other person is enlisted to “assist” the patient in committing suicide. Typically this is done by administering a lethal overdose of a narcotic, antidepressant or sedative, or by combining drugs to create an adverse reaction and hasten the death of the sick patient. Though many people believe that assisted suicide is a quick and honorable way to end the sufferings of a person with a severe illness, it is, in fact, morally wrong. Assisted suicide is unethical because it takes away the value of a human life, it is murder, and it opens the door for coercion of the elderly and terminally ill to seek an untimely and premature death. Despite the common people’s beliefs, assisted suicide is wrong and shouldn’t be legalized.
Thousands of people nationwide suffer with a terminal disease that inevitably will end their life. Many live day by day in unremitting pain with fear, aware that because of their illness they soon will take their last breathe. A sum of these people/patients ask for the choice to avoid death from their disease and instead choose when to go on their own terms and in peace with the help of their physicians before the disease takes them.This choice is called assisted suicide, it is a form of euthanasia, a procedure by which a physician provides the means for death, most often with a prescription or through lethal medication. It is a very controversial topic and many issues arise with it, some including ethical debates, as many who don’t agree