Terminally Ill Patients Should Have The Right To Die

Imagine laying in a hospital bed living everyday in extreme pain with no hope of getting better. This scenario explains what many people go through everyday, which is a living with a terminal illness. M. Lee, a science historian, and Alexander Stingl a sociologist, define terminal illness as “an illness from which the patient is not expected to recover even with treatment. As the illness progresses death is inevitable” (1). There are not many options for the terminally ill besides dying a slow and painful death, but assisted suicide could be best option for these patients. Assisted suicide is “any case in which a doctor gives a patient (usually someone with a terminal illness) the means to carry out their own suicide by using a lethal dose of medication” (Lee and Stingl 1). Some feel that assisted suicide is unnecessary because it is too great of a controversy and will only cause problems in society. However, assisted suicide should be legal in the United States as long as there are strict regulations to accompany it.

Terminally ill patients should be allowed to do whatever they wish, for they are going to die anyway. If they want to cut that string a little earlier than the scheduled and having to deal with that pain, then they should be allowed that medication that will end their life in a painless way. It is selfish to keep someone who is going through so much pain, that they want to die, alive and forcing them to ‘just deal with it’ as if it was nothing. As if they were not already going to die. We, the United States, ‘put down’ 2.4 million healthy cats and dogs every thirteen seconds, so if we can kill so many animals because they have no home or are overpopulated, like we are, then should we not be allowed to ‘put down’ our own life without much of a problem?

Death is a touchy enough subject for people; add in the idea of assisted suicides and there’s an uproar in society. Euthanasia or physician assisted suicide is a very controversial topic in our society today. Physician assisted suicide by definition is “suicide by a patient facilitated by means (as a drug prescription) or information (as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patient’s intent (Merriam-Webster). There are two modes of looking at assisted suicides; either it’s seen as an absurd immoral decision to take away the life of someone or it’s seen as a logical and peaceful release from pain and misery. There’s this idea that asking a healthcare provider to help you end your life is unfair and unnecessary, no matter how much a person is suffering suicide is not justified. People fear patients changing their minds, physicians being severely impacted by this, and families not agreeing with the decision making it hard to cope. On the other side people believe that it’s freedom of choice to choose to be medically assisted with a suicide; this is a right the patient has. Some believe if you’re in pain and dying why should you be forced to stay in a painful state of life. Freedom of choice versus life isn’t ours to take away. If you were in a terminally ill patients position, what would you do?

Imagine suffering day to day with consistent hospital visits, numerous medications, and unbearable pain for the next six months of your life, then being told that dying peacefully is not a granted privilege. Then imagine not being able to die in a controlled and dignified process like you prefer to. How would that affect the way you feel about death and the rest of your life you have left? Millions of people suffering from terminal illnesses consider physician-assisted suicide, but their wishes are rejected due to state and government beliefs. In fact, only five states out of fifty have a law permitting citizens the right to participate in physician-assisted suicide. That leaves just only 10% of the United States entitling critically ill patients to die with nobility. However, many citizens are commencing to lean toward physician-assisted suicides once they ascertain they hold a terminal illness.

Their personal beliefs should not be forced onto those who are terminally ill. Their personal views and beliefs should not be a factor in the decision these people choose to make. Doctor Hunnell discusses how medical journals are beginning to support physician-assisted suicide to a greater degree (2012). While there are many doctors who are in favor of physician-assisted suicide, there are still those who believe it goes against a doctor’s ethical duty.

Life is a delicate subject to address, especially when it comes to the end thereof. Oftentimes, talking about death is a sensitive and therefore controversial subject. In America, citizens are allowed to hold and express their personal ideologies and beliefs, which has created a lot of discussion about whether or not it should be legal for doctors to help terminally ill patients peacefully end their lives. This is commonly referred to as Aid-In-Dying. The human experience is filled with many difficulties and sufferings. In the dreadful circumstance that someone is diagnosed as terminally ill, why would anyone want him or her to continue to suffer? When a human being is dying and experiencing excruciating pain, they absolutely should have

Imagine living with a terminal illness that causes immense pain and suffering. It’s likely that many of us have not given it much thought. It’s much easier to believe that it won’t happen to us. The reality, however, is that people are diagnosed with these terrible illnesses every day. So, what options do patients have? For many years’, members of the medical community have discussed the practice of physician assisted suicide. This would allow terminally ill patients, many of whom have cancer, to make the difficult decision to end their lives peacefully. Doctors are able to simply write their patient a prescription, designed to end a person’s life in a non-painful way. Doctors and medical personnel have struggled with this topic, exploring the various consequences and benefits that come with making assisted suicide legal. Currently, physician assisted suicide has been made legal across a handful of states in the U.S; however, many people continue to question the ethicality of this practice. There are many different arguments to explore for and against physician assisted suicide. Some believe that physician assisted suicide will lead to involuntary euthanasia, while others say patients should have the choice to live or die. While each individual conviction may seem vastly different, they do share something in common: Their concern for the well-being of others.

I want to acknowledge that a conversation about death is a conversation that makes many people uncomfortable and stirs strong emotions. Death is a very personal issue, but it is a guarantee that we are all going to die, and that we are all going to lose people we love. Death with dignity is a movement to provide more options for those who are dying. This conversation is growing in the United States, and throughout the world, as to whether a terminally ill adult has the legal right to receive aid in ending their life when they know they are going to die. The non-profit Death with Dignity National Center states: “the greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one’s own desires and beliefs”

Terminally ill patients should have the right to die. I support their decision they know what’s best for themselves. I support this legislation because I’ve lost two family members to colon cancer. My grandpa when I was younger but don’t remember to much about him. Also, my uncle I’ve lost that I do remember everything that has happened to him. I was in high school when my uncle was diagnosed with colon cancer. He was a big guy, very tan, black hair, and was a very happy person he was the best. After a few weeks, have passed he dropped so much weight I couldn’t even recognize him anymore.

People make decisions every single day of their lives. Although, people with a terminal diagnosis still have the capability to make decisions, they are not given the legal right to a physician assisted suicide. A choice some may desire in their final days. Once the person with the terminal diagnosis has met the specific criteria he or she should decide what would be optimal decision for both themselves and their families. Palliative care will always be available to terminal patients; however, not all patients will wish to wait and wonder. Nevertheless, some terminal patients will wish to take death into their own hands. People should be allowed to choose how they will die this would reduce the overall healthcare cost, decrease the emotional toll of the patients and their families, and allow there to be dignity within death.

As a result of the recent 2016 election, a few states, now including Colorado have approved Proposition 106, the End of Life Options Act that has further brought light to the controversy. Interestingly, fifty-six percent of Colorado physicians and seventy percent of Colorado residents support the option (deathwithdignity.org). The decision to end their life during terminal illness has become more widely accepted for many reasons. For example, those who are suffering choose to end life so their family is not burdened by their illness. It is not uncommon for a person with a terminal illness to accept that they are dying, wishing to end their suffering along with spare their loved ones of having to suffer too. In addition, one may argue the right to life. By deciding to medically end their life provides a spiritual opportunity to donate their organs, hence, the right to life (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012).

The world revolves around the perception that a healthy life is guaranteed until it is abruptly interfered with a life tragedy or sickness. When terminally ill, an individual encounters a disease that cannot be cured and is reasonably expected to die. This particular term is used with a variation of illnesses, affecting a multitude of the nation's population. From cancerous tumors to prolonged comas, lives are tragically affected. Living with painful, endless symptoms can lead to patients suffering for an immeasurable time. A common request among these patients are to be assisted in suicide, or euthanasia. There are many reasons towards the intentions of dying, but it continues to bring controversy throughout the world. When fitted to reasonable

First, there are several terminally ill patients that would want the opportunity to live out their final days in peace instead of in agony. A patient choosing the option of assisted suicide would be demonstrating their final pronouncement of independence. This decision will demonstrate the patient’s desire to want to end their life in a less painful and excruciating method as a dignified human being rather than just being viewed as someone who wants to die. Terminally ill patients are aware that it is the duty of a doctor and is to ease the pain patients may be going through. Giving someone to permission to end your life shows a great deal of trust one has for that other person and how much pain he or she must really be in to come to such as

The word euthanasia has a Greek meaning “the good death". On the other hand, in the society today, there are deeper and more meanings to euthanasia than before. Voluntary euthanasia concerns itself with the consent of the person to die through the assistance of others. Voluntary euthanasia can be divided into two areas: passive voluntary witch is holding back medical treatment with the patient’s request, active voluntary killing the patient at that patient 's request informing the assistant on how they desire to die. As with everything there is supporters and non-supporters when it comes to legalizing euthanasia. Euthanasia has become legal in a few countries and states in the United States. The question is if dying human beings should be left to suffer horribly within their last few weeks, months, or even days on this earth if they prefer to be euthanized instead The answer is no. Yet, voluntary euthanasia should be legalized for terminally ill people

Take a moment to put yourself in their shoes. The one’s slowly dying. The ones in unbearable pain. The ones with the inability to walk. Inability to speak. The one’s in so much agony that even swallowing is a struggle. Laying there, on your deathbed, you think: is the pain worth it? To some it may be. But to many its not. In reality,people deal with this type suffering for years on end. The way to end the pain, is a “good death” called Euthanasia. Euthanasia, also known physician assisted suicide, is the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease. Now remember that physician assisted suicide is always with the consent of the patient. They are the primary decision makers. Therefore Euthanasia for terminally ill patients should be legalized in the state of California, because it is one of the most basic human rights which improves the quality of life and has already gained much public support.