Physician-Assisted Suicide: the Right to Die with Dignity
Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Right to Die with Dignity One of the most controversial topics in society is physician-assisted suicide. The debate is endless in regards to human suffering. There is a solid argument in favor of physician-assisted suicide in terminally ill patients, who are experiencing unbearable pain and have little time left. Research shows that one who is terminally ill and going through excruciating pain has the right to make decisions regarding free choice and human dignity to end one’s life in a merciful way. Research on opposing arguments will show that physician-assisted suicide has negative psychological effects on the doctor along with being morally wrong to take the precious gift of life. Public attitude, education, perception, religious beliefs, family values, and freedom of choice all combine to make the decision of whether physician-assisted suicide is right or wrong, is murder or not murder, one that will truly never be clearly defined. This writer believes that all human beings have the right to be safe and free of pain when one is suffering from a terminal illness. To understand physician-assisted suicide one must know what it is meant by the term. According to Worsnop, this form of suicide allows a physician to help a suffering patient with an incurable disease end one’s life. In 1994, residents in the state of Oregon agreed upon the Death and Dignity Act which allows individual’s suffering from terminal illnesses with less than seven months to live die with dignity (Enouen). In 1997, Oregon became the first state to allow a doctor to order life-ending prescriptions to a patient who is dying and in unbearable pain (Bowden). According to Bowden, Oregon law provides understandable measures by which doctors can help a dying patient while remaining free from prosecution. Physicians in Oregon are only allowed to prescribe a fatal dose of medication to a patient who is psychologically competent, provides a written
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