Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Physician Assisted Suicide

Physician assisted suicide is the ending of a person’s life on his or her own terms. Despite moral stigmas that argue against this right, assisted suicide has already become legal in several states. In the states where this is legal, several criteria must be met to qualify for physician assisted suicide. When treatment and suffering is not prolonged, physician assisted suicide would help the family and friends emotionally and financially. Legalizing physician assisted suicide, would ease the hardships of everyone involved and would protect the dignity of the person while also lessening their suffering and pain.

Physician assisted suicide was first legalized in Oregon 1997 and was then followed by Washington, Montana, Vermont and most recently

Much of the criticism of physician assisted suicide comes from people of religion. Many religions such as Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, and Islam believe that life is a very sacred gift and the taking of one’s own life is highly “violating divine law” and therefore physician assisted suicide should be illegal (Death with Dignity). Preventing assisted suicide for religious beliefs would be a violation of the First Amendment which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” (PBS). Therefore, if physician assisted suicide bills it suicide would be a violation of the government’s “separation of church and state”. Separation of church and state is the distinction between federal power and religious belief. Religious organizations should not have the right to control decisions made in one’s life.

Other opponents of end of life bills may not be religious but morally oppose suicide of any kind. One criticism of physician assisted suicide goes as far back as the Hippocratic Oath in the 4th century B.C. Part of this physician’s Oath states “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan.” (Pickert). A doctor’s job is to save lives and heal others, no person should have the right to take a person’s life away. For many years, doctors were required to pledge

People who have terminal illnesses may feel that there is nothing left to live for and want to end their life (Hallock). In many cases, this can be a violent and painful way to die. Suicide by hanging, self-inflicted gun shots, or jumping off buildings can lead to scary, lonely deaths that are sometimes survived. These methods of suicide are typically horrific and leave results which are very traumatic to friends and family. Legalization of physician assisted suicide will decrease the number of people from making this choice. Not only will it protect that individual from the risks of survival but also protect his or her family from the devastation of a lost loved one. Physician assisted suicide provides an orderly and humane way to end a person life whilst surrounded by loved ones to offer last