Euthanasia: The Right Choice

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Euthanasia: The Right Choice

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Dr. Kevorkian is a physician in Michigan. He is a well-known physician, although to some, he is known for the wrong reasons. He is known to most for assisting in the suicide of those who ask for help in their deaths. He has assisted in the suicide of over 140 people. This essay will discuss the financial benefits of allowing physician assisted suicide and euthanasia, doctors’ opinions on euthanasia, the consequences of Dr. Kevorkian’s actions, and why assisted suicide is the right choice for terminally ill people. Euthanasia is the patients’ choice and should be made legal in the United States and Dr. Kevorkian should not be sent to prison.

When someone has no value of life, is miserable and suffering, and does not want to live that way anymore, should it not be their choice to end their life? The argument has been made that no one who is in any pain or suffering, has the right to end their life because “they don’t know what they’re saying,” but is that always the case? According to Somerville, “Western societies have rejected euthanasia as a solution for over two thousand years. Why, then, are we considering legalizing it now, especially when we can do so much more than in the past to relieve suffering?” (438). Most can understand the argument Somerville is making, however, if their pain and suffering was being taken care of, what reason would they have for death?

According to Zyl, “Perhaps the most frequently heard argument in favor of legalizing active voluntary euthanasia is based upon the notion of patient autonomy and the right to self-determination” (11). The author argues that people have the right to make their own decisions and are capable of maki...

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...port because they are a vegetable and can not do anything to live another day, is different. Physicians can not be allowed to kill someone who does not want to deal with life, suffering, and pain. New flash: Suffering and Pain are part of life and society today. Yes, it may seem like the easiest way out is to die, but death comes in time. If one has no value of life, it is their decision to die or to fight through their pain and continue life. If they choose to die, PAS should not be an option. Why make it easier on people, more will die. Suicide takes courage, many are too coward to do it, PAS allows cowards to say “Hey, I have no value of life; I know I could never kill myself, but someone else will, so I can be put out of my misery.” Physicians like Dr. Kevorkian allow these people to take the easy way out, they commit murder. There is no other way to express it.

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