ASSISTED SUICIDE: SHOULD WE LEGALIZE?
Introduction Assisted suicide and euthanasia are often confused because essentially they mean the same thing. However, assisted suicide is a physician providing a substance and informing the patient how to take their own lives. Alternatively, euthanasia is a carefully planned objective to end the life of a patient (Assisted Suicide).With that being said, what is the difference between committing suicide with oneself, and having a doctor prescribe a drug to do the job? Ultimately, there is no difference between suicide and assisted suicide. Suicide has been and still is frowned upon from many aspects of society, and is known as a cry for help, but as of February 6, 2016, the legal ban on assisted suicide …show more content…
There are numerous situations that can lead to suicide, but can be classified as murder, such as: a physician prescribing a lethal dose to a patient without them being aware or completely decided on assisted suicide; or a legal document that may be forged by a family or physician in agreement to the assisted suicide. Additionally, assisted suicide can become a precarious issue that falls on either side of murder. In particular, legalizing assisted suicide will lead into legalizing euthanasia, and then, a situation with incompetent patients will begin fighting for their right to assisted suicide or euthanasia. This also is a slippery slope to the Oregon law “the plaintiff would argue that the incompetent patient has the same right to receive physician-assisted dying as those who retain their decisional capacity” (Physician-Assisted Suicide). This will create a domino effect to a multitude of legal cases. Furthermore, not only is there a legal slippery slope towards murder, but also physician assisted suicide goes against the medical professionals Hippocratic Oath. When becoming a medical professional, you are legally bound to take an oath before providing care for patients. A specific section of the Hippocratic Oath that is taken, states “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan…” (North). This oath will contradict the legalization of a physician to …show more content…
For example, Christians go to church on Sundays, but it’s inconvenient because it is on a weekend and early in the morning, so excuses are made to justify these decisions. A major part of life is the ending, and usually individuals realize that they should have taken the time out to practice their faith. However, as generations come and go, religion is less of a priority, making society unaware that suicide is sinful. Several of the biggest religions around the world are against suicide, such as: Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. Catholicism believes life should not be taken because it is a gift from God; that we do not have the power to say when life should end, and this is God’s decision (Di Camillo). Buddhism teaches to have a great value for life and it is wrong to end it, even if you are physically suffering or not being able to live able-bodied (Keown 952). Islam also agrees with Catholicism; life is a gift from God, and it is a sin to take it when an individual feels necessary. Islam also educates Muslims that God will decide how long one should live, and when one should die; they belief that suffering and other difficulties are beneficial and this will help cleanse some of your sins before returning back to the Lord when you pass (Shabana). Equally, Hinduism belief the suffering you are encountering now
Introduction Assisted suicide and euthanasia are often confused because essentially they mean the same thing. However, assisted suicide is a physician providing a substance and informing the patient how to take their own lives. Alternatively, euthanasia is a carefully planned objective to end the life of a patient (Assisted Suicide).With that being said, what is the difference between committing suicide with oneself, and having a doctor prescribe a drug to do the job? Ultimately, there is no difference between suicide and assisted suicide. Suicide has been and still is frowned upon from many aspects of society, and is known as a cry for help, but as of February 6, 2016, the legal ban on assisted suicide …show more content…
There are numerous situations that can lead to suicide, but can be classified as murder, such as: a physician prescribing a lethal dose to a patient without them being aware or completely decided on assisted suicide; or a legal document that may be forged by a family or physician in agreement to the assisted suicide. Additionally, assisted suicide can become a precarious issue that falls on either side of murder. In particular, legalizing assisted suicide will lead into legalizing euthanasia, and then, a situation with incompetent patients will begin fighting for their right to assisted suicide or euthanasia. This also is a slippery slope to the Oregon law “the plaintiff would argue that the incompetent patient has the same right to receive physician-assisted dying as those who retain their decisional capacity” (Physician-Assisted Suicide). This will create a domino effect to a multitude of legal cases. Furthermore, not only is there a legal slippery slope towards murder, but also physician assisted suicide goes against the medical professionals Hippocratic Oath. When becoming a medical professional, you are legally bound to take an oath before providing care for patients. A specific section of the Hippocratic Oath that is taken, states “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan…” (North). This oath will contradict the legalization of a physician to …show more content…
For example, Christians go to church on Sundays, but it’s inconvenient because it is on a weekend and early in the morning, so excuses are made to justify these decisions. A major part of life is the ending, and usually individuals realize that they should have taken the time out to practice their faith. However, as generations come and go, religion is less of a priority, making society unaware that suicide is sinful. Several of the biggest religions around the world are against suicide, such as: Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. Catholicism believes life should not be taken because it is a gift from God; that we do not have the power to say when life should end, and this is God’s decision (Di Camillo). Buddhism teaches to have a great value for life and it is wrong to end it, even if you are physically suffering or not being able to live able-bodied (Keown 952). Islam also agrees with Catholicism; life is a gift from God, and it is a sin to take it when an individual feels necessary. Islam also educates Muslims that God will decide how long one should live, and when one should die; they belief that suffering and other difficulties are beneficial and this will help cleanse some of your sins before returning back to the Lord when you pass (Shabana). Equally, Hinduism belief the suffering you are encountering now