Physician Assisted Suicide

The Effects of Assisted Suicide Legalization

While slowly experiencing an eventual death, the pain of a life-threatening
disease is unbearable.   The constant anguish of a helpless cancer patient, Richard, is
driving away all sanity.   As he lies there on the hospital bed near his family, Richard
finally makes a grave decision.   He decides to call upon a physician to end his pain.
The doctor would give him medication which would lead to an inevitable death.   As he
knows he is going to die within a few weeks anyway, Richard questions the doctor
about the medication.   "Just give me the word, and I will hand it over to you," the
doctor says.   "Let me add, however, that even though it may be an option, do you think
it is morally right?"   The doctor is obviously an honest, noble man who gives all of his
patients his sincere opinion.   That, in most cases, is not common in a doctor's
character.   Richard is left with those words from the doctor and given time to talk
about the situation with his family.   After a long discussion, they realize that life is a
privilege and should not be taken by choice, no matter how intense the pain is.   Weeks
later, at Richard's funeral, the family feels proud of him for enduring the agonizing
experience and to die naturally.   The choice of physician assisted suicide may be an
irrelevant issue to some, but when it comes to terminally ill patients, it is definitely an
observable option.   These people must realize that taking a life, whether someone
else's or their own, is dishonorable.   Assisted suicide should be against the law in all
states because it would have an affect on medical procedures, persuade doctors to
make the wrong decisions, and change the morality of people around the country.
The people of this country are partially represented by the United States
Supreme Court.   In fact, the United States Supreme Court is going to become the final
judge of this important issue because two United States Court of... [continues]

Read full essay