In 2014, physician assisted suicide accounted for 0.21% of deaths in the United States. This means that less than 1% of all deaths in the country consisted of terminally ill patients choosing to have the final say in the way that they die. That makes you think though, would the percentage have been higher if assisted suicide were legal in all 50 states? In states where bills regarding the legalization of assisted suicide have not been passed, terminal patients either take their own life or must chose to live in a prolonged state of pain until their body physically cannot take it anymore. Although all of these options are difficult for both the patient and their loved ones who feel as if they cannot do anything to help them, many families say that they would rather not see someone that they love in pain even if it meant them choosing assisted suicide. Prolonging the inevitable death of a terminally ill patient also causes a large strain on the U.S. economy.
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Physician assisted suicide should be legal in all 50 states because it’s often easier on the families of the terminally ill, it would end up costing the government less, and it allows for patients to take control of a situation that they previously had no control over. Physician assisted suicide is an option that is only available for patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The patient must be over the age of 18, be a resident in a state where assisted suicide is legal, and be expected to have 6 or less months to live. In order to obtain Seconal or a drug similar to Seconal, the patient must have at least 2 oral referrals from 2 different doctors and one written referral (“State-By-State Guide to Physician Assisted Suicide” 2015). This process is a lengthy one and is often only taken by those who are seriously considering voluntary euthanasia. Studies show that not everyone who goes through this process ends up filling their prescription though, “[...] just over a third of people who initially get prescriptions change their minds or choose to extend their life.” (“Assisted Dying” Warnes, Sophie). Although not all patients follow all the way through, there is no doubt that they appreciated having the opportunity to choose an option rather than dying in naturally and in pain. It is important for patients to feel like they have some sort of control over their life when they haven’t been able to control anything for a while. As of 2016, only 5 states allow physician assisted suicide. …show more content…
Imagine being diagnosed with a terminal illness and being told that for the rest of the short time that you had left, you would be in pain for the majority of it. This exact scenario is what thousands of people experience each year. However, if you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, or Montana you’re in luck! Those 5 states allow you to consider going through agencies such as Compassion & Choices or the Final Exit Network that help you consider the option of physician assisted suicide. If you don’t live in those 5 states though, you don’t have that option. This is the situation that a majority of those terminal patients find themselves in. In 2001, Kevin Drum’s father-in-law, Harry, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and vicious cancer caused by rebel plasma cells. Harry lived in California during a time in which assisted suicide was not yet legal, and knowing how the last few months of his life would be spent, he chose to end his own life. “[...] he had watched all too many of his patients struggle with their final months, and this experience had persuaded him that he would take his own life if he found himself dying of an agonizing and clearly terminal illness.” (“My Right to Die” Drum, Kevin). Since Harry was a physician, he knew exactly how his situation would turn out. Although many patients chose to end their lives, there are a lot of patients who don’t take that route. The last 3 or so months of a terminal patient 's life are the most difficult. Between the physical pain, coming to term with the fact that you’re dying, and the mental/emotional pain, patients are exhausted. When Kathleen Barber was diagnosed with cancer,
Physician assisted suicide should be legal in all 50 states because it’s often easier on the families of the terminally ill, it would end up costing the government less, and it allows for patients to take control of a situation that they previously had no control over. Physician assisted suicide is an option that is only available for patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The patient must be over the age of 18, be a resident in a state where assisted suicide is legal, and be expected to have 6 or less months to live. In order to obtain Seconal or a drug similar to Seconal, the patient must have at least 2 oral referrals from 2 different doctors and one written referral (“State-By-State Guide to Physician Assisted Suicide” 2015). This process is a lengthy one and is often only taken by those who are seriously considering voluntary euthanasia. Studies show that not everyone who goes through this process ends up filling their prescription though, “[...] just over a third of people who initially get prescriptions change their minds or choose to extend their life.” (“Assisted Dying” Warnes, Sophie). Although not all patients follow all the way through, there is no doubt that they appreciated having the opportunity to choose an option rather than dying in naturally and in pain. It is important for patients to feel like they have some sort of control over their life when they haven’t been able to control anything for a while. As of 2016, only 5 states allow physician assisted suicide. …show more content…
Imagine being diagnosed with a terminal illness and being told that for the rest of the short time that you had left, you would be in pain for the majority of it. This exact scenario is what thousands of people experience each year. However, if you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, or Montana you’re in luck! Those 5 states allow you to consider going through agencies such as Compassion & Choices or the Final Exit Network that help you consider the option of physician assisted suicide. If you don’t live in those 5 states though, you don’t have that option. This is the situation that a majority of those terminal patients find themselves in. In 2001, Kevin Drum’s father-in-law, Harry, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and vicious cancer caused by rebel plasma cells. Harry lived in California during a time in which assisted suicide was not yet legal, and knowing how the last few months of his life would be spent, he chose to end his own life. “[...] he had watched all too many of his patients struggle with their final months, and this experience had persuaded him that he would take his own life if he found himself dying of an agonizing and clearly terminal illness.” (“My Right to Die” Drum, Kevin). Since Harry was a physician, he knew exactly how his situation would turn out. Although many patients chose to end their lives, there are a lot of patients who don’t take that route. The last 3 or so months of a terminal patient 's life are the most difficult. Between the physical pain, coming to term with the fact that you’re dying, and the mental/emotional pain, patients are exhausted. When Kathleen Barber was diagnosed with cancer,