Physician Assisted Suicide

Legalization of physician-assisted suicide has been in discussion throughout the years in the United States. While many state and federal lawmakers have this up in discussion, the state of Oregon is the only U.S state were physician-assisted suicide is legal. Not only is assisted suicide illegal, the use of euthanasia is also an illegal substance being prescribed to patients. There are four distinguished types of euthanasia, all with different meanings that are mentioned later on in the text. Over the last forty years and counting, Pakes had informed that the views of physician-assisted suicide have been changing, and it is still ongoing today. (Pakes, 2005) Physician-assisted suicide should become legal in every state of the U.S. Patients

Even though some patients have this fear, many are for the use of this practice because they are afraid of getting old (Pearlman, 2005). This has some physicians on their toes because they are the ones making a decision on assisted suicide, and they need a strong reason to why the patients requests for this procedure and to move forward with it. For physician-assisted suicide to occur, the law states that a patient must have a reasonable explanation on why they want this procedure done. This process is known as autonomy (Ersek, 2005). Some of these reasons could include illness, and the decision of someone who is on his or her deathbed. Research has shown that a majority of those who requests physician-assisted suicides are the ones who are wealthy and better educated. The reason for this is because they do not want anyone having to care for them, it is also known that this procedure is cheaper than caring for someone who is in, or has to go to the hospital for medical treatment (Finlay, Wheatley,

Not only will it help patients, who are suffering, but it will also help to relieve some of the stress and pain of loved ones that are taking care of them. Not only will patients have the choice of choosing assisted suicide, but their loved ones may be responsible for this as well. Patients who are incapable to speak for themselves living through unbearable pain, or even the ones who are on life support do not have the opportunity to speak for themselves. Many patients may have a Will written with a name of a relative to make their end of life decision.
Looking at the opposing side, many would not choose this death due to their religion. Others think that this process is unacceptable. Some even label this act as a crime, homicide. Others might ask what the purpose of medication is and the practice if the patient is given a choice to end their life. Law enforcement had many strong opinions on not prescribing medication for the patients who are under the age of eighteen. Also given that, the doctors believe that is physician-assisted suicide becomes legal, many patients would choose this procedure rather than trying everything they can to help keep them