According to a study done by Dartmouth Health Care, 80% of patients with a chronic disease say that they would prefer to avoid hospitalization when they are dying. Of this 80%, less than 20% actually die at home (“Facts”). The remaining terminally ill patients die in a hospital, having been sustained by medications and other life supporting technologies. Terminally ill patients who are experiencing a diminishing quality of life should have the option to voluntarily end their own life through physician-assisted suicide. The first time physician-assisted suicide became legal in the United States was on October 27, 1997. Oregon’s passing of the Death with Dignity Act continues to allow terminally ill patients with a diagnosis of six months or
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At age 55, Randy was diagnosed with brain cancer that spread to his spinal cord and nervous system. Randy’s condition had no cure. "It was a very ugly death, very painful and difficult,” said his wife Nancy Niedzielski. At times, his condition caused his eyes to pop out of their sockets. Towards the end of his life, Randy was incontinent, could not control his arms or legs, and continuously drooled. Because no doctor could legally prescribe him the medication he wanted and needed to end his life, Randy considered stockpiling his medication to try and overdose himself (Copeland). No person should be forced to endure situations at end of their life like Randy Niedzielski did if they did not want …show more content…
According to CNN, one in every four Medicare dollars goes to just 5% of beneficiaries in their last year of life. The average care for one person at the end of their life is around $39,000 (Landau). In many cases, these extreme costs are often not worth it. They do not always improve the patients quality of life, and they only extend life for a few months at the most (Landau). The cost of care at the end of life for these terminally ill patients is often intensive, harsh, traumatic, and includes a lot of prolonged
At age 55, Randy was diagnosed with brain cancer that spread to his spinal cord and nervous system. Randy’s condition had no cure. "It was a very ugly death, very painful and difficult,” said his wife Nancy Niedzielski. At times, his condition caused his eyes to pop out of their sockets. Towards the end of his life, Randy was incontinent, could not control his arms or legs, and continuously drooled. Because no doctor could legally prescribe him the medication he wanted and needed to end his life, Randy considered stockpiling his medication to try and overdose himself (Copeland). No person should be forced to endure situations at end of their life like Randy Niedzielski did if they did not want …show more content…
According to CNN, one in every four Medicare dollars goes to just 5% of beneficiaries in their last year of life. The average care for one person at the end of their life is around $39,000 (Landau). In many cases, these extreme costs are often not worth it. They do not always improve the patients quality of life, and they only extend life for a few months at the most (Landau). The cost of care at the end of life for these terminally ill patients is often intensive, harsh, traumatic, and includes a lot of prolonged