Assisted Suicide Vs Euthanasia

In other words euthanasia is intentionally causing the death of a person to relieve them from suffering or pain and assisted suicide is helping the person kill him or herself. The main difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide is that in assisted suicide the patient is in complete control of the process that leads to death because he or she is the person who performs the act of suicide. The other person simply helps provide the means for carrying out the action. However, in euthanasia the patient is not causing his or her own death. I believe that the film, The Sea Inside, provides us with an example of assisted suicide. Ramon wanted it to be a case of euthanasia, but lost that battle when he took it to the courts. So he was left with no choice but to find the means to end his own life. With the help of his friends, he was able to get a hold of potassium cyanide and by drinking it he was able to take his own life.

To fully understand the issue at hand, one must understand the various forms of euthanasia. The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: Tenth Edition defines euthanasia as “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals…in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.” Euthanasia can be either passive or active. Passive euthanasia occurs when a patient is relieved of medical treatment and is allowed to die naturally. Active euthanasia occurs when either a physician or a family member actively takes the life of the patient, perhaps through lethal injection, and eliminates a natural death process. Many people commonly use the word “euthanasia” to refer to assisted suicide. Essentially, assisted suicide is a form of active euthanasia in that a person, usually a physician, aids in the suicide of a patient.

Albert Camus once quoted, “But in the end, one needs more courage to live than to kill them self.” Today I will be discussing the topic of Euthanasia also known as “assisted suicide.” The word originated from the Greeks, meaning “good death”. Euthanasia refers to the ending of one’s life, primarily to end suffering and pain. Euthanasia is a controversial topic and generates many political and religious debates. Although euthanasia is illegal in Canada, in some jurisdictions such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and the American states of Washington, Oregon and Montana, euthanasia is a legal and common practice.

The purpose of documents such as the constitution and the bill of rights were created to provide people with freedom and rights. In the United States for example, we are granted certain freedoms such as free speech and the right to bear arms. Legalizing Physician's Assisted Suicide is just another right that people should have so that they may have the freedom to make their own choice when facing death. While I feel that no one should be pressured into assisted dying, I also feel that no one should be categorically denied that right. The right to die should be a fundamental freedom for every person, as The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, “No state shall make or encore any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities

A newlywed diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Brittany Maynard, lived in California. California is one of the many states in the United States that prohibits euthanasia and assisted suicide— euthanasia is the act of assisting in the death of a person suffering from an incurable disease (Macionis 402-403); however, assisted suicide and euthanasia are not the same thing. The law denying euthanasia and assisted suicide brought conflicts because Brittany wanted to pass peacefully. In order to fulfill her wish, Brittany and her husband moved to Oregon, a state that allows euthanasia and assisted suicide with the “Death With Dignity Act.” Brittany joined a non-profit organization named “Compassion & Choices” to make a video on her choice and to become an advocate for the “Death With Dignity Act.” Millions have watched the video, and since her death, four states have introduced end-of-life bills (Sanburn). The controversy over the legalization and the requirements of euthanasia and/or assisted suicide has been debated for many years. To understand the issues, one must know the ethical point of views in both religious and in the workplace, the laws and requirements currently in place.

Physician assisted suicide (PAS) is a heavily debated topic; people have very strong opinions about whether or not people should have to right to die. People taking their own lives is something quite frowned upon in our society, usually those who commit suicide are depressed and need to seek help; people see this a simply being weak, taking the “coward’s way out.” Those who would benefit from PAS would be people with terminal illnesses who have no hope of getting better.

The most important reasons for requesting assistance with suicide, among patients who received prescriptions for lethal medications, were a desire to control the circumstances of death, a desire to die at home, the belief that continuing to live was pointless, and being ready to die. Depression and other psychiatric disorders, lack of social support, and concern about being a financial drain were, according to nurses, relatively unimportant.

They believe that it (PAS and euthanasia) has shifted our society from one “that cares for those who are aging and sick to a society that kills those whose suffering we can no longer tolerate” (Huntoon 100). They believe that the doctors should focus on their moral obligation to save lives (Huntoon 101). It would be wrong to pressure people into committing an act that goes against their religious beliefs. Sometimes governments that have legalized PAS and euthanasia “often seek to punish religious organizations that refuse to go along with killing patients” (Huntoon 101). This shows that even the governments are trying to force PAS; if suicide and euthanasia are supposed to be a choice made by the receiver, then the government should have no say; they shouldn’t be allowed to force organizations into doing a practice that goes against their beliefs. In the end, PAS and euthanasia aren’t made solely by the terminally ill person because they are being influenced by people around them. This practice only encourages power dominance and corruption. It’s better to just let your loved one go naturally where they aren’t influenced by any outside person with malicious intent. There is no way that this practice can be ethical. It is understandable that no one wants their loved one to suffer, but killing them isn’t the option. Medicine isn’t an exact

Assisted suicide is suicide with help from another person (such as a doctor) to end suffering from severe physical illness. “‘Physician-assisted suicide should be a lawful medical procedure for competent, terminally ill adults, because it is a compassionate response to

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

This is also a lot easier if someone has very expensive medical treatment, this would lessen the cost of it significantly which could be a major factor for someone who would be leaving behind a large family or one that is struggling to get by. Another advantage of assisted suicide is that if the family have more time to prepare for the death of a loved one it makes it a lot easier to be prepared and the grief is also easier to handle as they knew that this was coming.

Euthanasia and doctor assisted suicide are similar but not exactly the same. Many people mistake them as synonyms, however, their meanings differ slightly. Euthanasia or rather a “mercy killing”, refers to when a patient is painlessly killed directly by the doctor, most commonly using a lethal injection, as a method to end their suffering. Doctor assisted suicide refers to when a doctor provides a way for the patient to kill themselves, likely using a prescription of some sort. It is most common in those who are either elderly, suffering from a terminal illness, an irreversible coma, or suffering from an incurable mental disability. Legalization of euthanasia would be significantly beneficial to patients who are suffering and need a last resort

Assisted Suicide or Voluntary Euthanasia is when a patient with a terminal illness request to end their life by taking a lethal injection or a prescribed medication with the help of a medical professional. In the United States each state has the choice on whether or not it is illegal to perform the task of assisted suicide. Out of all fifty states there are only five with a legal method for assisted suicide. In Vermont, Washington, California and Oregon it is mandated by state law and In Montana it is by court order (CNN). Assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg and

Medical professionals face a countless number of challenges on a daily basis. It is important for each individual to reflect upon their own beliefs and morals so that, when caring for patients, it is easier to handle these challenging issues. One of these difficult issues is assisted suicide. Physician assisted suicide (PAS) has been an important ethical concern in medicine in recent years. It is important to understand the various forms of assisted suicide, the legality of assisted suicide as well as the implications it may have for patient as well as healthcare professionals alike.

Justification by proponents of assisted suicide and euthanasia include respect for the person’s autonomy in choosing to end their life if it is deemed intolerable due to conditions of a terminal illness with excruciatingly painful conditions and diseases that