The right to euthanasia is embedded in the U.S. Constitution. It is included in four of the amendments listed in the Constitution — the First Amendment, the Ninth Amendment, the Tenth Amendment, and the Fourteenth Amendment — and in some parts of the Declaration of Independence. Along with these are religious concerns, which support the right to euthanasia as well. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, euthanasia is “the act or practice of killing someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any more suffering.” Physicians mainly perform this on terminally ill patients — usually upon the patient’s request. Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is when a physician helps a patient commit suicide. The physician usually prescribes
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This amendment states the basic rights and freedoms of the citizens, which are the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, the right to assembly, and the right to petition. One particular right that supports euthanasia is freedom of speech. Voluntary active euthanasia could be used as an example. Voluntary active euthanasia is a direct act of killing that is performed upon the patient’s request (Loewy, 1998). In this example, the freedom of speech is granted to the patient, enabling him or her to voluntarily request …show more content…
In fact, the use of palliative care is increasing in places where euthanasia is legalized. For instance, the Netherlands now has around one hundred hospices — homes that provide care for the terminally ill — full of patients and 24-hour pain-control hotlines (Quill & Battin, 2004). The Oregon Death with Dignity Act would be another example. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which legalized physician-assisted suicide, actually increased the use of palliative care. Since the act had been passed, hospice referrals have increased by 20 percent (Lee, 1997).
In essence, the right to die is supported through different topics, including religious concerns and the amendments of the U.S. Constitution. This is supported by the First Amendment, the Ninth Amendment, the Tenth Amendment, and the Fourteenth Amendment. Parts of different religions also support the right to die, including some features of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Granted the right to freedom of religion by the First Amendment, people could have and stand by their religious beliefs, regardless of any oppositions from other religions. Therefore, the right to die is embedded within the
This amendment states the basic rights and freedoms of the citizens, which are the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, the right to assembly, and the right to petition. One particular right that supports euthanasia is freedom of speech. Voluntary active euthanasia could be used as an example. Voluntary active euthanasia is a direct act of killing that is performed upon the patient’s request (Loewy, 1998). In this example, the freedom of speech is granted to the patient, enabling him or her to voluntarily request …show more content…
In fact, the use of palliative care is increasing in places where euthanasia is legalized. For instance, the Netherlands now has around one hundred hospices — homes that provide care for the terminally ill — full of patients and 24-hour pain-control hotlines (Quill & Battin, 2004). The Oregon Death with Dignity Act would be another example. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which legalized physician-assisted suicide, actually increased the use of palliative care. Since the act had been passed, hospice referrals have increased by 20 percent (Lee, 1997).
In essence, the right to die is supported through different topics, including religious concerns and the amendments of the U.S. Constitution. This is supported by the First Amendment, the Ninth Amendment, the Tenth Amendment, and the Fourteenth Amendment. Parts of different religions also support the right to die, including some features of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Granted the right to freedom of religion by the First Amendment, people could have and stand by their religious beliefs, regardless of any oppositions from other religions. Therefore, the right to die is embedded within the