Should Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?

Name: Mark McLauchlin McLauchlin 1

Instructor: Joseph M. O'Neal

Course/Assignment: A-CAPS 4360.08 Paper 1

Should Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?

Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) is the act of a physician giving a patient the knowledge and means to end their life. PAS is not a new concept. Since the dawn of medicine people have requested physicians to relieve their pain and suffering by ending their life. Countries world-wide are struggling with this issue with different countries taking different stands. The issue is currently up for debate and in the courts in the United States. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that, although the constitution does not give a person the right to commit suicide, it does not prohibit states from establishing that right. Currently, Oregon is the only state to have legalized PAS. In this paper we will look at both sides of the issue and try to decide if PAS should be legalized.

Definitions

Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) - The act of a physician providing the necessary knowledge and drugs for a terminally-ill or sick patient to end their life in response to the patient's requests for assistance to end their life.

Euthanasia - The intentional death of an individual done to in a merciful and dignified manner.

Passive Euthanasia - The act of euthanasia done in a manner where the patient will die a natural death. This is normally in the form of withholding sustenance or medication.

Active Euthanasia - The act of euthanasia where the patient's life is ended by an act of their own or another.

Secondary Issues and Scope

The main question is, does a person inherently have the right to end their own life with a doctor's assistance? There are many different secondary issues associated with PAS. Opponents have many strong arguments. Many blame society and government for the treatment of disabled people. They feel that if proper care were given, many would choose life. There is also the slippery slope argument meaning that the potential for misuse will be great and the taking of life will be made too easy. Once we open the doors to legalizing this act, where do we stop? The chance for misuse is too great. There are also monetary concerns. Insurance companies and families could benefit from if doctors were encouraged to forgo expensive medical procedures and recommend suicide. Nursing homes stand to gain by keeping people alive as long as possible in their facilities. There is also the issue of a doctor violating the Hippocratic Oath they took when they became doctors. In addition, miracle cures