Physician-Assisted Suicide
The inevitability of death is an unsettling truth that all humans have to accept. However, for some individuals, death comes as a relief to alleviate pain and suffering. The issue of physician-assisted suicide (PAS), is quite controversial and brings attention to the debate about who should have control of someone's body: the physician or the patient. The idea of putting someone to sleep by a lethal dosage may seem morbid, but lessens the suffering in the long run for incurably ill patients.
The ticking clock of life does not pause or slow down for anyone. Although many events across a lifespan are uncontrollable, an individual should have control over their own decisions. The most personal of decisions to end one's life must be vested to that person solely. On the issue of ownership of one's life, the individual has the right to their own life. In the case of an illness like cancer or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), patients must endure rigorous treatment that lowers their quality of life. Daily chemotherapy and gradually loss of independence through immobilizing muscle weakness are the sad truths that these patients are subjected to (Shafer 522). The option of physician-assisted suicide may prove to be the best option for someone who experiences such …show more content…
Opponents of the legalization of physician assisted suicide often claim that physicians should not aid in suicide of a patient for two reason. First, it is morally forbidden to help somebody to carry out an action which is inherently irrational and which will probably cause him severe harm, and second the act of self-killing is necessarily irrational and self-harming (Wittwer 419). Supporters argue that aiding in the suicide of a terminally ill patient is noble and arguably the most responsible choice for the
The inevitability of death is an unsettling truth that all humans have to accept. However, for some individuals, death comes as a relief to alleviate pain and suffering. The issue of physician-assisted suicide (PAS), is quite controversial and brings attention to the debate about who should have control of someone's body: the physician or the patient. The idea of putting someone to sleep by a lethal dosage may seem morbid, but lessens the suffering in the long run for incurably ill patients.
The ticking clock of life does not pause or slow down for anyone. Although many events across a lifespan are uncontrollable, an individual should have control over their own decisions. The most personal of decisions to end one's life must be vested to that person solely. On the issue of ownership of one's life, the individual has the right to their own life. In the case of an illness like cancer or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), patients must endure rigorous treatment that lowers their quality of life. Daily chemotherapy and gradually loss of independence through immobilizing muscle weakness are the sad truths that these patients are subjected to (Shafer 522). The option of physician-assisted suicide may prove to be the best option for someone who experiences such …show more content…
Opponents of the legalization of physician assisted suicide often claim that physicians should not aid in suicide of a patient for two reason. First, it is morally forbidden to help somebody to carry out an action which is inherently irrational and which will probably cause him severe harm, and second the act of self-killing is necessarily irrational and self-harming (Wittwer 419). Supporters argue that aiding in the suicide of a terminally ill patient is noble and arguably the most responsible choice for the