Argumentative Essay On Euthanasia

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Physician-assisted suicide is “the voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. Physician-assisted suicide is the practice of providing a competent patient with a prescription for medication for the patient to use with the primary intention of ending his or her own life.” (medterms.com) Surveys have shown physician-assisted suicide to be gaining more and more support amongst doctors and “up to half of adults believe it should be legal in cases of terminal illnesses.” (Vaugn, Page 597) In a 2000 large survey, Oncologists revealed 22.5% supported the use of physician-assisted suicide for a terminally ill patient with unremitting pain, 6.6% favored active euthanasia in these circumstances, 56.2% had received requests from patients for physician assisted suicide, 38.2% for active euthanasia, 10.8% had performed physician-assisted suicide and 3.7% active euthanasia. (Vaughn, Page 598) Not only have physician-assisted suicide begun gaining more support amongst physicians but also in the public. In a 2007 survey conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs, results have shown that 48% of the public believe it should be legal or doctors to help terminally ill patients end their own life by giving them a prescription of fatal drugs while 44% believe it should be illegal. (Vaughn, Page 603) In the 2007 Gallup Poll, results show 56% of the public believes when a person has a disease that cannot be cured and is living in severe pain, doctors should be allowed to assist the patient to commit suicide if the patients requests it and 38% believe it should not be allowed and 49% of the public believes that physician-assisted suicide is morally acceptable while 44% beli... ... middle of paper ... ...escribed Diane a lethal dosage of barbiturates for her to commit suicide. (Vaughn, Page 612) In effect, Dr. Quill gave approval in her decision to commit suicide and assisted in her suicide. He implied to Diane and her family that her decision was moral, rational and justifiable in her position, even though she had a 25% chance of surviving. However, those that had a great influence in Diane’s life and a solid reason for her to prolong her life, all supported her decision in what was understood to be her wish to die. Surely, if Dr. Quill refused to assist Diane with her death would she then have to decide to commit suicide without assistance or to try extend her life. With these choices, she may have chosen the option to try to extend her life. Looking at a Christian standpoint, physician assisted suicide is morally impermissible due to the sanctity of human life.

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