Persuasive Essay On Euthanasia As Murder

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.

A woman suffering from cancer became the first person known to die under the law on physician-assisted suicide in the state of Oregon when she took a lethal dose of drugs in March, 1998. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act passed a referendum in November, 1997, and it has been the United States ' only law legalizing assisted suicide since then. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, more than 4,000 doctors have approved of the assisted suicide law (cited in "The Anguish of Doctors,” 1996). The law allows terminally ill patients who have been given six months or less to live and wish to hasten their deaths to obtain medication prescribed by two doctors. The most important thing to notice is that this law does not include those who have been on a life support system nor does it include those who have not voluntarily asked physicians to help them commit suicide. The issue of doctor-assisted suicide has been the subject of the heated dispute in recent years. Many people worry that legalizing doctor assisted suicide is irrational and violates the life-saving tradition of medicine. However, physician-assisted suicide should be legalized because it offers terminally ill people an opportunity for a peaceful death and recognized the inadequacy of current medical practice to deal with death.

The physician also has the duty of inform the patient of alternative solutions such as palliative care, other pain management options, and hospices. Lastly, the physician must request that the patient notify another individual—a family or friend—of their decision. Despite the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, physicians are not obligated to participate. The patient, if eligible, must also fulfill all the necessary guidelines implemented if they wish to partake in the end of life process. The patient must first submit an oral request to their attending physician. A second oral request follows a 15 day waiting period. Following the second oral request is a written request. If the patient’s request is approved, the patient must wait another 48 hours before receiving their prescribed medications.

There are several ethical and legal issues that are raised by the majority concerning the legalization of physician assisted suicide and the role of nurses in the process. Assisted suicide is a legal act of assisting those who are suffering from a deadly illness in ending their lives by providing them the means to do it (Griffith, 2014). Netherland was the first country to legalize physician assisted suicide. In 1994, Oregon became the first state to legalize physician assisted suicide by passing a bill called “death with dignity” followed by Washington and Montana. The law states that in order to be eligible for gaining access to assisted suicide, the patient must be left with 6 months to live, signed by two physicians and mentally stable enough to make decisions. Euthanasia is an alternative term used to describe the act of putting an end to a life in order to spare the individual’s suffering from an incurable or a painful disease process. It is classified to passive, active, involuntary and voluntary euthanasia. Active euthanasia is an act that is actively done to terminate life, while passive is when treatment is stopped in order to shorten the patient’s life. Involuntary euthanasia refers to a decision that is made by the health care providers without the patient knowledge and voluntary refers to patients that knowingly request to end their lives (Levy et al, 2013).

Many patients consider assisted suicide as an effective alternative solution. Since 1994, patients with a terminal illness within four states including California have a legal right to end life on their own terms in a human and dignifying way with the help in the form of physician – assisted suicide for the purpose of avoiding agonizing suffering if as individuals in society truly own ourselves. Patients who are physically able to swallow the medication in the form of a pill, are prescribed lethal drugs. Unlike Euthanasia, which is in a form of lethal injection that is not legal in the United States, lethal injections are administered by a physician with or without a patient’s consent (Green, "Physician-Assisted Suicide Laws by State), whereas physician – assisted suicide is only given to patients with a terminal diagnosis that is administered themselves privately whenever they choose and can only be prescribed. Physician – assisted suicide is seen as an affordable option for those who cannot afford medical bills, medication or hospice. Though there are states that allow a patient to die with dignity and expresses freedom of choice These same laws that are banned in other states which also argue that states who does not allow physician – assisted suicide violates the rights of the

Currently, in Vermont, California, Oregon, Washington,and New Mexico, lethal medication is being given to terminally Ill patients to end their lives. There are several reasons why assisted suicide is illegal in the majority of states, such as the demand for suicide due to a patient 's excruciating pain, misinterpreted life expectancies and diagnoses, poor medical coverage by insurance companies, and the financial interests of the patients families. On the other hand, some suggest various reasons why assisted suicide should be legal. The legal status of physician assisted suicide, as a hotly debated topic, teeters on both sides of legality in varying

Assisting suicide is only legal “in the u.s, Oregon, washington, and montana have legalized the practice of physician assisted suicide, and in 2013, vermont declared that suicide with prescribed medications was a legal “medical treatment”(Health Research funding 2). Only four states in the united states legalized assisted suicide. The legalization of assisted suicide is still ongoing. There are so many opinions and arguments to legalize, a doctor to give a patient pills that can kill them. “In 1997, Oregon passed the Death and Dignity Act, Which made doctor assisted suicide legal in that state”(Forman 8). Federal authorities tried to change this state law. But failed and it still today is

Physician-assisted suicide is the voluntary termination of one 's own life by administering a lethal substance with assistance of a physician. Physician-assisted suicide is legal in five U.S. states. It is an option given to individuals by state law in Oregon, Vermont, Washington and California. It is an option given to individuals in Montana via court decision. Individuals must have a terminal illness as well as a prognosis of six months or less to live. Physicians cannot be prosecuted for prescribing medications to speed up the process of death. Since 1992, efforts to legalize the practice have failed in California, Michigan, Maine, and most recently, in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, 41 states have passed laws making it a crime to assist in a suicide. Everyone has the right to choose how they live or die. Many terminally ill patients who are in the final stages of their lives have requested doctors to aid them in exercising active euthanasia. It is sad to realize that these people are in great agony and that the only hope of bringing that agony to an end is through assisted suicide. Many different conditions are set in whether someone is eligible for assisted suicide because sometimes even with a little help they can change their mind about suicide. Maybe not exactly when they want to make such decision but if it gets to the point that death is the only option, they should have the right to fulfill their wish.

Though assisted suicide is a humane way to end human suffering, it is still illegal in most US states (ProQuest Staff). Assisted suicide has created many ripples and tears in state governments all over the united states. Oregon legislature began to take action in passing a law called measure 16 or “The Oregon Death with Dignity Act” to make assisted suicide legal in the late 90’s (ProQuest Staff). After Oregon had passed the laws the US government got involved issuing a temporary restraining order and an injunction barring the state from putting Measure 16 into effect (ProQuest Staff). Two years later Oregon residents gain the right to end their lives if they have a terminal illness (ProQuest Staff). Oregon’s law on assisted suicide is there but is very precise as to when and how one can end their life. Patients wanting to obtain a lethal prescription must first, have a serious and incurable illness, and secondly requests for lethal medication must be made no more than six months from death (Wente). After Oregon complications with passing their Death with Dignity Act other states soon began to follow creating their own laws on assisted suicide. The second state in the US to pass these laws was Washington, they passed their version of the act in 2008. After Washington, Montana soon followed in 2010 becoming the third state to pass legislature approving assisted suicide.

“Physician-assisted suicide differs from euthanasia, which is defined as the act of assisting people with their death in order to end their suffering, but without the backing of a controlling legal authority.” 2 Physician-assisted suicide gives the legal authority to a physician who can prvide a patient with a lif ending dose of pills. A terminally ill patient first makes the decision to end their life. After required documentation, a doctor will administer a lethal dose of pills, and the patient is able to take them and end their life at the time that they see fit. This practice is currently legal in 6 states; Washington, Oregon, California, Vermont, Montana, and

This allows states the power to pass laws dealing with it freely. Under most state laws, helping someone in any way to commit suicide is a felony. Euthanasia is illegal in all of the United States. Assisted suicide is legal in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Vermont through legislation and through court rulings. Two states, Oregon and Washington, have legalized assisted suicide through legislation under certain circumstances. Oregon and Washington have a Death with Dignity Act. This act says that physicians can prescribe a lethal medication that will allow terminally ill individuals to end their lives. Doctors give the patient the lethal medication, and they are allowed to decide when they want to take it or if they are going to take it (Hedberg, K). They do not give this medication out to just anyone, but there are certain requirements 1. The minimum age is 18, you must be expected to die within six months or less, you need to orally tell a physician twice, and write out a written request as well (State-by-state guide to physician-assisted suicide). A law in Montana was also passed, and it is less clear than it is in other states. In 2009, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that physicians may prescribe medication to help terminally ill patients end their lives under the previous circumstances. To date,

The most commonly known forms are passive and active euthanasia. Passive is when a patient refuses life saving medical treatment, and active is when lethal medication is injected into the patient. Euthanasia itself is “intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit” (Batten 398-400). Assisted suicide is when “someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they be used for this purpose” (Batten 398-400). Physician-assisted suicide is when a doctor is the one who assists, such as by prescribing a lethal dose of medication. Assisted Suicide is legal in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, and New Mexico. New regulations were brought about when these states legalized assisted suicide. Specifically, you must make two oral request and one written one, two doctors must be convinced that the decision is voluntarily, and you must be over eighteen (Batten

Physician assisted suicide is one of the most controversial topics in the medical world today. Many individuals feel as if it is wrong to ask your physician to end your life regardless of your condition. Patients that are terminally ill and that want to end their life with dignity and on their terms often seek assistance in ending their life. They may have many reasons for wanting to end their life instead of holding on such as they do not want to become a burden to their family members, they want to pass away peacefully, or they fear losing their independence. Patients that are in extreme pain and just want it all to be over are also on the top of the list for wanting assistance from their physician to stop the pain the only way possible. The legal definition of assisted suicide according to Duhaime.com is, “A form of suicide or euthanasia which involves a person other than the person taking his or her own life, and during which the other person assists in direct or indirect physical means in giving effect to the suicide or, in the event of a statutory definition, in a manner as set out in that statute.” (Duhaime, L.) Assisted suicide laws are continuously changing and at a rapid rate. As of February 7, 2012 the only two states to have a law allowing assisted suicide were Oregon and Washington. At that time, Montana was welcoming the idea of less suffering for its people and Vermont and Massachusetts are on the way to having bills in the works.

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

The debate over the use of euthanasia is ever growing. This is due to the fact of constant increases in medical advances. Medical advances are growing the number of medicines one can be given before palliative care is an option. The main concern of the debate is whether trying new treatments and medicines are necessary before palliative care is given. Two articles will be analyzed using the Aristotelian method. Both articles are valid, but the New York Times article written by Haider Javed Warraich offers a complete perspective using all three persuasive appeals compared to the article written by Terry Pratchett for The Guardian, which the majority is written on emotion.