Death With Dignity Ethical Issues

Death With Dignity Ethical Issues
Death with Dignity in California and Oregon
When working in the healthcare field, many ethical issues come arise that causes us to think about our choices and actions. One major ethical debate
is the "Right to Die" or also known as "Death with Dignity". Death with Dignity is an assisted death by a physician for the terminally ill who do not
want to face anymore pain. There have been constant ongoing controversial debates if this is ethically moral with many who are supporters and many
who oppose this. Many feel that this situation is similar to having an abortion, but there have been many states who have been fighting to pass laws
supporting the "Right to Die". With all the disputable debates, it is important for healthcare professionals to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They fear for the abuse of medication by the physician and sometimes the pressure of others for the patients to intake the medication. According to
Anderson (2015), he believes there are four problems that comes along with physician–assisted suicide which are endangering the weak and vulnerable,
corrupt of practice of medicine, compromise of the family commitments, and betray of human dignity and equality before the law (Anderson, 2015).
He makes some very good points where anyone would be convinced that physician assisted death could be questioned on their ethics and policies.
They fear that it brings more inadequate physician care to actually try to save the patient or to reduce the pain. This leads to poor physician and
patient quality in their relationship and reduces the commitment they have with each other. In the third issue, those who oppose fear that with
physician assisted death, people will try to abuse this by trying to tempt elderly and disabled people to take this medication for their own benefit and
feel that the burden will be uplifted if they do choose to go through with it. The last problem they argue is that it violates human dignity and denies
equality before the law. This is where ethics comes into play between the physician and the patient. The physicians have a tough decision to see if the
patient is eligible for the medication or not and it is up to the patient to determine if they do want to end their life with all their family and friends to
feel the burden. For physician assisted death advocates, they argue that it up to patient's autonomy and what they choose to do to their body. Even with
these issues, more states are leaning towards passing the law of physician assisted death and more advocates are joining the Death with Dignity
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Persuasive Essay On Euthanasia
One of the most burdensome aspects of working in the medical field, specifically as a nurse, is the loss of a patient. Similarly, watching a patient who
has been diagnosed with a terminal disease struggle with their upcoming death is wearisome. Suffering in the hospital, their life is not of quality and
their family is watching them struggle. Highly debated, physician assisted suicide has been named one of the options for terminally ill patients.
Physician assisted suicide occurs when a terminally ill patient makes the decision that they would prefer to die, rather than suffer the rest of their life;
then a physician can assist them in death by either administering euthanasia to the patient or prescribing the drug to the patient. There are currently,
according to Death With Dignity, six states that have legalized physician assisted suicide: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Oregon,
Vermont, and Washington ("Death With Dignity Acts"). While physician assisted suicide is not widely supported, lawmakers should work towards the
removal of bans in many locations of physician assisted suicide and towards legalizing; it violates no federal law, end of life care isn't efficient enough
to eliminate mental suffering, animals are euthanized for the same reasons, and it ends the patient's suffering. In the past and present, there are some
who feel that physician assisted suicide violates the federal law. For instance, according to Supreme Court case, Gonzales v. Oregon , in

Physician Assisted Suicide
Imagine a cancer patient on a short rode to death. The pain this patient is experiencing is unreal and unimaginable to most. The pain medicine that
can be used does little to take the agony away. The doctors can put the patient in an induced coma, but what kind of living is that? It is not living. The
patient does not want to go on. Is it so wrong to ask for a way out? With less than six months to live, the patient's hope is gone. Many argue that
euthanasia is not ethical, but is it really ethical to let someone live in constant, horrifying pain and agony? While in some cases having the right to die
might result in patients giving up on life, physician–assisted suicide should be legalized in all fifty states for terminally ill patients with worsening or
unbearable pain.
What is physician–assisted suicide? "Suicide is the act of taking one's own life. In assisted suicide, the means to end a patient's life is provided to the
patient (i.e. medication or a weapon) with knowledge of the patient's intention" (American Nurses Association). Physician–assisted suicide is known by
many names such as death with dignity, right to die, and of course, euthanasia. Euthanasia is a much more in–depth term concerning the patient and the
type of suicide.
Euthanasia, often called "mercy killing", is the act of putting to death someone suffering from a painful and prolonged illness or injury. Euthanasia
means that someone other than the patient commits an action with the intent to

Physician Assisted Death For The Terminally Ill
University Name
Name of The Institute
Course Title
A Report on
Physician assisted death for the terminally ill in US
Student Name
Introduction
In United States, Euthanasia is a highly controversial subject among politicians, legislators and society members. Just the mention of this issue
polarizes different groups on opposing ends as some either support it and others want to keep it illegal and unlawful(Steck, Egger, Maessen, Reisch,
&Zwahlen, 2013). The main ideology that is discussed in the situation is whether an individual has a right on his own life in cases of terminal illness
where there is no way of recovering according to medical professionals. The argument that is for the provision of assisted–death for terminally ill can be
understood by other names of Euthanasia which are– mercy–killing and dignity–death. These names are given to the practice of physical assisted–death
as it allows the terminally ill patients to avoid the extreme pain, constant awareness of certain death and humiliating medical conditions that are part of
some terminal illnesses. In this report, the present state of Euthanasia has been evaluated in context of United States. The goal is to look for the
existing political and legislative environment for and against Euthanasia and identify an appropriate solution.
Present State of Euthanasia
In most of the western countries, the legislators are no longer keeping the rights of people to decide whether or not they want assisted–death if

Euthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide
In any discussion of physician–assisted suicide (PAS) it is important to differentiate between euthanasia and physician–assisted suicide. Although they
may have similar goals, they differ in whether or not the physician participates in the action that finally ends life. In physician–assisted suicide the
physician provides the necessary means or information and the patient performs the act (e.g. the physician provides sleeping pills and information
about the lethal dose, while aware that the patient may commit suicide). However, in euthanasia the physician performs the intervention themselves.
Currently, just four states (Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana) allow physician
–assisted suicide.
Physician–assisted suicide currently remains a felony in New York. Lawmakers supporting efforts to legalize physician–assisted suicide in New York
believe it will likely take years, much like allowing medical marijuana did. I believe it's somewhat hypocritical for physician–assisted suicide to remain
illegal when it's against the law for physicians to intervene when a competent adult patient refuses consent to receive care, even if death would be the
likely result. In the meantime, patients with fatal prognosis only have three options available to them. First, they can wait it out until they slowly pass
away while receiving palliative care for their pain. Second, those in severe enough pain can enter "palliative sedation," which is similar to a coma. The
third option available to them

The Ethics Of Physician Assisted Suicide
According to Mirror News, In October of 2014 a women named Charlotte Fitzmaurice Wise was watching her daughter Nancy Fitzmaurice suffer
from pain. She was born with Hydrocephalus and septicaemia which made it impossible for her to walk, talk, eat or drink. She required around the
clock care and was fed through tubes. As time went on her health worsened and she would scream in pain even though she was injected with
morphine. Wise believed that her daughter was in excruciating pain and deserved to be at peace. Wise submitted an application to end her
daughter's misery, and soon her application would be approved. She was able to relieve her daughter from pain, and made it legal in the United
Kingdom for a parent to end their critically ill child's life if they are disable and can't speak for themselves.
People have been questioning the ethics of physician assisted suicide since the late 18th century. According to medicinenet the definition of physician
assisted suicide is "the voluntary termination of one 's own life by administrating a lethal substance with the direct assistance of a physician." This
would typically come into play if/when a critically ill patient wants to end their suffering. Confirming with the State–by–State Guide to
Physician–Assisted Suicide, 5 states have
Paquin 2
Legalized physician assisted suicide. California, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington have made it legal by legislation, and Maine has made it legal by a
court ruling. The remaining 45 states

Federalism: Conflict Between States Government And The...
Stephanie Lerma
Professor Hogen–Esch
Political Science 155
10 September 2014
RA #1: Federalism
An example of a conflict in American politics between state government and the federal government was Oregon's assisted suicide law. In October of
1997, Oregon passed the "Death with Dignity Act", "which allowed terminally–ill people the option to end their lives through the voluntary
self–administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose". The conflict was whether the state of Oregon or the
federal government had the power and authority to choose whether "Death with Dignity" should be passed or not. The conflict arose when the Federal
government claimed that because physicians were ultimately prescribing ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The drugs or substances were not regulated by the Controlled Substances Act. Oregon claimed to have the right to control medical practices within its
boundaries and believed that federal government could not penalize state doctors who prescribed federally controlled substances to end their terminally
ill patients. However, the court decided that the Controlled Substances Act did not have a basis in structure nor power. The attorney General also
mentioned that " The law demonstrates no intent to regulate the practice of medicine." Federalism has its structure and limitations, "which allowed the
States great freedom under their police powers to legislate as to the protection of the lives, limbs, health, comfort, and quiet of all persons." "In its 1997
decision in Washington v. Glucksberg, theUnited States Supreme Court ruled that although the Constitution did not create a fundamental right to
physician–assisted suicide, decisions regarding whether or not to recognize and protect such a right fell within the legitimate Constitutional purview of
states. The original Oregon ruling survived a 1997 referendum vote, and evaluations of the law have shown its carefully circumscribed impact . To
date, Oregon remains the only state to expressly authorize physician–assisted suicide." I do agree that the

The United States Of America
The United States of America is well known throughout the world for tis democracy ant the freedoms of its citizens. Since declaring its Independence
from Great Britain rule in 1776, the United States of America has undergone a continuous effort to maintain law and order. In order to create a strong
federal government with a system of check and balances the Constitution was proposed and ratified. The Constitution of the United States became the
Supreme law of the land. (The Constitution) "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The preamble to the Constitution declares to provide for the common
defense, to promote general welfare and secure the blessing of liberty. Consequently the Constitution has limitations on the government to protect the
fundamental rights of it citizens. (The Constitution) These Fundamental rights can be found in the Bill of Rights, with ten amendments that provide
United States citizens with freedom of speech, religion, while protecting them from unreasonable search and seizure and assuring rights of speedy trial
by a jury of one's peers. (The Constitution) When a constitutional right has been violated by a law, United States citizens can bring such matter to court

The Oregon Death With Dignity Act
1.The Oregon Death with Dignity Act was put into effect on October 27, 1997. This act allowed physicians to prescribe to terminally ill patients a
lethal dose of medication in order to hasten their death, even though euthanasia is prohibited in the United States. According to Katrina Hedberg, this
act has been revised by Oregon legislature, but has still been brought to attention of the United States Supreme Court on raised questions of legality. In
order to receive a prescription for the Death with Dignity Act, the patient must reside in Oregon, be a terminally ill adult, and should be expected to die
within a six–month time frame. Along with these requirements, patients must be able to make their own healthcare decisions. Katrina Hedberg found
that over the course of ten years, physicians had written 546 prescriptions and a total of 341 Oregon residents passed away after the lethal dose under
this act. The medications that were prescribed during this time were secobarbital and pentobarbital, and most patients would pass away within an hour
of taking pentobarbital. Many physicians have reported that patients who requested these prescriptions often had a loss of autonomy and a decrease in
their ability to engage in activities that they enjoyed. The results showed that these factors had increased over the course of ten years. According to
physicians, patient's concerns of pain had also increased during this time. This is still very controversial, but findings have shown that

Stages Of Alzheimer 's Disease Genetics
I. Introduction – Attention
A. This is a picture of my grandparents, they lived very happy and exciting lives. But, after their retirement something changed with my grandmother–
she was unable to recognize the face of her husband, whom she had met when she was only 16 years old.
1. Both my father's mother, with early onset (which can begin at age 30) and his father, with late onset passed away with Alzheimer's disease.
2. There is genetic testing to determine if someone carries the gene (Alzheimer 's Disease Genetics Fact Sheet, 2014). 3. Both my father and I carry
the Alzheimer's gene. This means we are likely to develop either early on–set or late on–set AD. 4. Stages of Alzheimer's a. stage 1: hard to notice
1. patients ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
because they are bedridden they are susceptible to infection and pneumonia.
4. if they do not pass because of they will become comatose and shortly there after, die (Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms & Stages, 2014).
B. PAS should be offered to every single American citizen who has aterminal illness, and should also allow people with a life altering illness to be
allegeable, in order for our country to be humane and ethical. C. Both my father and I watched, not only once but twice, as someone who we loved
dearly humanity was striped away by this horrible disease
1. The only thing that makes living knowing that there is a high probability we will have an incurable brain disease is that we have the choice to
decide when we die in order to avoid a dehumanizing and slow death.
2. This death– knowing no one, unable to eat or breath on your own, confused about everything around you, eventually falling in to a coma and
starting to go into cardiac arrest is not a way that any of us want to die.
3. As my fathers power of attorney he has made it very clear that when he enters this stage he will retire to New Mexico in order to be part of the
death with dignity act. D. In this presentation I will tell you: statistical evidence proving PAS creates better end of life for patients with terminal and
life–altering illnesses, some of the acts opponent's main arguments, and what we can do to save people months or years of suffering.
Transition: around the

Physician Assisted Suicide For The Terminally Ill Essay
Physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill is one of the most debated policies in America. Physician assisted suicide (PAS) is only considered
a when a patient has a terminal illness and expresses their right to end their life with a physician. This scenario typically takes place when a patient is
suffering severely from a terminal illness and it is only a matter of time before they will die. Advocates for PAS have typically had a loved one who is
or was suffering through their final stages of life. Each individual state has specific laws and policies regarding the process of PAS; however, the
requirements for a patient to be considered for PAS are similar (Death with Dignity, n.d.).
Presently, there are currently only five states in which PAS is legally permitted: Oregon, Washington, California, Vermont, and Montana. In 2016,
there are 20 states in which PAS laws could change, so in order to fully understand the arguments and policies regarding PAS, one must be aware of
the key terms of PAS. The termeuthanasia is often used interchangeably with PAS, but they are different. Euthanasia occurs when a physician
administers life ending drugs into a patient, however, PAS occurs when the patient administers the life ending drugs themselves with a physician's
assistance (Death with Dignity, n.d.).
With the likely increase in states that allow PAS, there are many issues with stakeholders and policies that need to be addressed. There will
undoubtedly be ongoing

The Right to Die with Dignity: Physician Assisted Suicide...
Physician assisted suicide should be a choice of the patient in Florida. There has long been a debate on Physician assisted suicide in the state of
Florida, and in many other US states. The government has the burden on whether to pass an initiative on allowing physician assisted suicide. The
Right to die initiative is decided on a state by state basis.
Physician–assisted suicide is defined as a physician providing either equipment or medication, or to inform the patient of the most available means,
for the purpose of assisting the patient to end his or her own life. The people's opinion support PAS according to a poll given in 1998. The majority
33% of people agreed that Physician assisted suicide should be made legal in a variety ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A good example is the case of Lester W. Angell of Orlando, Fla. He had beensuffering from prostate cancer for seven years when he shot himself in
the head. Mr. Angell saw no other way to end his pain. If PAS had been legal in Florida, he may have had a much more peaceful death. "Many people
with terminal illness face the same dilemma. It is not a choice between life and death. It is a choice between a slow, agonizing death and a quick,
merciful one."(Angell)
There are arguments for both sides of the issue. There is fear that the terminally ill would be taken advantage of. If it is closely regulated this should
never be an issue. If the state of Florida passes the initiative for Physician–assisted suicide, tremendous pain and suffering could be avoided in many
cases. A patient, who has long been denied a death with dignity, would finally have recourse of action to end his or her painful life. Nurses and
doctors are certainly more qualified to recommend a painless procedure, than the patient is themselves. If agreed upon by the patient, vital organs
could be harvested and used for others before a disease like cancer ravishes them through time. Not only would the patient's suffering end, but the
tortured families of such patients would finally be given the chance for closure and begin to move ahead with their own lives once again. (Messerli)
In November 2008, Washington State voted to approve an initiative modeled after Oregon's "Death with Dignity" law.

Death with dignity Essay
Dying With Dignity
On Tuesday, March 24, an elderly Oregon woman, acting with the aid of a doctor, dosed herself with potent chemicals and died. The woman had
lived with breast cancer for more than 20 years. By all accounts her final hours were private and peaceful, as she became one of the first people in
American history to end her life lawfully with the aid of a physician (Oregonian A1).
She was able to end her life peacefully due to controversial legislation passed in her state. The Death with Dignity Act was passed by the state of
Oregon in 1994. It allows physicians to prescribe a lethal dose of medication so that a terminally ill patient can end his or her life. The requirements
set forth by ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Jones. In his dissent, he stated, "It does not violate the Controlled Substances Act's nonpreemption provision. It neither exceeds the Attorney General's
statutory authority under the Controlled Substances Act" (The Federal Register 12). Therefore, this action would be detrimental to all those who do
not choose to wait for death. In November of 2004 Ashcroft appealed to the Supreme Court and they will hear the case later this year. It is likely the
Supreme Court will interpret the regulations in accordance with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals but if it fails to do so Oregon will be forced to repeal
the statute.
This law has brought peace to 171 terminally ill and suffering individuals in a very painless and humane manner. Only 3 of the 43 patients experienced
complications in 2003. The only complications reported in these 3 cases were vomiting. One–half of all patients became unconscious within four
minutes of ingesting the lethal medication and all died within 20 minutes. The range of time from ingestion to death was five minutes to 48 hours
(Sixth Annual Report T3.9).
Physician assisted suicide accomplishes much more than ending suffering before death. The right is of the individual and should be respected by our
government. It is a fundamental freedom that we all should have. It allows a person to die with dignity and prevents the illness from killing them
before they die. "The Death with Dignity Act is very similar to other forms of euthanasia

California Should Adopt Oregon 's Death With Dignity Law
California should adopt Oregon's Death With Dignity law (DWDA).
Death With Dignity also called assisted suicide, right to die, and physician assisted suicide (PAS) allows physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to
patients with a long term illness. In order for them to get a hold of such medications they must have six months or less to live and willingly request this.
Reed Karaim author of, "Assisted Suicide" explains a study conducted by Margaret Battin, a prominent professor of philosophy and internal medicine
in the Division of Medical Ethics at the University of Utah in Provo. Her study found that those who used the lethal medication were white, privileged
to an education, and enjoyed socializing economically and professionally (Karaim 455).
The article "Brittany Maynard Death With Dignity Advocate for 'Death With Dignity' Dies" by Catherine E. Shoichet delivers the story of Brittany
Maynard. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012 and was told she had from 3–10 years to live. However, in another diagnose that she had she
was told she only had about six months to live. Maynard graduated from Berkeley and obtained a Masters in Education from the University of Irvine.
She was a California resident and could not obtain her wish of dying with assisted suicide here. She moved to Oregon and there she became a resident.
In 2014 Brittany Maynard consumed the drugs and peacefully died at 29 years. According to Lindsey Cook, editor of US News, the article "Here's
Who Uses

Essay On Physician Assisted Suicide
Writing Project Worksheet
1. This paper will examine the Washington state policy of physician–assisted suicide.
2. State Info: (characteristics, size, culture, political culture, industries, features, etc. to explain state support of policy)
Washington is a state in the northwestern United States with an estimated population of 7,288,000, as of July 1, 2016. Washington's population is
primarily white at 69% (not including Hispanics), with Hispanics comprising 12.4%, Asians 8.6%, and African Americans 4.1% ("QuickFacts"). This
ethnic distribution does not appear to have any special characteristics that may greatly affect state policy though the fact that there is a large majority of
whites may be of some consequence. In general, most of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This action, which took place but a few years after Washington's legalization of assisted suicide in 2008, demonstrates a continuing willingness to make
very controversial changes. Overall, Washington is a Democratic state in a historically liberal area of the United States with a major industry involved
in health. In addition, Washington has demonstrated a tendency to promote controversial changes through its legalization of marijuana. These factors
are all likely to have contributed to Washington's policy on physician–assisted death.
3. Policy Info: (what is the policy, who passed it, when, how was it passed)
Washington legalized physician–assisted suicide through the Death with Dignity Act, which was passed by an initiative on November 4, 2008 and
became law on March 4, 2009. As the Death with Dignity Act was an initiative (Initiative 1000), it was both proposed and voted into law by the
citizens of Washington. In particular, the initiative was filed and supported by former governor Booth Gardner, who helped garner enough signatures
for the initiative to be put on the ballot in 2008. The initiative passed with 1,715,219 votes or 57.82%, a significant margin ("Washington Initiative
1000"). The act "allows terminally ill adults seeking to end their life to request lethal doses of medication from medical and osteopathic physicians"
("Death with Dignity Act"), as long as they are residents of Washington state who have fewer than six months to live. The

Pros And Cons Of Physician Assisted Suicide In The United...
Within the past few years physician assisted suicide has been a major topic of debate. Assisted suicide is termed as suicide committed with aid from
another individual, including a doctor. With the suicide term raising much concern, many people interchangeably use other terms. A few terms are
death with dignity, physician assisted death or compassionate dying. Physician assisted death is implemented for those that are terminally ill and
mentally capable adults that would prefer to shorten their dying process. The option of being able to get medical aid in dying only apply to certain
states, and must pass through an election for that specific state. The first state to vote on the subject was Oregon and eventually passed in 1994 as the
Death with Dignity Act (Jackson, 2008). There are now six states in the United States that has passed this act. The states that are allowing physician
assisted death are District of Columbia, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California and recently Colorado.
Eligibility Criteria
To legally obtain a prescription medication to end your life under physician–assisted dying statutes, people must first become a qualified patient,
meeting a set of rigorous requirements. First off, people who are thinking of using the act must be a resident of Colorado, California, Washington,
Vermont, District of Columbia and Oregon. They must also be 18 years or older, and be mentally competent. Lastly, they must be diagnosed with a
terminal illness that will lead to

Assisted Suicide Or Physician Aid For Dying ( Pad ) Is...
While many Americans assume "assisted suicide" or physician aid–in–dying (PAD) is unethical, they may not be fully aware of what it is and how it
helps people. Imagine a loved one of yours was near the end of their life. The doctors predict only six months or less remain of their life and these
next six months will consist of excruciating pain and will be almost too unbearable to comprehend. As the six months progress this person will
lose the ability to eat. They will be forced to a diet of flaky ice chips which will put them in a state of relentless hunger making their body weaker
and more painful than it had been before. They will also lose the ability to care for themselves and will find themselves relying on family members
or complete strangers at times to care for their most private needs. After all this treatment, pain, embarrassment, and utter helplessness the patient will
feel as if they have lost their dignity, they will feel as if they are a burden to everyone around them and will even become depressed in some cases. If
the loved one lives in Washington State, Oregon, or Vermont they will then be faced with two options regarding the next six hypothetical months they
can decide to take on the most unbearable six months of their life or they can resort to an alternative called "Death with Dignity" in which they will be
administered a dose of medication from their physician that will take their life. The process is painless and can only be administered to patients

Death With Dignity: Ethics Vs. Personal Choice
Death with Dignity: Ethics vs Personal Choice
Jack Kevorkian, the assisted suicide advocate died at the age of 83 on June 3, 2011. Supporters say he was a compassionate caregiver who paid a
severe penalty for helping chronically ill patients end their suffering. Critics, however, say Kevorkian's compassion clouded his ethical physician
responsibility. He first captured the public's attention in 1990 when he put a needle in the arm of Janet Atkins. Although this needle did end her life,
his compassion, considered clouded by critics, spared her from the painful progression of her Alzheimer's disease (Hulett, 2011). On the day of his death
, Lessenberry stated "It will be very interesting 50 years from now to see whether Kevorkian is regarded by history as this sort of a bizarre crank or
whether he'll be regarded as a modern medical pioneer (as cited in Hulett 2011).
The First Five: Legal Physician Assisted Suicide States
In 1994, just four years following Kevorkian's assistance in the death ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Over the years, there has been much discussion over Christian opposition on both of these issues. Scientific advancements have cured diseases that
were incurable in the past. Medical providers treat and heal patients, but there are times when all attempts to heal are unsuccessful. When healing is not
possible, palliative care is an attempt to alleviate discomfort at the end of life (Guli, 2016). When physician–assisted help in end of life decisions arise,
concerns around ethics and personal choice are always going to be on the forefront of this debate. Colorado is following other states who have laid
out the groundwork for the Death with Dignity Act. After careful analysis of this proposal, I will be thinking of Jack Kevorkian's passion and the
patients and families who benefit from how my vote on Proposition

Physician Assisted Suicide : Who Should Decide If A...
Grace Lukash 5/25/16
Gemini GovernmentSiembor
Who should decide if a terminally ill person has the right to commit physician–assisted suicide?
Introduction
Physician Assisted Suicide has been a very controversial topic in the recent years. P.A.S can also be known as physician assisteddeath or euthanasia.
Many states wonder wither this practice is morally right or wrong. Physician Assisted Suicide is when a doctor administers patient lethal drugs, upon the
request of the patient, with the end result being death. A popular question that surfaces when this topic is brought up is: Who should decide if a
terminally ill patient had the right to commit physician assisted suicide? In support of the previous statements, this ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The Netherlands and Switzerland have decriminalized the practice of assisted suicide. This was an important step because then many people traveled
to these countries to commit this act. Craig Ewert, a British citizen is an example of one of these people. He traveled to Zurich in 2008 to commit
suicide (Pickert,2009). Physician assisted suicide is also legal in five states: California, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana.
Timeline of Events
In October 27 1997, Oregon's Death with Dignity Act was made into a law (CNN, 2016). November 4, 2008, Washington's initiative, the Death
with Dignity Act passed with 57.91% of favored votes (CNN, 2016). In the March of 2009, The Washington Death with Dignity Act started to go
in effect (CNN, 2016). Montana asserts the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act which protects physicians who prescribe the patient lethal pills from
being liable in December 31, 2009 (CNN, 2016). Vermont joins the other states the legalized P.A.S in May 20, 2013 by signing Patient Choice and
Control at End of Life act into a law (CNN, 2016). October 5, 2015 Jerry Brown Signs the End of Life Option Act as a law, which would legalize
physician–assisted suicide (CNN, 2016).
States that support P.A.S Requirements and Restrictions Out of all 50 states, only five have made physicians assisted suicide legal. These starts are
California, Washington, Oregon, Vermont, and Montana. Each of these states

The Death Of The United States
Imagine that if you were diagnosed with a terminal illness, and at some point it became apparent that you had less than six months to live. Imagine
further, if you will, that to the best of available medical knowledge, your death will be painful and traumatic; dementia, loss of sight or hearing, and
loss of bodily functions. Would you want the people you love to witness this if it caused them greater anguish? Would you want your life to end this
way if you had an alternative? I believe that in the United States, all terminally ill adults who are mentally competent should have the freedom to die
with dignity the way they desire, the choice to die with the aid of a competent and willing physician, and non–punitive laws in place that protect their
decision.
I want to acknowledge that a conversation about death is a conversation that makes many people uncomfortable and stirs strong emotions. Death is a
very personal issue, but it is a guarantee that we are all going to die, and that we are all going to lose people we love. Death with dignity is a
movement to provide more options for those who are dying. This conversation is growing in the United States, and throughout the world, as to whether
a terminally ill adult has the legal right to receive aid in ending their life when they know they are going to die. The non–profit Death with Dignity
National Center states: "the greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs"

Physician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized
Is it appropriate for an individual to end their life through physician–assisted suicide in developed countries, specifically in the United States?
Physician–assisted suicide (PAS) is the voluntary termination of one's own life by the administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect
assistance of a physician. The assistance of a physician for a terminally ill patient to commit their own suicide, has been a much debated topic in
developed countries. It is a much bigger topic in developed countries than in developing countries due to the advances of medicine. It is argued that
physician–assisted suicide shouldn't be legalized because of religious and moral reasons. Additionally, PAS is incompatible with the doctor's role as a
healer. However, physician–assisted suicide should be legalized because patients should have the option to choose if they want to end their life. It is a
way for people to be able to die with dignity and without indefinite suffering.
Medical advances in developed countries has saved the lives of more individuals than ever before. Developments in the field of medicine have
benefited terminal patients by reducing their pain and suffering. Medical advances can however prolong the death of a patient when they are in the final
stages of dying. Many argue that this has resulted in patients not being able to end their life with dignity, particularly individuals who understand they
are terminally ill. Terminally ill patients can live

The Doctrine Of Physician Assisted Suicide
Although a majority of Americans consider suicide morally wrong, the public shows a broad support for the idea of physician assisted suicide when
considering terminal patients. However, even though it is the same concept, the term "physician assisted suicide" is a somewhat negative implication
for a substantial amount of Americans, which is why the public is divided when asked about its moral acceptance. Physician–assisted suicide is thought
by many to be a form of euthanasia, however, it is not. Euthanasia is when a doctor injects a patient with a lethal dosage of medication accelerating the
death process. During this process, the physician only prescribes a lethal dose of medication to a patient. According to Dr. Brian Pollard,... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
(Oregon health authority, 2015) Just a month later of November 1997, another state wide ballot presented which asked Oregon voters to withdrawal
the Death with Dignity Act. The ballot was carried out, yet the voters still favored the act by a 60% margin, this allowed the Death with Dignity Act to
remain. Oregon then became the first state to allow this practice followed by Washington, Vermont, and Montana. New Mexico has become
significantly closer to becoming the fifth state (Ganzini, 2015). DWDA allows terminally ill individuals to end their lives through the method of
self–administration of medications that cause death; these medications are prescribed by a physician for this purpose. The law states that, in order to
participate, the patient must have specific criteria's to be able to participate in the program. The patient verbally voices two requests to willingly take
their own lives, this request must be at least 15 days apart and the patient must also provide a written request to the physician followed by two witnesses
including one that is not related to the participant. Following this step the diagnosis and prognosis must then be confirmed by the primary physician
and consulting MD. This is also completed with an assessment determining whether the patient is capable of making health care decisions for him
/herself (Ganzini, 2015). The patient may

One of the most difficult aspects of working in the medical field, specifically as a nurse, is the loss of a patient. Similarly, watching a patient who has
been diagnosed with a terminal disease struggle emotionally and physically to deal with their upcoming death is difficult to watch. Suffering in the
hospital, their life is not of quality and their family is watching them struggle. Highly debated, physician assisted suicide has been named one of the
options for these patients. Physician assisted suicide occurs, at least where is is legal, when a terminally ill patients makes the decision that they would
like to die, rather than suffer the rest of their life. Once the patient makes this decision, the physician can assist them in death by either administering
euthanasia to the patient or prescribing the drug to the patient to take on their own. There are currently, according to Death With Dignity, six states
that have legalized physician assisted suicide: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (Death). As can be seen
by the amount of states with physician assisted suicide legal, it is not a widely supported practice. However, lawmakers should work towards the
removal of bans in many locations of physician assisted suicide and towards legalizing; it violates no federal law, end of life care isn't efficient enough
to eliminate mental suffering, animals are euthanized for the same reasons, and it ends the patient's suffering. In the past

Essay on Euthanasia in the United States
Euthanasia in the United States
The frail woman lay on her bed, chatting quietly with her grandchild. They had spent the day talking about unicorns, Cinderella, and "the olden days."
As they conversed, the woman's daughter looked on. She nodded to the doctor, and by the end of the evening the joyful spirit of old woman was gone.
Euthanasia is a practice that has become more common than realized in the United States. Various states in the Union have tried to legalize euthanasia
within the past few years. Those states include Colorado, Florida, Maine, Michigan, New York, Washington, California andOregon. North Carolina,
Utah and Wyoming do not necessarily ban physician–assisted suicide. Euthanasia is criminalized in the remaining states ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
A Right to Life lawyer named Annette Patterson said: "It's becoming the abortion issue of the next century and just as nasty. Yet it is even more
important because how we die concerns everyone (Johnson 31)." There is a strong element of truth in this statement. Even though a miniscule
percentage of people would ever request assistance in dying, to legalize "controlled" euthanasia would create a wide doorway for open and
uncontrolled physician–assisted suicide (Meier 37). Oregon's Death with Dignity law, effective since November 4, 1997, did exactly that (Oregon
41). God wants the sanctity of life to be upheld at every cost, no matter the circumstances surrounding the issue. In our modern world, people only
think of themselves and their own selfish desires, not necessarily for the good of another's life. To love someone is to help that person improve the
condition of life, not destroy it because it was a personal choice. In Matthew 24:12, it states that "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of
many shall wax cold (Matthew). " America has become as selfish nation that harbors sin, and is therefore looking for a way to eliminate those who
need her help the most. The Death with Dignity law is based off Netherlands' laws on euthanasia enforcement and regulations (Oregon 52). It is now
the basis for many stateside proposals, such as California's, on euthanasia (Johnson 33). It has several requirements, such as a waiting time

Euthanasia is sometimes referred to a "mercy killing." This controversial topic has been debated for decades. Some argue that euthanasia causes more
harm than good, and with modern medicine it is simply unnecessary. Others argue that it is an act of mercy sparing a suffering individual from days,
weeks, or months of unnecessary pain and anguish. However, there are moral and ethical questions surrounding euthanasia. It could be argued that
killing of any kind is murder. No matter the situation or circumstances surrounding the action, it is just wrong and should never happen. Euthanasia
laws vary all over the world. For example, "In January 1936, King George V was given a fatal dose of morphine and cocaine to hasten his death. At the
time ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Do you? Many people base their lives and health in their spirituality, making religion a key ingredient in the decision making of patient end of life
care. For example, some do not agree with resuscitation when it comes to the heart stopping. This to them is a death–delaying action, challenging their
values and beliefs that this act is altering the course of nature. With euthanasia doctors will feel the same tug at their ethics and values as they will be
letting this patient make him or her own choice about ending their life. I view euthanasia as being very similar to this practice. If I chose to end my
suffering months before the end it should be my choice only or those that know my way of life. I think the same laws should apply to protect
euthanasia. Is it harmful to want to go before or once the pain and suffering has become too much?
American Medical Association says that euthanasia will ultimately cause more harm than good. There are many reasons why the practice would be
a good thing for many. This be economically the perfect decision for most. End of life care is a very dollar process, people could put themselves deep
debt for the years following the passing of a love when they only received these services

Pros And Cons Of Assisted Suicide
Debate Paper
On the positive side of assisted suicide, it is strongly believed that the right to assisted suicide allows the terminally ill to have a clean and fair death.
No one wants to live with pain and sorrow. From their perspective, doctor's help the suffering and terminally ill to die when they choose is nothing
wrong. From what they had argued, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution allows people the right to freedom of speech, press,
petition, religion. With this logic, it would be reasonable to believe that you are allowed to have the right to die. The right to assisted suicide can help the
patients with the terminally ill to release from pain and suffering, reduce the damaging financial effects of hospital care on their families, and preserve
the individual right of people to determine their own fate.
However, on the negative side of the assisted suicide debate, It is argued that a physician's goal is to help their patient get the proper care and help
they need in order to get better and heal; it should not be through killing them. From Procon.org, In Compassion in Dying v. State of Washington, it
was stated that physician assisted suicides acts as a slippery slope to those who aren't terminally ill and will take advantage of it. Once we allow
assisted suicides, it opens the way to offering it to people who are no longer mentally competent. And then to people who are in distress but not
terminally ill. So this is saying that if anyone suffered

Death With Dignity Act Case Study
First, Connecticut pro–choice supporters attempted to legalize the Death with Dignity Act three times since 2013, as they believe competent, terminally
ill individuals in Connecticut should have the legal right to choose medically assisted death. Unfortunately, this legislation has not come to a vote in
Connecticut; however, each time more people are supportive of the bill. The last Quinnipiac University Poll, completed in March 2015, has shown that
by more than a 2–1 margin (63% vs. 31%), Connecticut voters support "allowing doctors to legally prescribe lethal drugs to help terminally ill patients
end their lives" (C&C, Oregon, 2016). The "Death with Dignity Act" originated in Oregon, in 1997 with enough support to be the first state to pass
the new law. Washington passed a similar law eleven years later, in 2008. Additionally, Colorado has been the most recent state to have this law passed
on November 8, 2016. All the states have modeled after Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. Specifically, the law states that the person must be terminally
ill with less than six months to live, also be at least eighteen ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Specifically, Washington, DC has recently approved the legislation, and it is taking the bill to Congress in December 2016. Presently, the United
States has five states that approved the law for the assistance of medical aid in dying. As recently as November 15, 2016, The Times paper
announced: "The D.C. Council overwhelmingly approved a "Death with Dignity" bill Tuesday that allows terminally ill patients the ability to obtain
medication to end their lives" (Sanburn, 2016). With two states legalizing the Death with Dignity Act, within a year, grassroots supporters, increase
media and spokespeople such as Brittney Maynard more people will consider voting for the pro–choice choice in death bill to make a personal
decision with the support of their family, medical providers, and

Euthanasia Should Be Allowed To Die Research Paper
To have the right to be assisted to die or to not have the right to be assisted to die, that is the question. An individual can have their lives turn upside
down with merely a sentence being told to them. "With the countless procedures performed, we are lament to say, there is no cure." Just with
fourteen words being said, all hope is lost. What is the point of living on if all that is being felt is pure utter pain? These individuals that have already
been told they have a terminal illness should be given their rights to end their lives. Being exempt from pure excruciating and unbearable pain is
immoral; having said that, doctors should allow their patients to commit assisted suicide.
Differentiating between euthanasia and assisted suicide is essential when discussing the right to die. When a third party has performed the last act in the
patient's death, euthanasia has occurred. When a lethal injection is presented to the patient and the patient decides to insert it into their veins, assisted
suicide has been partaken. The patient should have a right to decide whether or not they would like to continue living or perish. The doctor should not
be the one in control when advocating the decision their patient would like to commit. Euthanasia makes the doctor the primary source to what should
happen with their patient. Assisted suicide should be promoted instead of Euthanasia due to the fact that the patient overall decides their final fate.
In the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Medicare paid $50 billion for the bills of patients that merely had two months to live. It also has been estimated 20 to 30 percent of these medical
expenditures had no meaningful impact (The Cost of Dying). It costs up to $10,000 to be put into an intensive care unit. Not monthly, daily. Having to
pay $10,000 for maintaining an individual that will soon pass away does not seem

The Death With Dignity And Physician Assisted Suicide
There are currently three states that have adopted legislation supporting "Death with Dignity", also known as physician–assisted suicide. Oregon,
Washington, and Vermont have each enacted laws that enable a terminally ill, mentally competent, adult to decide and dictate end of life decisions up
to and including the time of their death. Oregon was the first United States (U.S.) to enact legislation and other states in the union have followed suit.
Literature Review
There are numerous articles regarding Death with Dignity and Physician–Assisted Suicide. Friend (2011) investigates the history of physician–assisted
suicide, the Hemlock Society, and the ethical considerations to physician–assisted suicide. A wealth of information was made available from the
www.oregon.gov defending the state's decision of enacting and the subsequent legal defense of the Death with Dignity legislation. Finally, van Gennip,
Roeline, Pasman, Kaspers, Oosterveld–Vlug, Willems, Deeg & Onwuteaka–Philipsen, (2013) performed a survey study in Amsterdam, a country with a
markedly different attitude toward Death with Dignity than that of Americans.
The History of Death with Dignity
Prior to the fifteenth century, early civilizations upheld the right of citizens to kill themselves rather than endlessly suffer. According to Friend (2011,
p. 110), upon request, physicians often provided poison to their patients. Doctors of the Hippocratic School oft challenged the practice and acceptance
of euthanasia, but

Moral And Ethical Controversies Of Assisted Suicide
Moral and Ethical Controversies of Assisted Suicide The practices of euthanasia and assisted suicide are something that takes place in hospitals
around the world both legally and illegally. It is the act of intentionally causing a patients death or allowing a patient to take their own life by
prescribing lethal doses of medication. Until very recently, it was only legal in one state in the United States, Oregon. However, just this past
November, Washington also hopped on board. Opinions about the topic vary; some justify it by saying they are putting an end to the patient's
suffering, some simply see it as killing, and others think it depends on the situation. With that being said, if it is ok, at what point do we know? How
does this fit... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is a case in which those who support euthanasia justify themselves. In most cases euthanasia is usually done by giving a patient a lethal injection
or giving them an overdose of medication. Assisting a patient's suicide can be characterized by a doctor prescribing lethal doses of medication to a
patient; "Pharmacists dispense them, sometimes with instructions to 'take all of this with a light snack and alcohol to cause death'" (American Thinker).
Advocates of assisted suicide strongly believe that no one should be forced to stay alive if they do not want to, but the problem with this is that
sometimes it is done without the patient's consent, or without them being in the correct state of mind to know what exactly they are agreeing to.
Anyone has the right to commit suicide if they wish to, but euthanasia and assisted suicide is one person aiding the death of another, and that is what
is immoral. It changes from the right to die to the right to kill. Oregon was the first and only state for nearly ten years to legalize assisted suicide.
According to USA Today, "In 1994 Oregon voters by a margin of 51 percent approved the Death with Dignity Act", which was passed in November of
1997 (USA Today). The Supreme Court ruled that there was no constitutional right or prohibition of euthanasia or physician assisted suicide, thus
allowing Oregon to experiment with the legalization of it. The Act "allows terminally–ill Oregonians to end their lives through

Legalizing The Death With Dignity Act
The story of Brittany Maynard continues to sweep the nation and has sparked a highly controversial debate concerning the legality and ethicality of
assisting in one's death. When twenty–nine year old Maynard was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and given less than six months to live, she made the
difficult decision to pick up and move to Portland, Oregon. Oregon exists as one of only four states that have legalized assisted suicide (Egan 60–64). In
Oregon, she legally ended her battle with cancer in a dignified manner (Egan 60–64). The American Heritage Dictionary defines euthanasia as, "the
action of inducing the painless death of a person for reasons assumed to be merciful" (Morris 453). There are more people than just Maynard who are
strong ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
During the first year the death with dignity act went into effect in Oregon, just fifteen people ended their life through the process of euthanasia. In
1997, a group of people rallied to undermine the death with dignity act with a statute called measure fifty–one but the citizens of Oregon rejected the
measure proving that the men and women of Oregon demand this right and want the death with dignity act to stay in place ("Assisted Suicide and
Euthanasia Timeline"). Sixty–one physicians wrote prescriptions for lethal doses of medication in Oregon in the year 2012 for the purpose of
euthanasia, displaying the willingness of experienced medical professionals to assist patients in dying with dignity ("Prescription for Suicide" 1).
Washington became the second state to legalize assisted suicide in November of 2008, and Montana followed suit on January second, 2010. Finally,
Vermont legalized assisted suicide in May of 2013, becoming the fourth and final state to emulate support for death with dignity. The precise reason
that more states do not make dying with dignity a legal option is complicated, but one factor that does contribute to the rejection of assisted suicide
legislation is the concerns about the safety and ethicality of euthanasia ("Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Timeline"). The reality of these concerns is
that the regulations regarding assisted suicide are proving to work impeccably as noted by the Canada Compassion and Choices

Death With Dignity Act
On November 1994 the people who lived in Oregon passed the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. In the Article, "Observations on the first year of
Oregon's Death with Dignity Act" written by Lee and Werth, they explain through the use of data how the Act has helped individuals and how the
process works. The Act allows a mentally competent, terminally ill Oregon adult resident to request, and an Oregon licensedphysician to prescribe,
medication that may be used to assist in dying (Lee). Of course an Act like this was going to cause issues. Immediately after the law passed, a federal
District Court agreed to hear a constitutional claim against this new law and issued an injunction preventing it from going into effect; the lawsuit
proceeded with hearings, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
An example of this from the article left a family disillusioned. The mother had been told she had liver cancer and it had spread throughout multiple
organs and an optimistic prognosis was three months. She made a request under the Act, but the physician appeared to change the message saying he
was not totally convinced that she was terminally ill, and he ordered further tests. In order to get assisted death a patient has to be said terminally ill
by a physician. She died one month later and her family was convinced that both the physician and hospital had pursued their own self–interest in
ordering costly tests instead of following the patient's wishes. This is one problem they have found with the Act. However, for the most part the Act
has been a success. Ten patients out of the thirty–four did use the medication to end their life. In addition to this several potential violent suicides and
homicides were prevented by the Act. Overall, the Act provides people that are a resident of Oregon with this choice of assisted death and has eased
the suffering of many Oregonians and their loved

Death With Dignity Act Research Paper
Oregon's Death with Dignity Act
In 1997 Oregon arranged to enact the Death with Dignity Act. This act allows people who are residents of Oregon to end their own life through the
voluntary self–administration o lethal medications, as prescribed by a medical professional who specifies in this area of healthcare. The Oregon Death
with Dignity act requires that all physicians, patients and other professionals to submit patient information, data, and annual statistical reports to the
Oregon Health Authority.
Policy Background
В What was the first instance of this policy being passed or debated?
The first instance of this law being debated in Oregon was all the way back in 1994.
The Oregon Death with Dignity Act came about as a citizen's initiative ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Three years later after this laws inception in 1994, in 1997 Measure 51 came on the ballot however Measure 51 was defeated by a margin of 60 percent
yay and 40 percent nay. The 1997 effort to repeal this law had backfired on legislators who pushed for Measure 51 resulting in a clear mandate
from voters this unique law is here to stay on the books. As we say in class, positions want to get reelected, so the state legislature had no choice but
to carry about the business of this unique law. The state of Oregon is proud to be in a league of its own. Many in the state see it as a progressive piece of

Persuasive Essay On Assisted Suicide
"Of course, we know that not everyone agrees with assisted suicide, but people might agree that one has the right to it, even if they're not themselves
going to exercise it," –John Rawls. Assisted suicide is only allowed in four states in the United States, and another state allows the act but with the
approval of the court. Since, many people oppose assisted suicide it is not allowed in too many places. If you were in extreme pain and knew there was
no cure and that your life would end in the next few months wouldn't you want to end your life earlier so you wouldn't feel so much pain? The only
problem is you can't unless you move somewhere that allows the act All people should have the ability to make decisions regarding their life care and
end of life decisions.
To start off, the problem with assisted suicide is that not many places in the world allow the Death with Dignity Act. This is a very large problem
because people that want to end their lives can't unless they move to a place and become official permanent residents which takes a long period of
time. For example, a known story around the world of Brittany Maynard also talks about how she was diagnosed in 2014 with Brain Cancer and
since her state, California, didn't allow the act she moved to Oregon where they did allow the act. She moved there to take the advantage of the Death
with Dignity law. In fact, 1,749 people in Oregon have had prescriptions written for and 1,127 have died ingesting the drugs that were

Death With Dignity Act Research Paper
The Oregon Death With Dignity Act was a citizen–initiative ballot measure and appeared as Ballot Measure 16. The question presented to the voters
was: "Shall law allow terminally ill adult Oregon patients voluntary informed choice to obtain physician's prescription for drugs to end life?"
Implementation of the act was delayed for three years because of a legal injunction. On October 27, 1997, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the
injunction, and Death With Dignity became a legal option for the terminally ill in Oregon. On November 4, 1997, an attempt to repeal the act by
voter approval of Ballot Measure 51 failed, with 60% voting in opposition and 40% voting in favor of the repeal (Tuten 59). The act allows physicians
to prescribe, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(2) The patient must provide a written request to his or her physician, signed in the presence of two witnesses. (3) The prescribing physician and a
consulting physician must confirm the diagnosis and prognosis. (4) The prescribing and a consulting physician must determine whether the patient is
capable. (5) If either physician believes the patient's judgment is impaired by a psychiatric or psychological disorder, the patient must be referred for a
psychological examination (6) The prescribing physician must inform the patient of feasible alternatives to assisted suicide, including comfort care,
hospice care, and pain control. (7) The prescribing physician must request, but may not require, that patients notify their next–of–kin of the prescription
request. The original law was amended in 1999 to require that pharmacists be informed of the prescribed medication's ultimate use. The physician may
attend the patient when the medication is taken, but it is not legally required. Physicians must report all prescriptions to the state department of health
services and they are protected from criminal prosecution if they adhere to the requirements of the

The Suicide Of A Patient Essay
"The suicide of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, effected by the taking of lethal drugs provided by a doctor for this purpose," is the
dictionary definition of assisted suicide, or assisted death. Much debate has taken place over whether or not this should be a right of the terminally ill,
and whether a doctor can grant that wish. Although modern medicine has brought a multitude of benefits to humanity, it cannot relieve the pain and
suffering associated with the dying process.
Kate Pickert, for TIME Magazine, notes that when people hear the term "euthanasia" they think of the battle in the 1990's, featuring Jack "Doctor Death
" Kevorkian. Slowly, countries, or at least individual states, have chosen to declare assisted suicide as legal or illegal based on a variety of reasons but
religion being the most prominent reason. The idea of assisted suicide is considered illegal in considering the Biblical Commandment, which states
Thou Shalt Not Kill. Despite this, some christian societies are considering the idea. Australia legalized it in 1995 but unusually, recanted that law in
1997. Also in 1997, the United States declared that assisted suicide was not a constitutional right but years later in 2006, the Supreme Court decided
that such severe cases should be up to the individual states. This ruling contributes to Oregon's "Death With Dignity" law, which was actually in place
since 1997 but in 2007, "some 46 people committed suicide in Oregon under the law" (

Physician Assisted Suicide: The Right to Choose
Did you know, about 57% of physicians today have received a request for physician assisted suicide due to suffering from a terminally ill patient.
Suffering has always been a part of human existence, and these requests have been occurring since medicine has been around. Moreover, there are two
principles that all organized medicine agree upon. The first one is physicians have a responsibility to relieve pain and suffering of dying patients in
their care. The second one is physicians must respect patients' competent decisions to decline life–sustaining treatment. Basically, these principles state
the patients over the age of 18 that are mentally stable have the right to choose to end their life if they are suffering from pain. As of right ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
A patient must meet the requirements in order to qualify for physician assisted suicide. The patient must be "diagnosed with a terminal illness that will
lead to death within six months" (Fass, and Fass 846). Being a legal resident of a state that has legalized the procedure and being eighteen years old
are also requirements. Another qualification is being able to make and communicate health care decisions. Along with those requirements, there are
certain guidelines that must be followed during the process of physician assisted suicide. First, the patient must make two oral requests for physician
assisted suicide at least fifteen days apart. A written request that has to be signed in front of two witnesses must also be provided to the physician. The
patient then has to be referred to a consulting physician, so that he can confirm the diagnosis and prognosis and approve that the patient is capable of
making decisions related to health care. "The prescribing physician must notify the patient of alternatives to suicide, including comfort care, hospice
care, and pain management" (Fass, and Fass 846). It is expected of the physician to encourage the patient to tell their family. The physician has to
follow rules to dispense the medication after these steps. One rule is to be registered as a dispensing practitioner and maintaining a current Drug
Enforcement Administration certificate in order

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