Constructive Argument
Generally the thoughts of death are taboo and death is seen as a terrible part of life. Most people fear death as it brings an uncertainty—both for what is to come after life and for how death will occur. An individual who has a terminal illness faces the questions surrounding death as doctors state that this person does not have long to live. While this person suffers through an immense amount of physical and psychological pain, doctors are required to keep the individual alive. In many cases when people are terminally ill and close to death, doctors go to extremes to keep them alive; even if it means keeping them alive artificially. When a physician cannot relieve extreme pain and suffering in a patient, and a patient’s …show more content…
In the states that it has been legalized (Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Montana, and New Mexico), the procedure has been practiced safely and only a small percentage of people make the decision to follow through with it. Since the law was passed in Oregon in 1997, 1,327 have had lethal prescriptions but 859 have used them, (Oregon Health Authority, 2014). This number of people who have used assisted-suicide is not a significant amount of people compared to the amount of people who commit suicide “illegally” on yearly average. When lethal pills are administered, patients still have the option to not take them. It is interesting to note that 68% of the assisted-suicides that take place are with patients 65 and older, and 47% of patients have bachelor’s degrees (Oregon Health Authority, 2014). This supports the case that patients in these circumstances are making rational decisions and have truly come to terms with their lives. Patients who are terminally ill should have the option of assisted suicide so that they can die with dignity and remain the person they were in their lives, rather than be an unrecognizable shell of
Generally the thoughts of death are taboo and death is seen as a terrible part of life. Most people fear death as it brings an uncertainty—both for what is to come after life and for how death will occur. An individual who has a terminal illness faces the questions surrounding death as doctors state that this person does not have long to live. While this person suffers through an immense amount of physical and psychological pain, doctors are required to keep the individual alive. In many cases when people are terminally ill and close to death, doctors go to extremes to keep them alive; even if it means keeping them alive artificially. When a physician cannot relieve extreme pain and suffering in a patient, and a patient’s …show more content…
In the states that it has been legalized (Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Montana, and New Mexico), the procedure has been practiced safely and only a small percentage of people make the decision to follow through with it. Since the law was passed in Oregon in 1997, 1,327 have had lethal prescriptions but 859 have used them, (Oregon Health Authority, 2014). This number of people who have used assisted-suicide is not a significant amount of people compared to the amount of people who commit suicide “illegally” on yearly average. When lethal pills are administered, patients still have the option to not take them. It is interesting to note that 68% of the assisted-suicides that take place are with patients 65 and older, and 47% of patients have bachelor’s degrees (Oregon Health Authority, 2014). This supports the case that patients in these circumstances are making rational decisions and have truly come to terms with their lives. Patients who are terminally ill should have the option of assisted suicide so that they can die with dignity and remain the person they were in their lives, rather than be an unrecognizable shell of