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Argumentative Essay: The Death With Dignity Act

634 Words3 Pages

When many people think of euthanasia they think of doctors allowing their patients to die. Although euthanasia is the most commonly known way patients die by their own decision there is also the option of the Death with Dignity Act. This may not be available in every state and be just as controversial, this option is by far the most superior to typical euthanasia ways. Euthanasia is considered to be administered two different ways, by active euthanasia, which is when the doctor of a patient performs a “mercy killing” which “refers to ending the life of a person (or animal) who is suffering greatly and has no chance of recovery.” (Donatelle) The second would be passive euthanasia is when there is “internal withholding of treatment that …show more content…

The one down fall is that not many states have adopted this act yet. There are rules and regulations that have to be followed in order to follow through with it. It states that you must be “18 years of age or older, a resident of Oregon, capable of making and communicating health care decisions for him/herself, and diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six (6) months. It is up to the attending physician to determine whether these criteria have been met.” (oregan.gov) They also require there to be two witnesses when the form is filled out, one of which cannot be a beneficiary of the state. From then on there is a fifteen day waiting period and then the doctor will write a prescription for a lethal dose of medications that will aid in ending the patient’s life. The key difference between euthanasia and the Death with Dignity Act is that the patient administers the drugs themselves on their own basis and time. Which is why it is considered a better and more logical source to an assisted suicide. It is set up to make sure the patient is mentally healthy enough to make the decision, while taking all legal blame away from the doctor who prescribed the drugs sense the patient fills out and signs a form, with witnesses, there are typically two different doctors who diagnose the patient fifteen days apart, and the patient can back out at any

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