The Pros And Cons Of The Death And Dignity Act

We all had moments where we think of how we are going to die or what is going to happen to us in the end. We all hope that we die from living a happy and healthy lifestyle. People think of the what ifs as from getting diagnosed with a terminal disease or something worse. I myself think of dying in peace and with happiness. I also hope to die in my sleep with no pain and being peaceful with what I have done with my life. Some people who are sick with a terminally ill disease will want to probably die in peace and with no pain so that’s where the option of death comes into play. Those that don’t have the option have their family but sometimes the family isn’t enough as to say what can happen to their loved one. I think that’s where the choice

The Death and Dignity Act is there to help terminally ill residents of Oregon to obtain a prescription to administer a lethal medication. The Death and Dignity Act also specifically prohibits euthanasia where a physician or other directly administers lethal drug. There are some requirements that you have to meet to even request the lethal medication. The requirements are: an adult (18 or older), resident of Oregon, capable (to make your own decision), diagnosed with terminal illness and six months to live. The only thing that I don’t like about the last requirement is that some the doctor could tell you that you only have six months to live but what happens when you when live passed that six month mark. Now if the patient meets the requirements they have to follow seven steps so that can get the medication. The following are the steps that they have to fulfill: Two oral requested at least 15 days apart, must provide written request with wo witness signatures, prescribing and consulting physician must confirm diagnosis and prognosis, prescribing and consulting physician must determine if patient is capable, if either physician believes patient is impaired then patient is referred for psychological examination, prescribing physician must inform patient of feasible alternatives to Death with Dignity Act as comfort care, hospice care, and pain control, the last step is prescribing physician must request but not require patient to notify next of kin of prescription request. At least in Oregon you get to have a choice of what you