The topic of death is never a pleasant subject to think about, but it is an essential topic to discuss and the ultimate destiny for every human being. Each year, millions of people with terminal illness face untold anguish and misery. In situations where there is no hope for recovery or quality of life, choosing to die rather than linger in agony is a noble personal choice many wish to make. Unfortunately, due to legal barriers and moral outcry from those not facing such a choice, those suffering are unable to make this decision and can sometimes face a long, protracted, and painful death even with the proper palliative care. To give terminal patients the right to self-determination, to prevent horrific suicides, and to prevent their loved
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It is important to draw a distinction between physician assisted suicide and euthanasia. Physician assisted suicide involves the doctor providing the means and information for a patient to end their own life personally; the patient performs the final act. Euthanasia involves the doctor performing the intervention themselves. Currently, euthanasia is illegal in the U.S. and should remain so; however, Washington, Oregon, Vermont, and Bernalillo County, New Mexico currently allow physician assisted suicide. Unfortunately, everywhere else in the United States PAS is still …show more content…
Honoring such a choice is the only real freedom we can give them. PAS should be legalized in all 50 states in order to ensure the patient has the choice to die, horrific suicides will be prevented, and to make sure the costs of end of life care do not financially cripple a patient’s loved ones. Deep down we know it is wrong to allow our own personal feelings to affect the rights of dying patients and forcing someone to suffer without the option for a peaceful release is cruel and unjust. This is not an issue that can be swept under the rug, but something our country must address now, for every day more will suffer without hope and the right to die with
It is important to draw a distinction between physician assisted suicide and euthanasia. Physician assisted suicide involves the doctor providing the means and information for a patient to end their own life personally; the patient performs the final act. Euthanasia involves the doctor performing the intervention themselves. Currently, euthanasia is illegal in the U.S. and should remain so; however, Washington, Oregon, Vermont, and Bernalillo County, New Mexico currently allow physician assisted suicide. Unfortunately, everywhere else in the United States PAS is still …show more content…
Honoring such a choice is the only real freedom we can give them. PAS should be legalized in all 50 states in order to ensure the patient has the choice to die, horrific suicides will be prevented, and to make sure the costs of end of life care do not financially cripple a patient’s loved ones. Deep down we know it is wrong to allow our own personal feelings to affect the rights of dying patients and forcing someone to suffer without the option for a peaceful release is cruel and unjust. This is not an issue that can be swept under the rug, but something our country must address now, for every day more will suffer without hope and the right to die with