In the United States, we are blessed to have a series of checks and balances in our legislative process. This allows for intense review of public issues and policies and prevents from one person entering a political office and authorizing the passage of new laws and regulations without proper review by elected officials. As patient advocates, it is important that nurses take an active role in their beliefs and voice their opinions on political issues (Burkhardt & Nathaniel 2014). One of the current ethical and moral debates in healthcare is physician-assisted suicide. According to the American Medical Association (1996), physician-assisted suicide is defined as a physician providing a patient with the knowledge and access to a way to perform suicide. When a patient is faced with a chronic and fatal condition, their greatest suffering comes at the end of life. While these patients wither away to a fraction of the physical body they once were, they may retain their cognitive function and thus be completely aware of every agonizing passing day. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the legislative process and physician-assisted suicide. Part 1 The Legislative Process In the United States, there are three branches that offer a checks and balance system to prevent any one department from being too powerful (Branches of government, n.d.). These include the legislative, execute, and judicial branches (Branches of government, n.d.). The legislative branch is responsible for the many things including enacting new bills, approval of the presidential appointments to the cabinet, and has authorization to declare war on other nations (Branches of government, n.d.) In this branch of government is congress which is further broken down into the House of Representatives and the Senate (Branches of government, n.d.) The executive branch, which include the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet, is responsible for enforcement of laws (Branches of government, n.d.). The last branch is the judicial branch. In this branch of government, the courts interpret the meaning of the laws and apply them to cases as well as determine if laws are constitutional (Branches of government, n.d.). These three branches ensure that we as a nation do not have unconstitutional laws, that the bills being passed are for the benefit of the public, and that the citizens uphold the laws and take responsibility when they break them. As noted by Sullivan (2007), most of our nations laws are initiated as bills presented in the House of Representatives. Sullivan (2007) further notes that the first step in the process begins when a member of congress drafts a bill to present for discussion. These bills are then sent to a committee to review in depth the matter included in the bill and can further be investigated by subcommittees (ENA, n.d.). After a full review has been done by the committee, including a markup where committee members make suggestions on revision of the bills wording, the decision is made by a vote on whether or not to present the bill to the House (Sullivan 2007). The committee then compiles a report of their review including a full discussion of each section and their reasoning behind their recommendation for pursuing the bill (Sullivan 2007). If the House votes and passes
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Patients who have ALS wither away while having no cognitive changes. This means that as their bodies fail them, they are completely aware of their impending death and loss of dignity. These individuals could choose, through this important legislature, when they are ready to say goodbye on their terms. We offer this blessing to our pets, as when it is time to say goodbye we ease their pain and suffering through euthanasia. I find it odd that in the same respect we do not offer that option to competent humans who are living with conditions that take their independence, self-worth, enjoyment in life, and cause them daily pain. Your support and involvement in making West Virginia a Death with Dignity state is crucial. You would be allowing our residents the ability to ease their pain and keep their dignity at the end of their lives. Please consider how this could one day help your loved ones and possibly yourself. Thank you for your time, and please do not hesitate to contact me to further discuss this
Patients who have ALS wither away while having no cognitive changes. This means that as their bodies fail them, they are completely aware of their impending death and loss of dignity. These individuals could choose, through this important legislature, when they are ready to say goodbye on their terms. We offer this blessing to our pets, as when it is time to say goodbye we ease their pain and suffering through euthanasia. I find it odd that in the same respect we do not offer that option to competent humans who are living with conditions that take their independence, self-worth, enjoyment in life, and cause them daily pain. Your support and involvement in making West Virginia a Death with Dignity state is crucial. You would be allowing our residents the ability to ease their pain and keep their dignity at the end of their lives. Please consider how this could one day help your loved ones and possibly yourself. Thank you for your time, and please do not hesitate to contact me to further discuss this