The Pros And Cons Of Physician Assisted Suicide

Disguised as Mercy

He is suffering from a terminal illness. He is bed ridden and in pain. You have heard the statistics and all the unpleasant details- you know that small cell lung cancer is incurable, but all you can do is helplessly watch him suffer. For all its advances, modern medicine has failed him with its lack of a cure or even relief from the suffering. There is such a small chance for your loved one’s survival. The only hope there seems to be is that death will overcome him and relieve him from his suffering. But death continues to evade him. And he continues to suffer.

She is in a coma. It’s no terminal illness, but she has been unresponsive for a long time. Almost six months ago, she had a stroke and lapsed into unconsciousness…she

never woke up. You have been told that there is only a slight chance that she will ever wake from her coma, so you wait.
Death. We all must face the fact that it comes for every man. But is it our right to decide when and how death takes us into eternity?
Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally and painlessly ending a life.

It is also known as Mercy Killing. In most cases, it is at the request of the patient. But when it’s not asked for by the patient and, instead, someone else decides, say for a coma patient, it is called passive euthanasia. There is also the prospect of physician-assisted suicide. The difference between the two is that physician-assisted suicide specifically has the backing of a controlling, legal authority.

As of this moment, Belgium and the Netherlands are the only countries to have legalized euthanasia. And currently in the United States, Oregon, Washington, California, Vermont, Montana and the District of Columbia have legalized physician-assisted suicide.

At the moment, these methods of death are offered primarily to those with terminal illnesses. But is it wrong to respond to a terminal diagnosis with “how about you kill yourself?” Of course, that’s not how you would comfort someone who is ill. You would rather present that the next couple months are going to be very painful; that there is little chance that he will survive the illness; and that he will die anyway so why not die with some dignity… You would offer a quicker and easier

death.
If you listen to an advocate for euthanasia, you will often find the phrases “right to die”, “end of life options”, and “death with dignity.” These are merely terms used to dress up euthanasia and assisted suicide and make them look acceptable. “Death with Dignity” merely implies that one cannot obtain honor in death. Yet what rule book ever said that a patient can’t find their own dignity? ‘End of life options’ suggests that life is no longer the option. At what point did we decide that we didn’t want to find a way to live? And a “right to die”? It is only a concept that is based on the idea that a human being is entitled to end their own life. When someone wants to die, something is wrong and they are not using reason when making this decision. Those proposing legalization of suicide and euthanasia are taking advantage of the tunnel vision of a patient who cannot see past the pain that plagues him.

Euthanasia may not be one of the leading factors of death in the United States- but suicide is the tenth, and the first for my generation. Suicide? I’ve mentioned physician-assisted suicide, but suicide in general is a very different topic. However, in both cases, they are suffering- mentally or physically, it shouldn’t matter! Being suicidal and reaching out with the intent of killing oneself should not be met with assistance, but instead, help should be acquired for the one suffering. If someone, even a random stranger, confesses that he feels the need to kill himself, you should automatically seek someone who can remind him that there is more to life than this pain that he is feeling and that his life means something and has value.
I understand that you want to relieve your loved one from the pain. But I would like to remind you that no one wants to die. He may wish for an escape from the pain, but death is a very permanent cure for a terminal illness. Instead, be with him, support and love him. A little love goes a long way. If he is going to die, celebrate the life he lived. Value his last moments here on earth and thank God for his time with you. And leave what ‘is’ in God’s will. Psalms 34:17 says “[The righteous] cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.”
At this moment, euthanasia may not be a serious issue in America; but I promise you that the day is coming when another Roe v. Wade trial reaches the Supreme Court, dragging up medically assisted suicide with it. We have all heard the statistics on abortion; before the 70’s, did we have any clue how catastrophic legalizing abortion would be? Just think for a moment on how the situation will be if euthanasia is legalized nationally. It’s true that guidelines have been placed on physician-assisted suicide in the United States: currently, U.S. law requires that the patient be a resident of the state and terminally ill, they must ask for the procedure, and there must be a doctor willing to prescribe the pill that will end the patient’s life. The safeguards outlined in the laws made by the acts that those five states have passed are strict. But what stops the same people who put these laws into practice from changing them and allowing easier access to voluntary death?
We don’t have to search for long to see what consequences will ensue if euthanasia does pass. As previously mentioned, Belgium and the Netherlands have legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide. They have seen to it that multiple groups can obtain these procedures; it is no longer reserved for the terminally ill elders, but infants with terminal illnesses and even those who have been diagnosed as mentally ill are open to assistance as well. Ever since euthanasia has been legalized, these nations have reportedly seen multiple cases of doctors literally killing their patients without consent with little to no repercussions. Since the Netherlands legalized euthanasia in 2002, these countries have descended down a slippery slope. And it is one we must not let the United States follow.
By allowing legalized death, we endanger the respect for human life, particularly concerning the defenseless. And through assisting in suicide, we disregard our judgement on self-destructive behavior which is often a cry for help. We will only weaken ourselves and become vulnerable in ways that will only end in tragedy. Instead of forming a group full of disabled and dying that we only see as weak and expendable, we need to remember that we are just as frail and just as likely to die in the next moment. Also, we should recall how much the world has been improved by people who are disabled mentally and physically, such examples would be: Stephen Hawking with ALS, Albert Einstein who had autism, and Helen Keller who was blind and deaf- and there are so many others. We have been greatly influenced by those that, in general, are seen as mostly nuisances.
With this in mind, we also need to accept that pain is a part of life. We need to bring the world’s focus to a place of hope that is centered on God and His Will. And we need to reinforce the ideas of contentment- to be happy with what we are given. It is important that we reinforce the awareness that we are here for a purpose and not just to suffer fruitlessly or even to freely enjoy our lives.
Life is sacred. And we all must resolve to protect it.