Oregon Death with Dignity Act

terminally ill patients feel an immense loss of dignity because his or her abilities are increasingly limited as illness takes over. Having control over his or her own death is a way to take their dignity and independence back. Even ignoring the loss of dignity and independence, illness, especially terminal illness, is terrifying and traumatic. Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old women with brain cancer who opted to take advantage of Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act in 2014, discussed having lost her…

of taking one’s own life, regardless of emotional and physical circumstances, shocks many people, especially those who believe that death should arrive naturally. Despite ongoing public outcry, however, Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill patients, under the supervision and evaluation of a physician, to opt for self-euthanasia. Under this law, Oregon residents in a critical state of health who are 18 years of age and older, and demonstrate a competent ability of making their…

and religious reasons, whereas others support the cause due to their respect and empathy for the dying patients. Assisted suicide is done in order to put an end to a patient’s agony and distress. Patients ought to have the right to die with their dignity intact, rather than their illness controlling their life. “57% of physicians practicing today have received a request for physician- assisted suicide in some form or another” (Varelius…

reasons of mercy. Euthanasia is also known as “mercy killing”. Whereas Physicians assisted suicide is defined as the act in which a physician provides the means for suicide of the terminally ill. The patient however has to complete the final action that causes his or her death such as swallowing lethal drugs. By the Greek definition Euthanasia means a “Good Death”. A good and painless death is when the life is taken…

Physician-assisted death is an option for patients with a prognosis of a mere six months to live or less to willingly end their suffering instead of having to live it out knowing that they will not be alive much longer. This term should not be confused by euthanasia, which is the act of deliberately causing the death of another person who may be suffering from an incurable disease or condition, usually done via lethal injection. Physician-assisted death occurs when the patient has been…

as adventurous and ironically full of life. Although death is widely feared and most accompanied with pain and sorrow, Brittany decided she would die with dignity. Moving from California to Oregon, she was able to pick the day she wanted to die. By taking advantage of Oregon’s “Death with Dignity Law” also related to Euthanasia. Euthanasia stimulates from the Greek words Eu- meaning good and Thanasi- death “good death” or “gentle and easy death”. “What we would term euthanasia,…

On the morning of November 1, a young woman named Brittany Maynard ended her life in Oregon. Her diagnosis was brain cancer; doctors told her she had several years to live. Unfortunately, after further tests doctors informed her that she had about 6 months to live. She decided that she would choose to end her life after the pain of her condition became unbearable. She stated that being able to choose when to die allowed her to live (Slotnik). Many cases similar to Brittany’s exist all over the…

Death with Dignity Imagine if one of your loved ones was suffering from a terminal illness and had less than six months to live. Imagine if he could no longer use the bathroom without assistance, or feed himself independently, and he was also in a lot of pain. Would you want him to suffer a painful death and lose his dignity or die peacefully? How would you feel about physician-assisted suicide if it was your loved one suffering? Physician-assisted suicide is the practice of ending a life with…

The first time physician-assisted suicide became legal in the United States was on October 27, 1997. Oregon’s passing of the Death with Dignity Act continues to allow terminally ill patients with a diagnosis of six months or…

assisted suicide. Maynard moved from California to Oregon to meet her intention of dying under Oregon’s death with dignity act. She said that dying with dignity deemed to be the only best option for her and her close family. Maynard partnered with an advocate group, compassion & choices, and created the Brittany Maynard Fund. The fund seeks to legalize aid in dying in other states. Maynard ended her life on November 1 2014 at her home in Oregon, surrounded by her family…