Essay/Term paper: The controversial issue of doctor-assisted suicide

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Philosophy Essays

The Controversial Issue of Doctor-Assisted Suicide


Imagine youu have just found out you are going to die within three months.
Recently the questions have been changed form, "What am I going to do with the
rest of my life?" to "When should I kill myself"? With painful and crippling
diseases such as AIDS and cancer, and Alzheimers along with doctors such as Dr.
Kavorkian, some people are choosing death over life. Doctor assisted suicide
has been a very controversial subject in the past few years. Some states such
as Oregon have passed laws which allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to
patients who have less then six months to live.(Henin 1) Other state have taken
the opposite side. I believe that if you are able to reason and think
rationally you should decide whether to live or dir. If not the people who know
you best should make the decision.
If you are ever in a situation where you now you wil soon die the choice
whether or not to kill youself should be your own. I believe that
doctorassisted suicide should not be controlled by the government, but should be
apersonal choice based on the individual. Many people could not imagine living
in a hospital bed for the remainder of their lives. They would rather die with
dignity than live out the rest of their lives depandant on others. The
government thinks that they know what is best for the people. If everyone is
an individuall, how can the government know what is best for everyone. I feel
that people shold make up thir own minds about what is best for them. Joshua
Haney worote an article on assisted suicide. He says, "Everyday we make choices
that decide our fate and future. We choose where we work, what we eat and drink,
etc. This is just one more choice that we are making. I we take away this
right from people we are taking steps towards taking away other rights. Would
it be morally right to allow that person to suffer in pain in anguish through
some terminal illness?"(Haney2) I completely agree with him. What rights will
they take away next?
One problem people fae when they are seriously ill is the lack of money.
There always weems to be one more bill waiting to be paid. They need money to
buy prescription drugs, pay for the doctor appointments, tests, and in some
cases lenghty hospital stays. Some insurance companies will refuse to pay for
certain test, or drugs, or even refuse treatment altogether.
Many patients can't aford to pay for these treatments, and even if they
coulld, most of the treatments only prolong life for a short amount fof time.
There is also no guarantee that the quality of life during these treatments
woulld be wourk the time and money. No one wants to die in debt and leave their
families with nothing but medical bills. If you don't wish to continue living
in pain, why should you have to pay for treatment that you don't want?
When someone is sicsk it is hard on the whole family. When someone is
dying they not only have to deal with their own pain and suffering, both
physically and mentally but also with the suffering that their friends and
family are going through. They might begin to feel like a burden, and may also
begin to feel guilty and depressed. Because of this and many other reasons some
may choose to die.
I am not saying that suicide id right for everyone, but I do think it
should be an option when someone is suffering from aphysical disease that has
notcure, or hopes of a cure in the near future. I feel that it should be
apersonal decision, based on the wishes of the individual. The government and
countless numbers of protesters should not claim to know what is right for
everyone. They say it is inhimane for doctors to assist in si suicide, but I
have to agree with A. Wilkie Kushner, who write,s "We all di. Death is a part
of life. Death is inevitable. Why should each of us not have the right to
choose when and how we did; and if we are in no position to do so, why shoulld
those who know us best not be allowed to help? Why is it considered acceptable
for sospital staff to indefinitely postpone death with machines and tubes and
potent toxic pharmaceuticals, and not to help people go easily when their time
has come? Wher is the humanity in all this? (Kushner 3)



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Haney, Joshua, "RE: Assisted Suicide,"
www.yahoo.com 4/16/96

A. Wilkie Kushner, MB-Reprinted from Letters to the Editor, Gobe & Mail
www.yahoo.com

Hendin, Herbert, MD, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Oregon Tries the Dutch
Way,
Wellness Web, The Patient's Network, www.yahoo.com