Physician Assisted Suicide Research Paper

Imagine a loved one’s frail body lying prone on a hospital bed. They have less than six months to live, and they are helpless to do anything except lie there in immense pain. Every night they plea for a quick death, but it never comes. The law ensures their death will be slow and painful; however, there may still be hope. In 1994, Oregon passed the Death with Dignity Act which legalized the use of euthanasia (“Physician-Assisted” 833). Euthanasia is the act of killing someone painlessly, usually by giving them a lethal dose of medication. This practice is banned in almost all of the states since it is seen as morally wrong. In addition, physicians have lived by the Hippocratic Oath for more than two-thousand years. The code clearly states a physician’s role as a healer and that under no circumstances should they administer deadly medicine; euthanasia goes directly against the Hippocratic Oath …show more content…
Naturally, humans would rather do whatever necessary to keep someone alive then allow them a quick death. Most people believe there is always an alternative, and in a majority of cases – a more preferable alternative. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses, “Most teen suicide deaths occur from the use of firearms” (“Teen”). In addition, studies have shown that the leading concerns for dying are where they want to die, preparing to die, and saying goodbye (“Public”). With euthanasia, it is possible to allow patient’s solace for all of their concerns – imagine it. Of course then people will bring up the prevention of suicide. The patient can be given more medication, or maybe they will make a miraculous recovery. Although this sounds like a perfect solution, it is not achievable ("Can Suicide"). So considering other courses of action tend to lead to far more painful or drawn out deaths, euthanasia is the optimal