Argumentative Essay: Oregon's Death With Dignity Law

“In the 20 years that Oregon’s Death with Dignity Law has been on the books, 1,749 patients have been prescribed lethal medications, and only 64% of them (1,127) used them to die, according to state data. Last year, Oregon doctors prescribed 206 lethal medications, 133 of which were reported used by patients” (Portland Press Herald). This statistic shows that not all patients who are prescribed the drugs, use them to end their life. Gale states, “The three most frequently cites reasons for requesting suicide were: a decreasing ability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable, loss of autonomy and loss of dignity. Eva Thompson, a 57 year-old Camden, Maine resident with stage 4 colon cancer, who is in favor of physician assisted

Public opinion polls showed increased support for physician assisted suicide. This was due in part to technological advances in medicine as well as a greater recognition of patient’s rights.” Twenty-nine-year-old Brittany Maynard, utilized Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, took her own life in November 2014 following a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. “A Pew poll conducted after Ms. Maynard’s death, revealed that people viewed this as a heroic act. Also, revealed, the majority of Americans, most likely including physicians, now favor legalizing physician-assisted suicide for painful and incurable conditions: 68 percent in favor, 28 percent opposed. This poll also found that 56 percent of Americans believe that physician assisted suicide is a morally acceptable act regardless of its legality, and only 37 percent believe it is morally wrong. Additionally, 62 percent of adults agree that a person has a moral right to suicide” (Ralph A Capone). Other states including Oregon, that have passed death-with-dignity laws include Vermont, California, Colorado and Washington. There is a death with dignity bill that is slated to go before the Maine Legislature in support of physician assisted suicide. There is a lot of optimism surrounding this bill, as there’s been two years of experience from Oregon and Vermont, (the latest

Moral questions associated with suicide go back to Western Civilization. “Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle believed suicide was a crime against the community and God. Judaism regarded suicide equivalent to murder, or worse, in some respects, as there can be no atonement by repentance for killing oneself. Islam prohibits suicide, yet glorifies those who die as martyrs for the faith. In the classical world of Greece and Rome, suicide was glorified as a noble death. As early as the second century, Christian teaching condemned suicide, stating it violates the commandment, “Thou shall not kill”, suicide cannot be repented of and lastly, it’s cowardly” (“Suicide.” Encyclopedia of Religion and the Law in America). The United Methodist Church states, “Every person has the right to die with dignity.” The United Church of Christ states, “It’s the right of individuals to not have their lives unnecessarily prolonged.” However, the Lutheran Church Missouri, Synod addresses the matter of physician assisted suicide and condemn it as an “affront to the Lord who gives life,” which also, “open the door for future abuse” ("Suicide." Encyclopedia of Religion and the Law in America). Churches and religious leaders will never come to a mutual understanding on this subject. However, some religions and churches agree that a person does have a right to die