Physician Assisted Suicide Argumentative Essay

In a society where technology is essential to thrive in everyday life, it is ideal that technology would be progressing increasingly each year. These new advances in technology are being utilized in the medical field allowing workers within the healthcare field to better assist patients with faster and more proficient medical care (MacRae). Although this innovation in technology may be effusively used by some, others may not want to spend the time nor money to simply “ease” the intolerable pain that may come with the burden of being terminally ill. In a free society, each and every person should be ensured the right to make their own decisions concerning their fate. Patients should be given the option of physician-assisted suicide so that

Jack Kevorkian, otherwise known as “Dr. Death,” became one of the first physicians to bring widespread attention to the concept of physician-assisted suicide. Kevorkian developed a machine he called the “Thanatron” which would allow him to assist the patient, whom had the desire to end his/her own life, as they inject lethal doses of medicine. The machine had 3 bottles which delivered the fluid through an IV. The first solution to be injected through the IV is saline, then pain killer, and finally the last fluid to be injected is a lethal dose of potassium chloride. This instrument developed by Kevorkian gave patients the ability to end their own life, have assistance from a licensed physician, and die a dignified and peaceful death. In the year 1990, Kevorkian had the first patient to die from assisted suicide. She was a 45 year old Michigan resident with Alzheimer’s disease. Before the disease had spread she had vocalized her want to end her own life with this medical option. Once the Alzheimer’s disease had more rapidly spread is when she followed through with the previous request. Kevorkian agreed to assist her, attached the IV, and then she then self-administered the saline, painkillers, and then the lethal dose of medication. Kevorkian

Intentionally ending one’s own life, under this act, is not considered suicide under the law. For each patient, the Death with Dignity Act has requirements that the patient must meet before they can follow through with the procedure. The patient must be a mentally competent, but terminally ill, adult and a resident of 1 of the 3 states where assisted dying laws are present. If patients meet these minimum requirements they are then able to make a request for the lethal medications. In order to receive the prescriptions, however, there are more requirements the patients must meet before they are able to proceed. The patient is instructed to make two oral requests to his or her physician. Both requests for assisted suicide have to be separated by at least 15 days. The patient is also required to have a written request, signed by 2 or more witnesses, to his or her physician. The prescribed physician must confirm diagnosis and prognosis and be beyond a doubt that the patient is mentally capable to request this medical alternative (“Death with Dignity