The Good Death

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Recommended: The legal implications of euthanasia

Why are we allowed to be more humane to our pets than our parents? Physician-assisted suicide is a voluntary termination of one’s own life by administration of a lethal substance with direct or indirect assistance of a physician. Euthanasia is another term for this practice it provides a competent patient with a prescription for the patient to use with the primary intention of ending his or her own life. Compassion and Choices or Death with Dignity are names of supporters that promote euthanasia, also referred to as physician-assisted suicide, and believe that it is just as humane for terminally ill animals as it is for people. I too agree that it should be legally and morally open for choice to anyone suffering from a terminal diagnoses that includes impending pain physically, psychologically, and financially.

The choice of ending one’s life prematurely with a physician’s assistance is not a request taken or given lightly. When a patient is requesting a physician-assisted suicide in the state of Oregon there are strict guild lines they have to follow. (Hilliard)For Oregon residents to be eligible to request a prescription under ODWDA, they must receive a diagnosis from their attending physician that they have an incurable and irreversible disease that, within reasonable medical judgment, will cause death within six months. Attending physicians must also determine whether a patient has made a voluntary request, ensure a patient’s choice is informed, and refer patients to counseling if they might be suffering from a psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment. A second “consulting” physician must examine the patient and the medical record and confirm the attending physician’s conclusions. Oregon physicia...

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...lliard, Bryan. "The politics of palliative care and the ethical boundaries of medicine: Gonzales v. Oregon as a cautionary tale." Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 35.1 (2007): 158+.

Humphry, Derek. Euthanasia Research & Guidance Organization (ERGO). 01 March 2005. 29 November 2010.

Lachman, Vicki. "Physician-Assited suicide: Compassionate Liberation or Murder." MEDSURG Nursing (2010): 121-125.

Messerli, Joe. BalancedPolitics.org. 04 March 2007. 17 November 2010.

National Times. "The good death." The Sydney Morning Herald 08 November 2010: 17gy5.

Robert Scott Stewart, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy. metapsychology online reviews. 2009. 17 November 2010.

Robinson, B.A. religioustolerance.org. 04 September 2010. 17 November 2010.

Rose, Theresa F. "Physician-Assisted Suicide: Development, Status, and Nursing Perectives." Journal of Nursing Law (2007): 141-151.

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