Assisted Suicide
There are two things that are inevitable in life: taxes and death. Only one of them is avoidable. Everyone dies at some point; it’s the same for all. However, the period before death can consist of two very different experiences: it can be very painful, or it can be smooth and peaceful. We should have some control over our experience. Assisted suicide is one way to end unavoidable suffering. However, here in the U.S., only five states have laws such as the Death With Dignity Act that make assisted suicide legal: Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, and New Mexico. Assisted suicide should be available for patients with terminal illness, and a legal protocol should be set in place so they can do so.
Assisted suicide
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“The ultimate nightmare isn’t death; it’s failing at death’s door, waking up alive, and realizing your last best hope for peace is gone (Cartwright).” Said differently, for some of these people, their worst fear is not to happily die; it is the pain that awaits them in life, as in the case of Kim and Lloyd Yarbrough. The couple was living comfortably until 2004 when Lloyd was diagnosed with lymphoma. After treatment, he appeared to be doing fine until 2007 when he was diagnosed with encephalitis. He was not able to care for himself anymore; that was left to Kim, and she did a great job of it, up to the date of May 27, 2009, when she ended the life of her husband and then attempted suicide in an effort to end their pain. She woke up chained to a hospital bed (Cartwright). Had protocol been in place beforehand, Kim Yarbrough could have had medical professionals on hand to certify that this was what Lloyd wanted. Instead, everyone must believe her when she says he gave her a thumbs up when she asked if she could end his life (Ball). Assisted suicide laws must be set in place to evade avoidable disasters