Physician Assisted Suicide Pros And Cons

Physician assisted suicide has been a controversial topic in the medical world for centuries. Physician assisted suicide (PAS) is the act in which a doctor provides their terminally ill patients with the knowledge and means to commit suicide. Doctors must inform their patients on the lethal drugs that may be used and the process of the suicide. Physician assisted suicide has been legalized in a few states throughout the United States including Oregon, Montana, Vermont, Washington, and Bernalillo County in New Mexico. Although many families and doctors agree with the idea of physician assisted suicide, even more people disagree with “mercy killing” because it exploits the doctor's hippocratic oath and may violate the constitution. The right

Dr Jack Kevorkian is a determined advocate of the right to die. Dr. Kevorkian has actively worked with patients to provide dying patients with “so-called respectable and painless manners to end their lives” (“Trial of Dr. Jack Kevorkian”). Dr Kevorkian and many other physician assisted suicide supporters work diligently to help their patients to the best of their ability. Physicians that aid in suicide are there to provide closure to their patients and end their suffering. The mass of people supporting the controversy see it as “the final form of mercy for an individual in great deal of pain or with a terminal illness” (“Euthanasia”). The “final form of mercy” eliminates the tremendous and horrific pain that the patient suffers from. Knowing this, the patient can gain closure. Euthanasia or PAS are not meant to be inhumane or animalistic. Allowing someone to end their lives based on their condition and and genuine hardships is not wrong! Physicians all over the world have been protesting this right for

Physician assisted suicide can end family financial difficulties. A hospital stay can financially destroy a family. The bill given to the family at the end of their loved ones stay can range from $1,000 to $50,000 depending on the circumstances and condition of the patient. “According to data published by Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, the average hospital stay costs about $10,000.” However, hospital stay cost varies depending on the age of the patient. “An average of $12,500 for people between the ages 45 and 84” (Physicians Now Urgent Care 1). Hospital stay cost also depends on where you live. However, no matter where you live, the hospital expense will be tremendous and unnecessary for necessary care. In Maryland, the average hospital adjusted expense per inpatient day is $2,368, while similar services will set you back only $1,141 in South Dakota and as much as $2,967 in Oregon (Physicians Now Urgent Care 2). Along with ending all the constant suffering faced by the patient, friends and family, the unrealistic medical cost will be ended as