Right to Die: Right to Choose

Right to Die: Right to Choose

What is the most commonly preferred way to die? Is it of old age, the result of a terrible accident, in a grave amount of pain? Or would it be more ideal for a peaceful departure when all former good-byes have been made? To many this may seem like the way to go, however what if it was known that a middle aged terminally ill man was requesting the same nature of death. Would the majority again believe that he should fulfill his wish or rather, would it be more acceptable for him to endure the pain in hope of prolonging his life? Should the government legalize assisted suicide if it's the only way to free an individual's pain or suffering, or should they conceal the idea of suicide to uphold religious values and decrease the population's mortality rate? Assisted suicide is by no means a free ticket to die whenever an individual chooses, it solely applies to the terminally ill who are currently in a grave amount of pain and are highly unlikely to recover. Many advocates for assisted suicide believe that any insurmountable suffering, whether it is physical or emotional pain, should permit the right to die. On the other hand, the portion of the population who are opposed to this right counter this argument. They believe that no matter what the circumstance, killing is morally wrong and unquestionably prohibited. Currently the only two states that have passed this law are Washington and Oregon. Therefore, assisted suicide should be passed into a law across all states allowing terminally ill individuals the right to prevent any sort of agony they are forced to endure, while jointly providing a mean against various hardships and binding moral obligations by making each individual in charge of pursuing his or her own course of death.

In the article, "Physician-Assisted Suicide," the Falcon Free Press expresses the idea that freedom to end one's own life reaffirms that a patient suffering from a great deal of pain has the option to end their pain in a dignified manner and a dignified way. It allows the individual time to say good-bye to loved ones and prepare themselves for their death, instead of dying at some unknown moment. Advocates for legislation that think terminally ill patients should seek medical assistance believe that "hastening the patient's deaths when their pain becomes unbearable or their quality of life is otherwise intolerable and hopelessly impaired" is the only way to go (Shaw). These patients will find a quick, painless and reliable end to their suffering which will spare them weeks or months of agony. Also, while simply looking at the benefits to assisted suicide, the downside to not legalizing this procedure may include the terminally ill who are forced to endure various other ways to end the pain, such as using suffocation, or by overdose. When it comes down to it, an individual should be able to