Physician Assisted Suicide
Physician Assisted Suicide Should a person with a terminal illness be allowed to die with dignity, taking their own life with the help of a medical doctor? Many people believe that physicians should maintain a person’s life as long as possible. Dying patients and their doctors have the right to choose to discontinue any treatment that serves no purpose except to delay an inevitable death. Euthanasia is intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. According to Carrie Snyder, “As of 2011, active euthanasia is only legal in three countries: the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland and in the US states of Washington, Oregon and Montana (Snyder)”. Physicians should be allowed to help terminally ill patients end their lives to stop suffering and the prolonging of their death. Euthanasia has been a historical occurrence since Ancient Greek and Roman times (Westendorf). Inactive euthanasia consists of cutting off life support or also ending treatments needed to survive like blood transfusions. Active euthanasia defined is deliberately ending life. A physician overseeing a fatal amount of medication would be the prime example. Physician assisted suicide is a type of active euthanasia where the patient ends his life with medication prescribed to him by his physician.
Measure 16 of 1994 established the U.S. state of Oregon 's Death with Dignity Act, which legalizes physician-assisted suicide with particular limitations. The passage of the act made Oregon the first U.S. state to grant terminally ill patients the decision to terminate their life. Approved in a November 8, 1994 election with 627,980 votes were in favor while 596,018 votes were against the act (King). By law, a person, 18 years of age or older who has been diagnosed by a licensed physician with a fatal illness and prognosis of six months or less may submit a written request for a prescription that will provide a fatal dosage to end their life. The
Measure 16 of 1994 established the U.S. state of Oregon 's Death with Dignity Act, which legalizes physician-assisted suicide with particular limitations. The passage of the act made Oregon the first U.S. state to grant terminally ill patients the decision to terminate their life. Approved in a November 8, 1994 election with 627,980 votes were in favor while 596,018 votes were against the act (King). By law, a person, 18 years of age or older who has been diagnosed by a licensed physician with a fatal illness and prognosis of six months or less may submit a written request for a prescription that will provide a fatal dosage to end their life. The
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