Physician Assisted Suicide Debate Essay

Some, who only have six months or less to live would consider receiving physician assisted suicide over having their illness slowly kill them. Physician assisted suicide is when a doctor prescribes a lethal pill to a patient that has a terminal illness. It is only prescribed if the patient asks for it and if the patient only has six months or less to live. Physician assisted suicide is only legalized in California, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Every other state in the United States have prohibited physician assisted suicide. Receiving assisted suicide does have requirements; the patient must have a second physician sign off, and both physicians need to agree that the patient with the disease is mentally sound. Physician assisted suicide …show more content…
For example a 29 year old female, Brittany Maynard only has 6 months to live. Brittany Maynard referred to her death as going out with dignity because it is her choice to die sooner than intended. However, on the other side doctors say that all lives are valuable regardless of the illness the patient has. According to article “Physician-Assisted Suicide Debate: Are we using the right language?” 49% of doctors argue that all lives are important no matter the illness the patient has. Furthermore in the video “Beyond Oregon: Should terminally Ill Patients be allowed to Choose Death?” Dr. Bill Toffler explains that as a physician he values everyone as a patient regardless of the patient’s illness …show more content…
If a patient has the right to choose how they live their life then the patient has the right to choose how they will die. In the article “Governor Signs End-of-Life Act” governor Jerry Brown states that if he were to be dying of a prolonged and excruciating pain he would feel more comfortable having the option of being prescribed a lethal drug because he will have a choice how he die. Furthermore in the article “Physician-Assisted Suicide Debate: Are We Using the Right Language” doctors argued that the patient has a right to choose early death because in some cases the patient can be suffering. For example Brittany Maynard, who has a terminal illness was passionate to choose when she died. Opponents argue that having assisted suicide takes away from the doctors duties as a healer. For example in the article “Think Twice about Death with Dignity’” physicians treat patients by treating their symptoms. Physicians also supporting them through the difficult and emotional tasks of completing their lives. It further explains that patients who are facing death are cared for in ways that allow the patient to feel respected, worthy, and valued. Furthermore in the article “Think Twice About ‘Death with Dignity’” there is a difference between dying of one’s disease and having the patient’s doctor intentionally end their life. The patient’s