Should Physician-Assisted Suicide be Legal?

Most people in North America develop what may be called a stinking oddment. One study found that More often than non, patients died in pain, their desires concerning give-and-take neglected, after spending 10 days or more in an intensive cargon unit (Horgan). The word euthanasia is the opposite of knotty death in that its Greek origins of eu (good) and thanatos (death) confuse it substance good death. The media attention dedicated to Dr. jack Kevorkian, the death doctor, in the mid-eighties has given rise to some interesting perplexitys and moral dilemmas concerning the honest to die. Jack Kevorkian made use of felo-de-se machines, rigged contraptions that would deliver a death blow, to his patients that recommended them.Basically, euthanasia is the mercy k dizzying of an person who has a terminal illness and who might be in considerable pain or withstand no quality of manner. It tidy sum take two forms. Passive euthanasia is simply denying the patient lifespansavi ng treatments. Examples of this can be the removal of feeding tubes or breathing tubes. Active Euthanasia is, as the name implies, an active counsel to put a suffering soulfulness to death. It may include administering deadly doses of painkillers or toxins to the individual. One definition of physician aided suicide which combines both type of euthanasia and therefore has been dubbed voluntary passive euthanasia (VPE) is A physician supplies information and/or the means of committing suicide (e.g. a prescription medicine for lethal dose of sleeping pills, or a supply of carbon monoxide gas) to a psyche, so that they can easily terminate their own life (Robinson). Recently morals and ethics have come into conflict over this issue. Is the right to die inherent in each individual? What mapping does dignity play? Is the quality of life more important than the holiness of life?The majority of people look to answer these questions from their own in-person experiences. Those who have watched love ones die long and painful deaths will unremarkably wish to avoid those ends themselves. When death is imminent, suffering for a few pointless days spent in pain or even unconscious or unawargon of ones surroundings seems a faineant and even cruel punishment to inflict upon oneself or a love one. Others fear that the depression and pain experienced by the dying person argon clouding their decisiveness-making abilities. However, personal feelings are the least likely to be pass because everyones personal feelings and view differ. Therefore, other levels of the moral and legitimate hierarchy must be considered.Many attempt to resolve this dilemma through and through religious avenues. Religion as a basis for good decisions is not uncommon. Legally, the church and state must remain separate, but many a(prenominal) exceptions have been made. A moment of silence in school can be used for prayer. Member of certain religious denominations may refuse medical exami nation treatment such(prenominal) as vaccinations for their children. Certain individuals are not needed to swear on the Bible in court, and some religious groups are even allowed controlled and illegal substances for use in religious services. Clearly precedency has been set for breaching or at least blurring, the line between legal and moral. Most devoutly religious individuals believe that taking the life of some other is immoral under any muckle. They believe that only God can give and take life. Clearly they view physician-assisted suicide as murder. Doctors who do so are playing God, which is considered a sin.From a medical standpoint, doctors are often in the middle of this debate. As physicians, they are extremely educated about the pain and suffering associated with terminal diseases and injuries. They may feel personally saddened at this deterioration of a patient that they have come to know. However, the doctors are bound by the Hippocratic Oath in which they have verbalise first, do no harm. At this point, they possible feel conflicted between their passe-partout duty and their personal feelings.Legally, taking ones own life is suicide and taking anothers life is murder. Wikipedia defines murder as the premeditated unlawful killing of one human being by another through any action intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm (Murder). This definition, doctors who take the life of a patient, even one who is suffering horrible and certain to die, is guilty of murder.Thus, the question of should physician-assisted suicide be legal is certainly complex. Public opinion canvass show that the international globe is generally supportive of euthanasia. According to a Gallup poll in 1997, 57% of people are in prefer and 35% are opposed in the US. In Canada, 76% are supportive with that number rising to 80% in Britain, 81% in Australia and 92% in the Netherlands (Reed, A12).The right to die is just one of the many options that have come under the legislative domain. Roe v. Wade gave the choice of abortion to women. However, this right is now in jeopardy. It seem that the US politics is afr supporter to give choices about personal life decisions to the American public out of fear of religious backlash. This has led to doctors fearing to provide this humanitarian aid out of fear of legal backlash in the form of lawsuits or even prose cold shoulderion.Sue Rodriguez was the center of a high profile terminally ill case in Canada. Suffering from ALS, she publicly challenged all opponents of the right to die with Whose life is it, anyway. Her doctor helped her commit suicide in the presence of a Canadian Member of Parliament. Neither was prosecuted (Robinson). It is very hard to argue with the pleas of a dying woman in this situation. However, the recent case of Terry Schiavo, in which the family had to make an interpretation of an incapacitated womans desires, is less cut and dried. Human greed and hatred can interfere with just decision making and this case take a shitly divided America.One way to ensure that an individuals own personal wishes are carried out is through a living will. In 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that every individual has the constitutional right to control his or her own medical treatment and that doctors, nurses or any professional staff must follow clear and convincing evidence of the ill individuals wishes. The personal position of the doctors and the family cannot annul a living will (Robinson).Unfortunately, 67% of people do not have a living will (Robinson). In absence of such a document, society is forced to the original question Should physician assisted suicide be legal? Yes, it should. First of all, the majority of the public believes that it is the right and just thing to do. Next, legal precedents of the importance of choice in corresponding situations such as abortion have already been established in court. Third, even if patients are down(p) or in pain, they ar e noneffervescent dying. The United States Justice system validates the choices of depressed individuals every day. If a depressed person makes a choice to commit a crime, that choice is validated by an arrest, conviction and possible prison term. Prolonging their life under these circumstances is cruel and unusual punishment. Doctors can choose as well. Millions of people believe on doctors choices every day.The United States should not solecism individual choice from its citizens. Citizens should be able to make the choice and then live (or, in this case, not live) by the consequences. medico assisted suicide should be legalized in the United States. This way it can be enter and cases like Sue Rodriquez and Terry Schiavo will not have to eclipse the media but can rest in the peace that they deserve.Works CitedHorgan, John. Right to Die. scientific American. May 1996.Murder. Wikipedia. Retrieved 19 July 2006 from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MurderReed, Christopher. Oregon Tac kles Mercy Killing. Globe and Mail. June 27, 1997 A12.Robinson, B.A. Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide. Ontario Consultants on ReligiousTolerance. January 19, 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2006 fromhttp//www.religioustolerance.org/euthanas.htm