Argumentative Essay: Death With Dignity

Everyday people all over America are becoming sick. They are hearing from their physician that they have a terminal-illness. This surprising news often leaves individuals with difficult decisions they were told they have an estimated amount of time left to live. These terminally-ill patients are faced with many struggles. This may include but is not limited to incurable pain, loss of bodily functions, or losing portions of their body. No matter what their ailment is, they should be allowed to make their own life choices. One, out of the many options that these patients have, is called Death with Dignity. Death with Dignity is an act that was created to give those individuals whom are mentally competent that have been diagnosed terminally-ill the right to end their own life with a lethal amount of physician prescribed medication. Although this …show more content…
Oregon has set the stage for the other states as well as any state that votes the approval for this law. For example, in Oregon in order for a patient to receive the lethal prescriptions, he or she must be a resident of the state and be at least 18 years old (Barone). The patient is required to have the ability to communicate and make competent decisions for his or her self (Barone). The individual must be diagnosed terminally-ill along with an estimate of only six months to live (Barone). The patient’s request will need to be signed by two witnesses and he or she will have to wait an estimate of 15 days to receive the prescription. This grace period of waiting is a requirement because it will allow the patient the time to change their mind, if he or she so chooses, which they can do at any time, during or after the 15 day grace period (Barone). These guidelines should be available to all terminally-ill patients throughout America in order for them to receive any lethal