The Right to Die with Assisted Suicide

The Right to Die

You wake up, get your kids off to school, go to work and succeed through another normal day. Tomorrow you have a doctor’s appointment to discuss the intense migraines you’ve been experiencing. You’re sent to another center for additional scans and testing and then it happens. You’re overwhelmed with news of a lifechanging prognosis. You have a terminal tumor.  For the next six months, can you imagine sitting by a beloved family member watching them suffer daily. Eventually that suffering leading to death. What if you or your loved one could assist in controlling their suffering by choosing assisted suicide? Physician assisted suicide, a very controversial topic, is known as suicide committed by a terminally ill person with help from another person. Six states including CA, CO, OR, VT, WA and MT have legalized physician assisted suicide.  The law allows terminally ill patients who have been given six months or less to live the ability to obtain medication from their doctor using a combination of both verbal and written requests. Legalizing physician assisted suicide in every state would allow for a respectable peaceful death of those with terminal illnesses.

        Many patients experiencing a terminal illness become sad and depressed. Their thoughts become filled with what the future looks like. How long will they suffer? How long will their family assist in their care and will it become a burden? In the controversy of assisted suicide, many people feel that the reason these patients choose this way of death is simply because of these thoughts and their feeling of hopelessness. Many of the people in disagreement with assisted suicide believe that their loved ones are incapable of making this life altering decisions because of their new reality. In contrast, although these patients may indeed be depressed and hopeless, the option for assisted suicide is not taken lightly. Each patient must submit both verbal and written requests to their doctors prior to undergoing treatment with a psychologist to ensure the patients are psychologically sound to make the decisions. Only the individuals deemed mentally stable and competent can continue to seek assistance in assisted suicide. For some, having the ability to seek assistance such as assisted suicide is calming. To Brittany, it was a relief. One that brought her peace knowing that for the time being, she could continue to enjoy life as life would allow. However, if things took a turn for the worse, she had the ability and tools in hand to adjust and act in her own defense. One that would put her at rest and peace.

        One of the largest controversies regarding assisted suicide is the role of a doctor. Many, if not most, people look to their doctor as a helping hand. Someone to assist them in finding a reasonable solution to resolve any health problems they may be experiencing. A trusting hand in doctors’ appointments, prescribing medications and performing surgeries. Someone who is devoted to saving lives to the best of their availability. Unfortunately, a doctor isn’t always able to assist in maintaining or prolonging your health especially when it comes to terminal illnesses. But it’s your doctors job to maintain and save lives, right? Wrong. It’s your doctors job to fight for you and assist in your treatment while maintaining your wishes and trying to create the best possible outcome for everyone involved. Perhaps your doctor can’t save your life but they can help preserve your current state of life. Try looking at it from another perspective. Are you an animal lover? Animals can be put down by euthanasia at the request of the owner or medical professional. While some may argue that this is different that assisted suicide, it could be viewed as one in the same. Many owners choose to put down their dogs upon finding out that they have a terminal illness. One that will lead to a less enjoyable life with an undesirable outcome. Just as a veterinarian can assist pets, legalizing assisted suicide for terminal illness, your doctor has the ability stop the patient from suffering unbearable pain.