Physician Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legalized

Minerva Villarreal GOVT 2306 Eric Lundin 8 April 2016 What Defines Dignity? It is alarming that in 2013, there were eight patients from Oregon who died from lethal medication they were prescribed one to two years prior (Annual Reports). In order to receive a prescription, a patient must have a terminal illness along with a prognosis of less than six months. Physician-assisted suicide should not be legalized because not only is it unethical overall, but it leads to a slippery slope regarding normalized euthanasia, and power wrongfully resting in the hands of someone else to decide another person’s time of death. It is understandable that one person can go through sufficient amounts of serious pain that they would consider death. There are†¦show more content†¦If the first oral request is accepted, there must at least be a 15 day period until they make the second oral request. A written request then proceeds after the oral ones in which at least one of two witnesses required must be unrelated. In a measly waiting period of 48 hours, the patient can then pick up their prescription from a pharmacy (Death with Dignity). After a patient has possession of his or her lethal dose of medication, they can wait as long as they would like to consume it. Although not required to consume the medication at all, if a patient lives past their prognosis, it makes the Death with Dignity Act seem even more unfavorable. The whole purpose of the Death with Dignity Act is to allow terminally ill patients who are suffering greatly to take control of when they would like to go into their peaceful inevitable death instead of being taken by surprise. Although some may see physician-assisted suicide as a more peaceful means to end their suffering, the process can be taken advantage of, undermining the laws that allow for it. Instead of calling physician-assisted suicide what it actually is, its supporters would rather call it â€Å"Death with Dignity.† Such an act can be found in five states including Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, and Montana. The difference between Montana and the other four states is that it is only legally allowed on a case-by-case basis (Death with Dignity). The first time the Death with Dignity Act took effect was in Physician Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legalized Physician assisted suicide is legal but it is always subject to change. How does this make you feel? Do you agree with this choice or not? There are only 4 states in the U.S. that makes this legal. Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Vermont are the only states that have made this legal in the U.S. People are actually putting their lives into someone else’s hand who mind you gets paid for what they are doing. They are letting someone who is getting paid to do what they are doing decide if they live or not. Physician assisted suicide should not be legalized in any of the 50 states. Euthanasia is the practice of ending a human life with that person s consent, voluntary stopping of eating and drinking, and physician assisted suicide invites compromise among caregivers or family member who might have economic or otherwise selfish interests in ending another’s life. Physician assisted suicide is a procedure when a physician intentionally and knowingly gives lethal dru gs to their patients at their request. Physician assisted suicide invites compromise among caregivers and or family members who may be struggling financially or have other selfish interest in ending another life. A family member may get a great amount of money from someone’s death. These individuals also may inherit valued things when that person passes. The may inherit things such as a car or a house that they just get handed to them with no payments or mortgage. And no matter how sinful suicide mayShow MoreRelatedPhysician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized1487 Words   |  6 Pagesthat physician assisted suicide should be legalized in the case of a chronic illness, where the patient must take a large amount of drugs to heal themselves and or to subdue pain, and where the patient is living a life that is less fulfilling, or diluted, from their life before. Physician assisted suicide can be to patients who are suffering and wish to end their life, with the help of a physician so the patient could feel more comfortable or safer. As mentioned in class, physician assisted suicideRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legalized905 Words   |  4 PagesPhysician-assisted suicide is when a terminally ill patient requested a physician to facilitate the patient death by providing the necessary lethal dose of a drug which enables the patient to perform the life-ending act. Provided that, Physician assisted suicide has been part of the debate about improving end-of-life care for terminally ill patients for decades. As a result, physician assisted suicide may be viewed morally wrong by some people, but morally permissible by another. Even though, physicianRead MoreShould Physician Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?1426 Words   |  6 PagesPhysician assisted suicide is also known as assisted suicide. It is a very controversial procedure. It is not favored by many. However, in present day society is little bit inclined towards assisted suicide. There is ongoing debate on the legalization of assisted suicide. The main reason to oppose of assisted suicide is the fear of mistreatment of the patient, abuse of power and so on. In contrary, many see assisted suicide as a way to decrease pain in the end of life. Read MorePhysician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized1181 Words   |  5 Pagesenduring the pain because it would be illegal to kill you. A survey taken in the United States has shown that 54% agree to physician assisted suicide or euthanasia. Euthanasia preserves rights of an individual, brings an end to the pain, and provides death with dignity. Even though others may disagree and say that its religiously incorrect, physician assisted suicide should be legalized. In the United States, we have certain human rights and that includes the right to choose to end our lives. UnderRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized943 Words   |  4 Pagesto commit suicide, but his mom resuscitated him both times. Therefore, Danny decided to starve himself to end his suffering once and for all (Grimminck). People such as Danny, cancer, and ALS patients, who are battling terminal illnesses, deserve the right to choose when enough is enough. Physician assisted suicide should be legalized because it’s the compassionate thing to do, people deserve autonomy and because it is a better alternative. People may argue that physician assisted suicide is wrongRead MoreShould Physician Assisted Suicide be Legalized?1343 Words   |  6 PagesPhysician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized? Should people have the right to kill themselves if they’re on the verge of dying? People are allowed to kill themselves in everyday life, so why can’t a person who knows that there is no way he will be able recover from his illness choose to end his life on his own terms? Many people don’t support and agree with assisted suicide. Even though many people don’t believe in physician assisted suicide, there are people suffering when they shouldn’t haveRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized2000 Words   |  8 PagesIs it appropriate for an individual to end their life through physician-assisted suicide in developed countries, specifically in the United States? Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is the voluntary termination of one’s own life by the administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. The assistance of a physician for a terminally ill patient to commit their own suicide, has been a much debated topic in developed countries. It is a much bigger topic in developedRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legalized1194 Words   |  5 Pagessubject of legalizing physician-assisted suicide is hotly debated these days. There have been many high profile cases including Dr. Jack Kevorkian in the 90’s to the young Oregonian Brittany Maynard who ended her life just this year. Physician-assisted suicide is currently legal in Oregon, Washington, and Montana. However, even where legal, it is unethical for medical professionals to engage in assisting patients to end their lives. There are many good alternatives to physician-assisted death availableRead MorePhysician Assisted Sui cide Should Not Be Legalized2412 Words   |  10 Pagesmonths. Physician-assisted suicide should not be legalized because not only is it unethical overall, but it leads to a slippery slope regarding normalized euthanasia, and power wrongfully resting in the hands of someone else to decide another person’s time of death. It is understandable that one person can go through sufficient amounts of serious pain that they would consider death. There are not a great amount of options one can take, but one in particular is physician-assisted suicide. AccordingRead MoreEuthanasia/Physician Assisted Suicide Should Not be Legalized1343 Words   |  6 Pagesforget how euthanasia murdered that beloved man, my grandfather. Euthanasia/Physician assisted suicide should not be legalized in the United States. The definition of murder is â€Å"killing intentionally and with premeditation†, how is euthanasia any different? (Miller) Not only is it morally wrong, but logically and ethically as well. Human life is not anyone’s to take and destroying it is devaluing a gift given to us. â€Å"Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death among Americans† and making it lawful would