Argumentative Essay

Additionally, the term “euthanasia” does not mean the same thing as assisted suicide. Often people confuse these processes when they differ immensely. Despite this, they remain similar in their resulting death of a human life through the help of a physician. Euthanasia is the direct killing of a patient by a physician by means of lethal injection and it is completely controlled by the doctor. On the other hand, patients in assisted suicide have full control over the process that leads to their death. For this reason, procedures of these sorts must be eliminated as medical treatments and should not be authorized. Consequently, physician assisted suicide has been proven to lead to euthanasia in some cases. Assisted suicide should become illegal in all fifty states of the United States of America because it raises religious concern, endorses legalized murder, puts vulnerable people at risk of abuse, and

Much of modern medicine prolongs not only living, but also dying. Physician-assisted suicide is a quite controversial topic as it brings up questions about the morality of killing, the credibility of consent, and the duty of physicians. This is not a new problem; assisted suicide has been discussed in all cultures from very early historical times to the present. However, medicine's recent technological progress has led to an increased ability to extend life. This new potential has made this problem much more pressing than it has in the past. I believe opposition to assisted suicide is in error not only because it does not allow for mercy, but also because the position does not take into account one's autonomy. I

In a free society, people’s bodies and the ownership of their bodies is a basic right and freedom. The freedom to do as they choose with their own bodies is intrinsic in that freedom. It is not only the right of human being but also if they are Americans, according to the Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This essay presents a short chronological over view of the evolution of assisted suicide, from history, present day, and future of this issue in the United States. The historical evidence of death with dignity reveals the strong position that “the right to die is a prochoice issue.” With the growing support for assisted suicide the legislation of it will have to be settled state by state. Even if the government doesn’t legalize it, the government should at least decriminalize it. With the decriminalization of assisted suicide, it would no longer make individuals and their physician felons. It would give individuals their right to do with their body as they want. Similarly to the decimalization of doing what you want to your body through the use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines assisted suicide (AS) as follows: suicide with help from another person (such as a doctor) to end suffering from severe physical illness. As of 2014 four states in the USA have already legalized assisted suicide. Those states are as follows: Oregon legalized on November 8, 1994, Washington legalized on November 4, 2008, Montana December 31, 2009, and Vermont May 20, 2013 (“State-by-State Guide to Physician-Assisted Suicide - Euthanasia - ProCon.org,” n.d.). These four states are proof that assisted suicide can be legalized without the fears of the naysayers coming to life. Other states can also learn how to improve legalizing assisted suicide in their state from the states that have already legalized

The civil argument in the U.S. over whether or not to authorize physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia has reached new levels of vehemence. Oregon, California, Vermont, and Washington (and Montana, via court ruling) have become the first states to legalize physician-assisted suicide. There has, too, been campaigning, ballot measures, bills, and litigation in other states in attempts to legalize one or both practices. Supporters increasingly urge either absolute legalization or another form of legitimation, through claims of “mercy killing” when compared to homicide. As stated by representatives of the Ethics and Human Rights Committee, “Many people fear a painful and protracted death or desire more control over the dying process” (209).

Opponents of the new law restricting assisted suicide to all living beings believe that the new law decreases the value of a human life. Assisted suicide in the beginning appears like a good thing to have available. However, on closer examination, there are many reasons legalization is an extremely serious mistake. Supporters often focus merely on artificial issues of choice and self-determination. Assisted suicide would have many unintended consequences.

As definition states, assisted suicide is the suicide of a patient suffering from an incurable disease. Assisted suicide originated so that a terminally ill patient could be aided with his/her intentions of suicide.(Webster, 2011) Also to give the patient an opportunity to die on their own terms. Euthanasia also plays a key role in assisted suicide. Euthanasia has to be required by a conscious patient suffering from an irreversible affliction inducing physical and/or

Assisted suicide, is defined as providing a person with the knowledge required to commit suicide, including counselling about lethal doses of drugs, prescribing such lethal doses or supplying the drugs (Euthanasia and assisted suicide).

I was shocked by how illegal assisted suicide was, especially in the US. I would want to die with dignity and would want to make the decision before I became unable to, but unfortunately since I live in Maine, I would not be able to do that. I am sure plenty of people would agree with me because it’d be no fun to live with zero quality, but a lot of those that agree with me would not be able to do that because of the states they live in. I think that since it’s your choice, then you should be able to make these major decisions about it. It is estimated that if assisted suicide was legal in all 50 states and accounted for 0.25 percent of deaths in 2014, there would have only been 6,492 physician assisted

Legalizing assisted dying is that it will lead to pressure on the old, disabled and infirm to end their lives. It’s a fear we shouldn’t take lightly, although it also no basis. For instance, Oregon in 19994, it became the first state in America to legalize assisted dying, with the law going into effect in 1998. Ten years later, the number of doctor-assisted suicides stood at 341 per decade. In 2007, the journal of medical ethics analysed the cases of every single patient and find poor, elderly, minority, or otherwise “vulnerable” groups were presented as infrequently as everyone else. (EVIDENCE REQUIRED) argues that legalizing assisted dying will open the floodgates, leading to a murder happy world where life is cheap and death is easy. But

The fact of the matter is that as America continues to grow in understanding, the legality of assisted suicide should only continue to rise as other states will begin to adopt their own laws on the subject. Yet no matter what the future holds for assisted suicide cases, it is safe to assume the issue will always be shrouded in some kind of controversy. There will always be people who believe that their ideas are the only ones worth having and that they know what is best for you; however, everyone needs to remember that this is the choice that these people have made for themselves with their best interest in mind and by denying people the right to die. By denying people their right to die, you deny their right to the pursuit of happiness, something this country was founded on. That’s why it is crucial that all American men and women have the option of physician assisted suicide regardless of what others believe.

     Assisted suicide is one of the most controversial topics discussed among people every day. Everyone has his or her own opinion on this topic. This is a socially debated topic that above all else involves someone making a choice, whether it be to continue with life or give up hope and die. This should be a choice that they make themselves. However, In the United States, The land of the free, only one state has legalized assisted suicide. I am for assisted suicide and euthanasia. This paper will support my many feelings on this subject.

Assisted suicide is illegal in most of the US and has been for centuries . It has been a debate if this is right or wrong in many countries. An article about why it is illegal in the UK states that, “Assisting a suicide can cover a wide spectrum of criminality,” (Robinson, Vicki; Scott, Helen 2012-2013) . In this case, assisted suicide is considered a crime. When a patient is terminally ill, they have a disease that cannot be cured or treated sufficiently, so it can be reasonable to expect death within a short period of time as a result. The topics are; why people believe assisted suicide is inhumane, how it takes away a person’s right to make their own decisions, how it should be their own choice, they need to be in the right state of mind, an individual needs to be able to speak for oneself in order to make any final decision, and a family’s influence and impact on the patient. Assisted suicide was made illegal because it appears as if it’s “encouraging suicide,” (Robinson, Vicki; Scott, Helen 2012-2013). Death should be a right, it is more inhumane allowing the terminally ill to suffer a long, drawn-out death.

Today, voluntary euthanasia is getting closer to being legalized in more than just one state in the United States. “‘Voluntary’ euthanasia means that the act of putting the person to death is the end result of the person’s own free will” (Bender 19). “ Voluntary euthanasia is an area worthy of our serious consideration, since it would allow patients who have exhausted all other reasonable options to choose death rather than continue suffering” (Bender 19). The question of whether or not voluntary euthanasia should be legalized is a major debate that has been around for years. Because the issue of whether people should have the right to choose how they want to live or die is so complex. With the advances in technology today we have made

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” (