Robert Bonnett
Waldorf College
Abstract
There has been a huge debate over the last several years on whether or not assisted suicide or euthanasia should be made legal. Many proponents believe that each individual should have the right to die, if that is what they desire, and no law should be made to stop them from doing so. Opponents stand on morality as their basis in not allowing such laws and most believe that if legalized, vulnerable groups like the homeless or mentally disabled, will be put at more of a risk. However, research pointed out by Michael Smith, shows no evidence to support such claims.
No Evidence of Vulnerable Groups’ Higher Risk Due To Right-To-Die Laws There has been a huge debate over the last several years on whether or not assisted suicide or euthanasia should be made legal. Many proponents believe that each individual should have the right to die, if that is what they desire, and no law should be made to stop them from doing so. Opponents stand on morality as their basis in not allowing such laws and most believe that if legalized, vulnerable groups like the homeless or mentally disabled, will be put at more of a risk. Michael Smith, correspondent for MedPage Today, an online news source that covers the medical field, points out that no evidence exists in that particular claim. Right-to-die laws that proponents are trying to push through legislatures throughout the country rely mainly on the secular view of individuals having the right to do whatever they wish with their own bodies. Whether it is to abort a fetus, or to die on their own terms, these proponents believe that no law should ever be enacted taking away any right having to do with their own body. They go so far as to say that assisted suicide would be beneficial to the overall economy due to the immense medical costs in the attempts to keep people alive. They believe that insurance rates would eventually fall if people were allowed to die. These particular laws are present only in the state of Oregon and the Netherlands (Smith, 2010). Opponents to the cause stand on moral ground, stating that any intentional killing of another is immoral, and people should be protected. They believe that if these types of laws were put into place, then those less fortunate would fall victim to scrupulous practices. No evidence can be provided that reinforces those claims. Mr. Smith points to a study conducted by the Journal of Medical Ethics which found absolutely no evidence of groups such as the poor, mentally disabled or physically disabled being at any greater risk to assisted suicide or euthanasia in either Oregon or the Netherlands. Researchers conducted several years of analysis of data from Oregon and the Netherlands where both euthanasia and assisted suicide have been legal for some time. Oregon passed their right-to-die laws back in 1997. They found in nine out of ten potential vulnerable groups, that no one died more often as a result of assisted suicide or euthanasia than in any other group (Battin, 2007). The only exception came with individuals suffering from AIDS where those rates of death were greater than normal. The Journal of Medical Ethics researchers stated there is “no current factual support for so-called slippery-slope concerns about the risks of legalization of assisted dying concerns that death in this way would be practiced more frequently on persons in vulnerable groups.” The research showed no evidence supporting the claims that vulnerable groups would suffer a greater risk if these laws were enacted. It actually showed that the number of euthanasia cases were much higher in groups of greater financial means as well as the more educated individual. The information used to support Mr. Smith’s claims that those fears were unjustified came directly from a well renowned publication on medical concerns. The data showed that in Oregon, only .15% of all that died within the state were of assisted suicide during the nine years following the enactment of the Death with Dignity Act. In the Netherlands, the rate was less than 2% (Battin, 2007). The data is strong in the author’s claims and the research used was unquestionable . The debate over the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia will continue to go on as long as society allows it. Eventually the majority will come to the realization that some types of right-to-die legislation should be enacted. I do believe that in certain cases, individuals should be allowed the ability to make such a decision if there is no other means to avoid it. However, I agree with the author’s conclusions in that certain vulnerable groups will not be affected disproportionately. I feel that those with a greater financial means will seek assisted suicide much quicker than any other group if the laws were passed. I truly believe in the old Native American traditions of death. When an elder reached a point in his life that he was no longer able to take care of himself, he would get dressed in his nicest clothing, paint his face, then walk off into the wilderness, never to return. They believed their dignity and that of their family was more important than trying any means necessary to stay alive.
References
Battin, M. (2007). Legal physician-assisted dying in Oregon and the Netherlands: evidence concerning the impact on patients in “vulnerable” groups. Journal of Medical Ethics, 33(10), 591-597. Retrieved from http://jme.bmj.com/search?fulltext=euthanasia in oregon&submit=yes&x=0&y=0
Smith, M. (2010). There is no evidence of a slippery slope with right-to-die laws. Retrieved from ind.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=Relevance&prodId=OVRC&tabID=T010&subjectParam=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28su%2CNone%2C12%29%22Euthanasia%22%24&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R2&displaySubject=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=14&qrySerId=Locale(en,,):FQE=(SU,None,12)"Euthanasia"$&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&inPS=true&userGroupName=oran95108&sgCurrentPosition=0&contentSet=GSRC&docId=EJ3010375220&docType=GSRC
References: Battin, M. (2007). Legal physician-assisted dying in Oregon and the Netherlands: evidence concerning the impact on patients in “vulnerable” groups. Journal of Medical Ethics, 33(10), 591-597. Retrieved from http://jme.bmj.com/search?fulltext=euthanasia in oregon&submit=yes&x=0&y=0 Smith, M. (2010). There is no evidence of a slippery slope with right-to-die laws. Retrieved from ind.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=Relevance&prodId=OVRC&tabID=T010&subjectParam=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28su%2CNone%2C12%29%22Euthanasia%22%24&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R2&displaySubject=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=14&qrySerId=Locale(en,,):FQE=(SU,None,12)"Euthanasia"$&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&inPS=true&userGroupName=oran95108&sgCurrentPosition=0&contentSet=GSRC&docId=EJ3010375220&docType=GSRC
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