In 1997, Oregon passed the Death with Dignity Act allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives. Many patients traveled to Oregon due to this law, because they had terminal illnesses, and knew that their quality of life would only deteriorate. Since then, six other states have followed Oregon by passing similar acts; however, the majority of states still refuse to offer assisted suicide. Along with these states, there are less that a dozen other countries that allow any form of assisted death. Terminally ill patients should have the right to chose assisted suicide, and to not suffer for the rest of their lives. Assisted suicide shouldn't be difficult to get, and patients shouldn't have to travel to one of the few states in America, or
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Linda Ganzini, Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine at OHSU, interviewed many people who chose assisted suicide and she discovered, “These people prize independence, autonomy, self-sufficiency, and control. They want to leave this world in the driver's seat, and they anticipate a dying process that is incompatible with this goal.” Ganzini is explaining that people who chose assisted suicide do so because they like to be in control and they have lost their independence, therefore they chose assisted suicide because they don’t want to rely on someone to perform daily tasks. Currently, the amount of assisted suicides are on the rise; however, contrary to common beliefs, it is not the result of the care that patients receive. Assisted suicide is on the rise simply because it is becoming more accessible to patients. Courtney Campbell who works at Oregon State University as Chair of the Philosophy Department and as Director of the Program for Ethics, Science, and the Environment claims, “Terminally ill patients seeking physician-assisted death are receiving high-quality palliative care. Patients do not exercise their legal right to choose physician-assisted death because they are unable to obtain good symptom management.” Campbell is explaining that patients are not choosing suicide because they are receiving poor care, they have just lost their quality of life. It is important for assisted suicide to be monitored closely, and assured that it is in the best interest of the
Linda Ganzini, Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine at OHSU, interviewed many people who chose assisted suicide and she discovered, “These people prize independence, autonomy, self-sufficiency, and control. They want to leave this world in the driver's seat, and they anticipate a dying process that is incompatible with this goal.” Ganzini is explaining that people who chose assisted suicide do so because they like to be in control and they have lost their independence, therefore they chose assisted suicide because they don’t want to rely on someone to perform daily tasks. Currently, the amount of assisted suicides are on the rise; however, contrary to common beliefs, it is not the result of the care that patients receive. Assisted suicide is on the rise simply because it is becoming more accessible to patients. Courtney Campbell who works at Oregon State University as Chair of the Philosophy Department and as Director of the Program for Ethics, Science, and the Environment claims, “Terminally ill patients seeking physician-assisted death are receiving high-quality palliative care. Patients do not exercise their legal right to choose physician-assisted death because they are unable to obtain good symptom management.” Campbell is explaining that patients are not choosing suicide because they are receiving poor care, they have just lost their quality of life. It is important for assisted suicide to be monitored closely, and assured that it is in the best interest of the