Assisted Suicide Debate

In 2014, assisted suicide became a controversial topic in the media after a terminally ill patient named Brittany Maynard advocated for the practice that would allow physicians to assist terminally ill patients in ending their own lives instead allowing whatever illness they have kill them. Maynard had a brain tumor that kept growing and caused her great distress; she would have "seizures so violent, they left her unable to speak for hours" (Lapook). Her decision to travel to Portland, Oregon to be assisted in taking her own life sparked a national debate in medical practice and in the media. Although suicide in itself is a contentious subject, it is not what makes this situation controversial. It is actually the concern of doctors and them being able to assist these dying patients with killing themselves. It is understandable that most would be apprehensive to support anyone contemplating taking their own life, however, assisted suicide is a complex topic that should not be swept under the rug due to ignorance and …show more content…
Firstly, before these benefits are discussed, the simple matter of the patient not being taken into consideration from the opposing side must be addressed. Whenever the patients wants or concerns become a topic in the conversation, it is always in a negative light. Whether that is arguing the ethics of the human body or doctors being able to legally do something that already happens, they must accept that there are possible positives in this seemingly sorrowful decision. One favorable aspect of assisted suicide is that it provides the patient with a peaceful death and control over how they die. It allows patients the option to be free from their suffering. In the "Journal of Medical Ethics", authors explore the insight of people who are close to death feel about assisted suicide. They