Death with Dignity
Death with Dignity
Michelle Strothman
COM/220
May 05, 2013
Instructor Kimberly Artis-Pearce
Death with Dignity Lying in his bed within the nursing home day- to- day; he has no family to visit, no friends to come by to pass the time with. He has become dependent on feeding tubes, a colostomy bag, adult diapers, and virtual strangers to attend to his every need. He lived a full life with no regrets, only memories that keep him company. Most of his skull and brain has been either removed by a surgeon or by the cancer; he is tired and ready to join his wife in death. He is matter of fact about it, no tears, and no doubts- only a government that prevents him from a death with dignity. His wishes echo that a balanced view and understanding of each side will give terminal ill individuals the freedom to choose to pass away with dignity. Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is a debated ethical issue worldwide, but more so in the United States. PAS is a process of the legal administration of prescribed lethal medication under the supervision of a licensed physician. The first compelling movement toward legalizing PAS in the United States began in the early twentieth century. In 1906, Jacob Appel had documented the political debate to legalize PAS in Iowa and Ohio. Legislation for PAS began with an heiress by the name Anna S. Hall, when her mother had died painfully from cancer. Despite her efforts, Ohio rejected the bill by a vote of 79 to 23. The well-known Dr. Kevorkian was brought to the public’s attention in the 1990s. In 1992, Proposition 161 was introduced in California. The proposition offered more criteria than Washington’s Initiative 119 but was turned down with a 46 percent vote. It is reasonable that society wants that no individual ever deliberate suicide. Recent advancements of pain management have lowered the number of patients seeking PAS (History and facts, 2011). There are patients experiencing extreme suffering that is not relieved by any of the
Michelle Strothman
COM/220
May 05, 2013
Instructor Kimberly Artis-Pearce
Death with Dignity Lying in his bed within the nursing home day- to- day; he has no family to visit, no friends to come by to pass the time with. He has become dependent on feeding tubes, a colostomy bag, adult diapers, and virtual strangers to attend to his every need. He lived a full life with no regrets, only memories that keep him company. Most of his skull and brain has been either removed by a surgeon or by the cancer; he is tired and ready to join his wife in death. He is matter of fact about it, no tears, and no doubts- only a government that prevents him from a death with dignity. His wishes echo that a balanced view and understanding of each side will give terminal ill individuals the freedom to choose to pass away with dignity. Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is a debated ethical issue worldwide, but more so in the United States. PAS is a process of the legal administration of prescribed lethal medication under the supervision of a licensed physician. The first compelling movement toward legalizing PAS in the United States began in the early twentieth century. In 1906, Jacob Appel had documented the political debate to legalize PAS in Iowa and Ohio. Legislation for PAS began with an heiress by the name Anna S. Hall, when her mother had died painfully from cancer. Despite her efforts, Ohio rejected the bill by a vote of 79 to 23. The well-known Dr. Kevorkian was brought to the public’s attention in the 1990s. In 1992, Proposition 161 was introduced in California. The proposition offered more criteria than Washington’s Initiative 119 but was turned down with a 46 percent vote. It is reasonable that society wants that no individual ever deliberate suicide. Recent advancements of pain management have lowered the number of patients seeking PAS (History and facts, 2011). There are patients experiencing extreme suffering that is not relieved by any of the
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