Legalizing voluntary euthanasia for terminally-ill adults is a way that dying patients can avoid unnecessary suffering and have the right to die with dignity. Mentally stable, but severely ill adults who request their life be terminated early do so for two main reasons: patients have peace knowing that they do not have to live in pain until they die and patients want the choice to die before they lose all quality of life. American patients who are on their last few months of life should have the choice to leave their body and loved ones if they desire despite what state they live in. At the present time, there are five states in the United States that have incorporated the Death with Dignity Act and about 20 other states that are currently considering the statute. Why should the Death with Dignity Act be legal in all States?
Literature Review:
History of Death in the US
Euthanasia and mercy killings in medicine are a tale as old as time. As a matter of fact, ancient Greek and Romans were known to accept the practices of abortion, euthanasia and suicide. Not until …show more content…
For those I say that in recent years half of patients who were prescribed the lethal dose actually took the drug. In 2015, 218 patients received the prescription and only 132 ingested the medication. In 2014, 155 patients received the prescription and only 105 ingested the medication (Page 2, Oregon). Patients don’t see this prescription as a way to avoid life but as a “psychological insurance” in case things do become unbearable (Emanuel 1998). Although more people are being prescribed the medication it does not mean that more people are actually taking it compared to the requests. It is natural that there will be in increase in prescription recipients as the years go by and more states adopt this law but this does not suggest that it is being abused and the statistics show
Literature Review:
History of Death in the US
Euthanasia and mercy killings in medicine are a tale as old as time. As a matter of fact, ancient Greek and Romans were known to accept the practices of abortion, euthanasia and suicide. Not until …show more content…
For those I say that in recent years half of patients who were prescribed the lethal dose actually took the drug. In 2015, 218 patients received the prescription and only 132 ingested the medication. In 2014, 155 patients received the prescription and only 105 ingested the medication (Page 2, Oregon). Patients don’t see this prescription as a way to avoid life but as a “psychological insurance” in case things do become unbearable (Emanuel 1998). Although more people are being prescribed the medication it does not mean that more people are actually taking it compared to the requests. It is natural that there will be in increase in prescription recipients as the years go by and more states adopt this law but this does not suggest that it is being abused and the statistics show