Persuasive Essay On The Right To Die
The Right to Die
Euthanasia is the painless, intentionally, knowingly and direct act of causing death to another human being; also known as assisted suicide and mercy killing. Euthanasia is used for a terminal illness or incurable condition. If for example a doctor was to give a patient suffering from a terminal condition such as cancer an overdose of drugs that would end the patient’s life, this would be considered as euthanasia. Deliberately aiding, or encouraging a person to commit suicide would also be considered as assisted suicide.
Belgium is one of the countries that have legalized euthanasia and this law has been in place since September 2002. The law states that two doctors need to be involved in the process and a psychologist as well if the competency of the patient is in doubt. Both the patient and doctor decide on the best course of action to take in ending the patient’s life and this could be through a prescribed overdose or lethal injection. …show more content…
Physician aid in dying, or assisted suicide is legal in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Vermont and Bernalillo County, New Mexico, its status is disputed in Montana. The key difference euthanasia and PAD is who administers the lethal dose of medication. Euthanasia entails the physician or another third party administering the medication, whereas PAD requires the patient to self-administer the medication and to determine whether and when to do this.
Many people support the right of a terminally ill patient to die, but what if the right becomes an obligation? Should dying patients have the right to order their doctors not to start or continue medical treatment? Should doctors be protected from prosecution if they shorten a patient’s life expectancy with pain-killings drugs? I think if a person is suffering and can’t be cured they could be qualified for euthanasia. I don’t think it should be abused, meaning only if a person necessarily needs
Euthanasia is the painless, intentionally, knowingly and direct act of causing death to another human being; also known as assisted suicide and mercy killing. Euthanasia is used for a terminal illness or incurable condition. If for example a doctor was to give a patient suffering from a terminal condition such as cancer an overdose of drugs that would end the patient’s life, this would be considered as euthanasia. Deliberately aiding, or encouraging a person to commit suicide would also be considered as assisted suicide.
Belgium is one of the countries that have legalized euthanasia and this law has been in place since September 2002. The law states that two doctors need to be involved in the process and a psychologist as well if the competency of the patient is in doubt. Both the patient and doctor decide on the best course of action to take in ending the patient’s life and this could be through a prescribed overdose or lethal injection. …show more content…
Physician aid in dying, or assisted suicide is legal in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Vermont and Bernalillo County, New Mexico, its status is disputed in Montana. The key difference euthanasia and PAD is who administers the lethal dose of medication. Euthanasia entails the physician or another third party administering the medication, whereas PAD requires the patient to self-administer the medication and to determine whether and when to do this.
Many people support the right of a terminally ill patient to die, but what if the right becomes an obligation? Should dying patients have the right to order their doctors not to start or continue medical treatment? Should doctors be protected from prosecution if they shorten a patient’s life expectancy with pain-killings drugs? I think if a person is suffering and can’t be cured they could be qualified for euthanasia. I don’t think it should be abused, meaning only if a person necessarily needs