Physician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized For...

Erin Presnell Professor Branson English 112 2 May 2015 Physician Assisted Suicide Assisted suicide is a controversial and often misunderstood topic that has recently raised the attention of the nation. Assisted suicide or physician assisted suicide (PAS) is not only an emotionally trying matter but also ethically challenging to some. Those who are against this act believe that it is unethical to end a life before the intended time. Those in favor believe that it is a human right for patients that have terminal illnesses to have a choice in the way that they die. Physician assisted suicide should be legalized for mentally competent adults because it is a human right, is more financially responsible and a considerate reply to the misery of†¦show more content†¦Some of these requirements are: the patient must be 18 years of age or older, must be a resident of Oregon, Washington or Vermont, â€Å"capable of making and communicating health care decisions for him/herself†, and the patient must be â€Å"diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six months† (Death). Only under these requirements is someone able to obtain a prescription of the medication used. Many people often confuse the death with dignity act with euthanasia. The difference between euthanasia and the death with dignity act is â€Å"euthanasia occurs when a third party administers medication or acts directly to end the patient’s life† (Death). The Death with Dignity act is a human right that should be granted in every state. Those in favor of â€Å"legalizing assisted suicide claim that all persons have a moral right to choose freely what they will do with their lives as long as they inflict no harm on others† (Andre/Velasquez). This topic is considered taboo by many and until recently, the topic of physician assisted death was relativity undiscussed outside of the states where it is legal. The highly publicized case of Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old woman who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, changed that (Saunders). Maynard, who was given a short amount of time to live, relocated from her home in California to Oregon to take advantage of the Death with Dignity act. She was suffering and felt it was her right to choose when and how she