Jack Kevorkian Research Paper

Dr. Jack Kevorkian assisted over a hundred people in ending their lives voluntarily. He was tried and convicted of second degree murder despite the fact that all of his patients willingly participated and asked him for help in ending their lives (“Jack Kevorkian”). What led to his demise was in one of his cases, unlike his prior patients, he actively participated in the death of the patient with a lethal injection (“Jack Kevorkian”). The man was too weak to do it himself and it was videotaped, which was used as evidence in his case against him. Dr. Jack Kevorkian helped multitudes of competent terminally ill patients, end their suffering and pain (“Jack Kevorkian”). Usually in assisted suicide cases the doctor prescribes a lethal dose of a prescription, but the patient must administer the medication on their own, with no help from anyone else including the physician. This prescription is only ordered after the patient has stated two different times on two different occasions with fourteen days in between and sometimes with written consent, that they agree to the decision to end their life with the help of their physician through a lethal dose of a prescription.

The court has stated that “assisted suicide,” is not a liberty that has been defined or granted in the constitution (Washington). In previous cases the courts have stated that unless a fundamental right is “deeply rooted in the nation’s history” then it cannot be found to be a liberty (Washington). The constitution provides no right to life or right to die protection, therefore it is in the hands of the states to decide if they will allow assisted suicide. Currently three states have legalized assisted suicide- Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (“Euthanasia”). Montana has al...

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...nt my time on a hospice unit in a hospital. As I sat in my grandmother’s room I could hear people moaning and I could see people lying in a drug induced coma. I thought to myself what kind of life is this.

I understand that the nation’s history has long prohibited and shunned suicide, but in my opinion this is different. This is a more dignified death, which deals with personal autonomy. I understand the fears that the different states have regarding legalizing assisted suicide. However, other countries as well as some of the states have legalized it. It has not caused mass assisted suicides and I believe that it could be done in such a way that does not comprise the patient doctor trust. I am not saying that I condone assisted suicide for everyone, but it needs to be an option for people. I think that if abortion is an option, then assisted suicide should be too.