Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old New York resident who suffered with a chronic brain tumor, was denied the process of euthanasia. Her story ignited the fuse to the debate over euthanasia rights and inspired organizations like Compassion & Choices to be more involved in this area of medicine. This particular non-profit organization advocates that patients should possess the right to decide how they want to live out the end of their life. After enduring the burden of her illness, Maynard decided she no longer wanted to remain on medical support and legally chose the solution of active euthanasia, with doctor supervision, surrounded by friends and family. However, New York is one out of the forty-four states in the U.S. that prohibits this procedure
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Proponents of active euthanasia claim that terminally ill patients should have the right to end their own life, especially if they are, or have been, suffering for a period of time. Advocates favor a fast, painless death which they support through the Constitution’s basic civil rights; the pursuit of happiness is granted to all citizens so therefore, if the patient feels he/she would be happier by ending their suffering then they should be allowed to do so. Also, ensuring a quick, painless death doesn’t violate the Cruel and Unusual clause located in Amendment 8. Finally, according to The Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S Constitution, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (Cornell University). A terminally ill individual has the right to forgo further treatment to terminate their own life so, to ensure equality among the terminally ill, it must also be legal to have the option to end their own life through a lethal
Proponents of active euthanasia claim that terminally ill patients should have the right to end their own life, especially if they are, or have been, suffering for a period of time. Advocates favor a fast, painless death which they support through the Constitution’s basic civil rights; the pursuit of happiness is granted to all citizens so therefore, if the patient feels he/she would be happier by ending their suffering then they should be allowed to do so. Also, ensuring a quick, painless death doesn’t violate the Cruel and Unusual clause located in Amendment 8. Finally, according to The Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S Constitution, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (Cornell University). A terminally ill individual has the right to forgo further treatment to terminate their own life so, to ensure equality among the terminally ill, it must also be legal to have the option to end their own life through a lethal