The death with dignity process does not actually allow the patient to die with dignity. The ongoing controversy over this topic sways the average person’s thoughts. Additional studies done on this topic will help to eliminate disagreement. Many cases on file document patients who chose to die naturally without life prolonging devices. These cases show patients can choose different last resort options other than assisted suicide. Death with dignity should become illegal in all states because of the alternative options available, cultural views and conflicts with the law.
The first reason assisted suicide should become illegal involves the controversy of cultural views. The first cultural controversy shows that aid in dying contradicts with …show more content…
Due to the numerous other positive options available assisted suicide should become illegal. The first option rather than assisted suicide prevails in the rapid growth and notable success of palliative and hospice care. “Hospice has expanded considerably in the last ten years, primarily in two domains: the inclusion of terminally ill patients with diseases other than cancer—congestive heart failure, dementia, and chronic lung disease, for example—and the ability to supplement the palliative aspects of care for terminally ill patients who reside in skilled nursing homes” (Quill). The option of hospice care provides care and support of a specially trained team designed for the patient and their family. The special training team includes doctors, nurses, qualified volunteers, counselors, chaplains and physical therapists. The hospice care specialists work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to provide care and comfort for the patient and family. The second option which causes less controversy occurs in therapy and symptom management. Therapy may include the patient putting their trust into the doctor as the doctor tries to relieve the patient’s pain and make them comfortable. Medical ethics support this responsibility (Merino). Therapy can improve the patient's overall health by comforting them and therapy also provides support for patients who suffer from other things besides pain. Therapy for the terminally ill provides timeless …show more content…
“The data demonstrate that the option of physician-assisted dying has not been unwillingly forced upon those who are poor, uneducated, uninsured, or otherwise disadvantaged” (Merino). This shows that the Death with Dignity law does not pressure anyone to end their life. Assisted suicide also does not put patients in any type of harm other than the pain that already accompanied them. The law provides use only when it allows the patients to end their life without added pain and without machines keeping them alive. “In a report examining the Oregon experience to assess whether vulnerable populations were put at risk, the researchers concluded that there was no evidence supporting this concern” (Merino). This report shows that many studies prove how assisted suicide does no harm to the patients or the families involved. Although this law works well in Oregon many cases show that when assisted suicide did not occur, the patient survived without any medication or treatment. One case in 1976 involves a woman named Karen. She removed her ventilator in 1976. She breathed on her own and fed herself through a feeding tube. Surprisingly Karen survived for another nine years and died of pneumonia (Thompson). Even though the Death with Dignity Act works well in Oregon, patients should not end their life when they could possibly live without medication or treatment Another case involves a patient named Nancy. After seven
The first reason assisted suicide should become illegal involves the controversy of cultural views. The first cultural controversy shows that aid in dying contradicts with …show more content…
Due to the numerous other positive options available assisted suicide should become illegal. The first option rather than assisted suicide prevails in the rapid growth and notable success of palliative and hospice care. “Hospice has expanded considerably in the last ten years, primarily in two domains: the inclusion of terminally ill patients with diseases other than cancer—congestive heart failure, dementia, and chronic lung disease, for example—and the ability to supplement the palliative aspects of care for terminally ill patients who reside in skilled nursing homes” (Quill). The option of hospice care provides care and support of a specially trained team designed for the patient and their family. The special training team includes doctors, nurses, qualified volunteers, counselors, chaplains and physical therapists. The hospice care specialists work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to provide care and comfort for the patient and family. The second option which causes less controversy occurs in therapy and symptom management. Therapy may include the patient putting their trust into the doctor as the doctor tries to relieve the patient’s pain and make them comfortable. Medical ethics support this responsibility (Merino). Therapy can improve the patient's overall health by comforting them and therapy also provides support for patients who suffer from other things besides pain. Therapy for the terminally ill provides timeless …show more content…
“The data demonstrate that the option of physician-assisted dying has not been unwillingly forced upon those who are poor, uneducated, uninsured, or otherwise disadvantaged” (Merino). This shows that the Death with Dignity law does not pressure anyone to end their life. Assisted suicide also does not put patients in any type of harm other than the pain that already accompanied them. The law provides use only when it allows the patients to end their life without added pain and without machines keeping them alive. “In a report examining the Oregon experience to assess whether vulnerable populations were put at risk, the researchers concluded that there was no evidence supporting this concern” (Merino). This report shows that many studies prove how assisted suicide does no harm to the patients or the families involved. Although this law works well in Oregon many cases show that when assisted suicide did not occur, the patient survived without any medication or treatment. One case in 1976 involves a woman named Karen. She removed her ventilator in 1976. She breathed on her own and fed herself through a feeding tube. Surprisingly Karen survived for another nine years and died of pneumonia (Thompson). Even though the Death with Dignity Act works well in Oregon, patients should not end their life when they could possibly live without medication or treatment Another case involves a patient named Nancy. After seven