Assisted suicide involves physicians assisting terminally ill patients end their lives. There is an ongoing debate about the ethics of this practice, with arguments on both sides. Proponents argue that individuals have a right to control their own lives and deaths, while opponents believe it violates medical ethics and religious beliefs. As the issue continues to be discussed, more states are considering laws to allow assisted suicide under certain conditions. However, there are still many challenges to addressing this complex and controversial topic around patients' rights, medical ethics, and end-of-life decisions.

1. S
Assisted Suicide
By Bryan Trinh

2. The issue
S Assisted Suicide is a method physicians use in order to assist
terminally ill patients to cease their life upon request.
S The controversy around the topic are based on ethical, moral
and even religious beliefs
S Overtime, new perspectives begin to shed light on the ordeal
S In recent news, there has been a large movement called the
‘Aid in Dying’ among many states including New York and
California

3. The Challenge
S Many argue and claim its unethicality in the medical field and
violation in religious practices
S The question of breaking the “Physician’s Hippocratic Oath” is
also in dispute as the oath states to “do no harm”
S Healthcare spending are also in question as the method is not
cheap
S A social scare that Assisted Suicide may make ‘dying and
suicide’ outside medical condition seem acceptable

4. The Debate
S Should we burden unwilling physicians to give up the
lives of their patients upon request?
S Is Assisted Suicide just a form of legalized murder?
S Do people have the right to live or die?
S Should this method be reserved only for the mentally ill?
S Should we really allow a mentally unstable person to make
that decision?

5. Research Available
S Testimonies/Surveys among certified Physicians
S A poll with the public opinion (through social media)
S Academic Search Premier (lib.rowan.edu)
S Many new’s articles/ blogs (NyTimes, Huffingtonpost, ect)
S Ebscohost Databases

6. Specific Resources
S Carey, Benedict. "Assisted Suicide Study Questions Its Use for
Mentally Ill." The New York Times. The New York Times, 10 Feb.
2016. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
S Eckholm, Erik. "‘Aid in Dying’ Movement Takes Hold in Some
States." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Feb. 2014.
Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
S Editorial Board, Post. "Don't Pretend It's Not Assisted Suicide --- at
Least." New York Post. 15 Feb. 2016. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<http://nypost.com/2016/02/15/dont-pretend-its-not-assisted-
suicide-at-least/>.
S Koch, Tom. "Living Versus Dying With Dignity." The Huffington
Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 30 Nov. 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.

7. Obstacles to
Overcome/Challenges with
topic
S This topic will have many biased opinions based on
ethics
S It may be difficult to interpret different perspectives due to
lack of understanding of the victims from both sides
(physicians vs patients)
S There is no clear cut solution and can be considered a
lose-lose situation
S The topic of human rights is involved and the “Right to
die”
S This is highly controversial