The Controversial Debate On Legalization Of Physician...

The Right to Life (and Death) In 1776, our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, guaranteeing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This brings up the question, if you have the right to life, do you have the right to death? After all, it is your life and no one else’s, right? This is the question at the very center of the controversial debate on the legalization of physician assisted suicide in the United States. Anti-physician assisted suicide groups often argue that no individual truly wants to end their life. However, that statement does not ring true to those who would actually utilize physician assisted suicide- terminally ill patients. Imagine being diagnosed with a terminal disease, followed by months and sometimes years of treatment that brings insufferable side effects due to countless medicines, drugs and surgeries only to be told that you have a minimal chance of survival and will have to undergo treatment for the rest of your life. This is the bleak reality for many who are terminally ill. A compassionate individual would conclude that it is not fair for patients to be forced to live this kind of life or lack thereof, if they do not wish to do so. Physician assisted suicide should be a legal option to competent, terminally ill patients in the United States in order to end their suffering, reduce the damaging financial effects of hospital costs on their loved ones and families and to preserve the individual right of people to determine theirShow MoreRelatedSince The Fifteen Century, Society Has Viewed Suicide Or1178 Words   |  5 PagesSince the fifteen century, society has viewed suicide or intentional death as immoral. It was not until the twentieth century that these â€Å"immoral† attitudes were challenged. As of 2016, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Colombia have unambiguously legalized direct assisted dying. Other areas, having to undergo a process of either a judicial or legislative decision, include Canada, Japan, and Germany. Currently in the United States, following the same process of a judicial or legislative processesRead 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 MoreEuthanasia Is The Act Of Killing Someone1284 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia is the act of killing someone that is very sick or injured in to prevent a painful suffering in life. One type of euthanasia is physician-assisted suicide, which is the use of a particular medicine given to a patient by a doctor to cause a peaceful death. This a very controversial topic when it comes to the subject of terminal or severe illnesses such as cancer and dementia. Brittany Maynard is a well-known example of person who took her own live under Oregon’s aid-in-dying law due toRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide1418 Words   |  6 Pagesresult in patients giving up on life, physician-assisted suicide should be legalized in all fifty states for terminally ill patients with worsening or unbearable pain. What is physician-assisted suicide? â€Å"Suicide is the act of taking ones own life. In assisted suicide, the means to end a patient’s life is provided to the patient (i.e. medication or a weapon) with knowledge of the patients intention† (American Nurses Association). Physician-assisted suicide is known by many names such as deathRead MoreShould Physician Assisted Suicide Be Allowed?895 Words   |  4 PagesShould physicians be allowed to help patients determine the timing and circumstances of their death? The â€Å"right to die† debate is a very sensitive and complex issue in modern culture. While suicide is a legal act in the United States, assisted suicide is not. Opinions on the subject are shaped by countless factors such as ethical issues, social issues, and primarily religious issues. Many people are opposed to the legalization of physician assisted suicide for â€Å"moral† reasons, however, legalizationRead MoreAssisted Suicide And The Death W ith Dignity Act803 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) occurs when a physician facilitates a patient’s death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act (e.g. the physician provides sleeping pills and information about the lethal dose, while aware that the patient may commit suicide). [Carter, 2015]. According to Death with Dignity.org, Oregon, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington and California along with Montana who administrated the Death with DignityRead MoreLegalizing Assistive Suicide1278 Words   |  5 PagesAssistive suicide, also known as euthanasia, â€Å"is suicide committed by someone with assistance from others, typically to end suffering from a severe physical illness† (American Heritage Dictionary, 615). This action is most commonly committed between doctor and patient interactions. This controversial issue depicts suicides as a helpful solution to personally benefit terminally ill patients, as opposed to a forbidden so cial issue. Assistive suicide has become a major debate of legalization. â€Å"This isRead MorePersuasive Essay Pro Euthanasia954 Words   |  4 PagesGrace (JiEun) Lee AP Language and composition Persuasive essay 6 October 2017 Euthanasia legalization The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival. Aristotle Being one of the most fervid and controversial topic of all, euthanasia, also known as physician-assisted suicide, has initiated a very sensitive discussion on life and death under one’s ability to choose either side. Euthanasia is defined as a â€Å"the act or practice of killingRead MoreShould Die And Die?1214 Words   |  5 Pagesfirst degree because he helped a patient kill himself. The issue of The Right to Die is so controversial because due to people s different opinions about whether or not someone can kill themselves almost 10,000 people wanting to kill themselves each year but only around 3,800 carried out (Wolf). Legalizing assisted suicide was introduced when a patient wanted to kill himself but Legalizing assisted suicide would have drastic public policy implications. The question whether some citizens (doctors)Read MoreLegalizing Physician Assisted Suicide And Active Euthanasia843 Words   |  4 PagesU.S. over whether or not to authorize physician-assisted su icide and active euthanasia has reached new levels of vehemence. Oregon, California, Vermont, and Washington (and Montana, via court ruling) have become the first states to legalize physician-assisted suicide. There has, too, been campaigning, ballot measures, bills, and litigation in other states in attempts to legalize one or both practices. Supporters increasingly urge either absolute legalization or another form of legitimation, through