Marcus Carrington

ENG 21003 Sec A

Professor Aisha Sidibe

Informative Review Final

26 September 2018

 

Assisted Suicide: The most justifiable option for the terminally ill?

     When it comes to the terminally ill deciding their final fate, there is a restriction on the patient’s options. Since the 5th century, Ancient Greeks and Romans were conflicted if voluntary death should be allowed or if the patient should experience prolonged agony(Dowbiggin 2003). Assisted suicide has been up for debate among civilizations across the world for the process conflicts religious beliefs, government oaths and the individuals best interest. Though this has been a practice that has been seen and even practiced for many centuries it still brings about a major controversy if this method is humane and plausible. Deemed as a legal solution in eight states and in numerous countries many politicians and health groups across the world feel that this solution is justifiable while the method of prescribing medications to hasten death can be unethical and should remain illegal.

     In 1997, assisted suicide first became legal in the state of Oregon. First passed by Oregon voters and approved by the Ninth Circuit court of appeals, patients were given the option of assisted suicide under certain criteria. The patient must be fully aware of their actions and realize that there is not much for them to do other than to commit suicide by being prescribed drugs. Over the years, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, Colorado, Washington D.C. and Hawaii have all voted on making assisting suicide legal following under the same criteria that the founding state had implemented(Death with Dignity). Twice since assisting suicide has become legal in those states the House of Representatives have made an attempt to pass a national ban however, failed both times. The senate believes that each state has the right to determine what’s best for their people. Other than the U.S., assisted suicide has also been deemed legal in Colombia, Canada, The Netherlands and Belgium. Some of these countries have been practicing assisted suicide for more than 30 years and feel that this solution is extremely justifiable.

     Assisted suicide is the act of the physician prescribing a terminally ill patient lethal drugs to end their life in a painless way. The physician plays no role in persuading the patient to commit suicide for the patient voluntarily asks their physician for the drugs. The reasoning for majority of the patients to request this option is because they feel that they are a burden on their loved ones, they want to die with dignity, or they feel that there is no reason for them to stay living when they are experiencing severe pain and nearing death (Pearlman, 2004). In order for  the patient to request assisted suicide they must have a life expectancy of less than six months, have mental competency, being at least 18 years old and getting permission from a second physician (Norman-Eady 2002). If the patient fails any of these requirements they are denied the solution until deemed qualified after a given period of time. With such criteria it makes it hard for just anyone to be given the lethal drugs preventing purposeful drug abuse, and exploitation of the weak and vulnerable.

     Assisted suicide sparks such controversy around the world due to the physician helping someone kill themselves. Committing suicide is not a norm in society and is taken seriously when the general act is committed.  Assisted suicide has been seen “as a kindness and a mercy to the terminally ill person while others see it as prematurely ending the life of a person who, as a result of their illness, might not be making sound decisions”(HG.ORG). Some see assisted suicide as the physician doing a favor for their patients by killing them all off ending them of their pain while others feel that the physician is taking advantage of their patients. Though we have a right to die there is no right to kill causing a main problem. The physician is only allowed to supply the patient the tools for them to commit suicide and not actually put the drug in their mouth or inject them with the lethal syringe. The patient must take the drugs under the physicians watch however, the physician does not physically kill the patient. With assisted suicide being legal, the physicians that prescribe such medications are protected under law and can’t be prosecuted for their actions. As a physician they are following under the doctor-patient relationship, abiding by their requests with the consideration of family members.

     Though assisted suicide is optional by the patient, the drugs that are used for the procedure can be expensive and the patient must take this into consideration. Pentobarbital, which is used to slow down the activity of the brain and nervous system, can cost the patient $15,000-25,000 in liquid form or $400-500 in powdered form (Death with Dignity). In addition, the drug secobarbital which works in same way as pentobarbital can cost the patient $3,000 to $5,000 (Death with Dignity National Center). Even though these are estimates both drugs can be extremely costly and hard to afford. According to how terminally ill the patient is, the physician takes it up with themself to come up with how much of the drug they must supply to the patient in order to get the job done. Hospitals, insurance companies, and the government benefit from assisted suicide for this option is cheaper than having to constantly supply other drugs, treatments and tests for the patients. Moreover, drug companies that endorse such drugs benefit from assisted suicide because they happen to make the price of these drugs expensive when its only for a one time use profiting in the end. Assisted suicide may be cheaper for the hospitals and insurance companies but costly to the consumer.

     This controversy is extremely important because it gives the individual the right to be able to take away their life and end their pain in a reasonable way. Being that it’s not legal in every state, majority of the United States population is forced to deal with their terminal illnesses until their time is up. Should the government have the right to determine if you should be able to take your own life or not?

 

Marcus Carrington

ENG 21003 Sec A

Professor Aisha Sidibe

Informative Review Draft 1

17 September 2018

 

Assisted Suicide: The most justifiable option for the terminally ill?

     Since the 5th century, Assisted suicide has been up for debate among civilizations across the world. Assisted suicide is the act of the physician prescribing a terminally ill patient lethal drugs to end their life in a painless way. The physicians that prescribe such medications are protected under law and can’t be prosecuted for their actions. Though this has been a practice that has been seen and even practiced for many centuries it still brings about a major controversy if this method is humane and plausible. Deemed as a legal solution in eight states all across the United States and in countries such as Colombia, Canada, The Netherlands and Belgium, many politicians and health groups across the world feel that this solution is reasonable and justifiable to have assisted suicide. While on the other hand others go against these countries and states claiming that the method of prescribing medications to hasten death is unethical and should remain illegal.

     In 1997, assisted suicide first became legal in the state of Oregon. Though this act is legal there is strict criteria on granting the access to the patient. This criteria includes the patient having a life expectancy of less than six months, having mental competency, being at least 18 years old and getting permission from a second physician (). Over the years, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, Colorado, Washington D.C. and Hawaii have all voted on making assisting suicide legal following under the same criterion that the founding state had implemented (Citation?). Twice since assisting suicide has become legal in those states congress [who in congress? Republicans? Was their argument religious?] has made an attempt to pass a national ban however, failed both times. Assisted suicide sparks such controversy around the world because it is seen “as a kindness and a mercy to the terminally ill person while others see it as prematurely ending the life of a person who, as a result of their illness, might not be making sound decisions”(HG.ORG). The physician is only supplying the patient the tools for them to commit suicide and not actually putting the drug in their mouth or injecting them with the lethal syringe. The patient is voluntarily asking for the drugs and are not forced or put into a position by the physician where they want to or have to commit suicide. Majority of the patients request this option when they feel that they are a burden on their loved ones, they want to die with dignity, and they feel that there is no reason for them to stay living when they are experiencing severe pain and nearing death. (Concluding sentence here)

     Though assisted suicide is optional by the patient, the drugs that are used for the procedure can be expensive and the patient must take this into consideration. Pentobarbital, which is used to slow down the activity of the brain and nervous system, can cost the patient $15000-25000 in liquid form or $400-500 in powdered form (Citation). In addition, the drug secobarbital which works in same way as pentobarbital can cost the patient $3000 to $5000 (Death with Dignity National Center). Both drugs happen to get the job done however, they both happen to be extremely costly and can lead to debt. This controversy is extremely important because it gives the individual the right to be able to take away their life and end their pain in a reasonable way. Being that it’s not legal in every state, majority of the United States population is forced to deal with their terminal illnesses until their time is up.