By Ryan Connors
Should doctors be allowed to provide patients with fatal prescriptions to peacefully end their lives? Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is when a doctor provides a patient suffering pain from a terminal illness with a fatal prescription of medicine. Although many worthy reasons exist that argue against euthanasia, the reasons in favor of euthanasia are much stronger and more valid.
Euthanasia is a way to die and avoid some of the suffering from terminal illnesses. Most of the time, physician-assisted suicide is used to evade extreme pain from deadly and incurable illnesses. “Physician-assisted suicide should be a lawful medical procedure for competent, terminally ill adults because it is a compassionate response to relieve the suffering of dying patients” ("Before I Die: Opinions." 18 Jan. 2017.) stated Michael H. White, J.D. Patients with these illnesses will often suffer from excruciating pain before their death. Many do not see the point in going through this and would rather die before the discomfort that they would experience from their illness as it gets even worse than it already is. For example, a woman that has become well known is Brittany Maynard. Brittany is a 29 year old woman who suffers from a stage four brain tumor called Glioblastoma multiforme. Sadly, she has been told that her illness is incurable. "There is not a cell in my body that is suicidal or that wants to die. I want to live. I wish there was a cure for my disease but there's not... My glioblastoma is going to kill me, and that's out of my control. I've discussed with many experts how I would die from it, and it's a terrible, terrible way to die. Being able to choose to go with dignity is less terrifying...” ("Should Euthanasia or Physician 18 Jan. 2017. described Brittany Maynard about her decision to use physician-assisted suicide. Countless other people experience similar pains and agonies as Brittany and their best option could also be euthanasia. Legalizing euthanasia does not mean people will be forced or persuaded into euthanasia, rather, they will always have the option for euthanasia if they feel that it is the best option for them.
Many people would prefer to die with their family present. Euthanasia presents people suffering from terminal illnesses with this option. When diagnosed with a terminal illness, it is unknown the exact amount of time the person has left until their death. This makes it hard to die with their family because their family might not make it in time or the death could come earlier than expected. However, with the use of physician-assisted suicide, the patient can choose to die wherever and whenever they want. If they choose to die with their family present, they can be guaranteed that they will die surrounded by family because they have the choice of when to take the fatal prescription.
Just like any other right, people also have and should have the right to die. “Dying is not a crime,” ("Top 10 Reasons Euthanasia Jan. 2017.) said Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Euthanasia Activist. All people have the freedom to make their own decisions throughout their lifetime. It is not illegal to commit suicide, so why should it be illegal to use physician-assisted suicide? The Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors states that doctors must protect the well-being of their patients and do no harm to their patients. Often people interpret this as a reason that physician-assisted suicide should be illegal. However, it could be determined that a doctor is actually helping his patients by giving them a fatal prescription so that they can choose to end their pain and suffering that they are experiencing. Everyone can choose to end their life at any moment and that should not change.
Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide should be legalized everywhere. It provides a way to end the pain and suffering of terminal illnesses. Also, it guarantees that you can die surrounded by the people, and at the setting and time chosen. There are many human rights and choosing to die should be among them.
Should doctors be allowed to provide patients with fatal prescriptions to peacefully end their lives? Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is when a doctor provides a patient suffering pain from a terminal illness with a fatal prescription of medicine. Although many worthy reasons exist that argue against euthanasia, the reasons in favor of euthanasia are much stronger and more valid.
Euthanasia is a way to die and avoid some of the suffering from terminal illnesses. Most of the time, physician-assisted suicide is used to evade extreme pain from deadly and incurable illnesses. “Physician-assisted suicide should be a lawful medical procedure for competent, terminally ill adults because it is a compassionate response to relieve the suffering of dying patients” ("Before I Die: Opinions." 18 Jan. 2017.) stated Michael H. White, J.D. Patients with these illnesses will often suffer from excruciating pain before their death. Many do not see the point in going through this and would rather die before the discomfort that they would experience from their illness as it gets even worse than it already is. For example, a woman that has become well known is Brittany Maynard. Brittany is a 29 year old woman who suffers from a stage four brain tumor called Glioblastoma multiforme. Sadly, she has been told that her illness is incurable. "There is not a cell in my body that is suicidal or that wants to die. I want to live. I wish there was a cure for my disease but there's not... My glioblastoma is going to kill me, and that's out of my control. I've discussed with many experts how I would die from it, and it's a terrible, terrible way to die. Being able to choose to go with dignity is less terrifying...” ("Should Euthanasia or Physician 18 Jan. 2017. described Brittany Maynard about her decision to use physician-assisted suicide. Countless other people experience similar pains and agonies as Brittany and their best option could also be euthanasia. Legalizing euthanasia does not mean people will be forced or persuaded into euthanasia, rather, they will always have the option for euthanasia if they feel that it is the best option for them.
Many people would prefer to die with their family present. Euthanasia presents people suffering from terminal illnesses with this option. When diagnosed with a terminal illness, it is unknown the exact amount of time the person has left until their death. This makes it hard to die with their family because their family might not make it in time or the death could come earlier than expected. However, with the use of physician-assisted suicide, the patient can choose to die wherever and whenever they want. If they choose to die with their family present, they can be guaranteed that they will die surrounded by family because they have the choice of when to take the fatal prescription.
Just like any other right, people also have and should have the right to die. “Dying is not a crime,” ("Top 10 Reasons Euthanasia Jan. 2017.) said Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Euthanasia Activist. All people have the freedom to make their own decisions throughout their lifetime. It is not illegal to commit suicide, so why should it be illegal to use physician-assisted suicide? The Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors states that doctors must protect the well-being of their patients and do no harm to their patients. Often people interpret this as a reason that physician-assisted suicide should be illegal. However, it could be determined that a doctor is actually helping his patients by giving them a fatal prescription so that they can choose to end their pain and suffering that they are experiencing. Everyone can choose to end their life at any moment and that should not change.
Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide should be legalized everywhere. It provides a way to end the pain and suffering of terminal illnesses. Also, it guarantees that you can die surrounded by the people, and at the setting and time chosen. There are many human rights and choosing to die should be among them.