Assisted Suicide

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Assisted suicide occurs when a physician provides a patient with the means of ending his or her life by prescribing a fatal dose of drugs. The patient takes the drugs independently of the doctor. This procedure differs from euthanasia, in which the doctor administers the fatal dose or performs some other act, such as a lethal injection, that ends the patient’s life. Like euthanasia, assisted suicide is illegal in many states. Assisted suicide has been in the news frequently since the 1990s. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a supporter of the practice, played a supporting role in more than one hundred suicides before he was charged with murder. Ironically, his highly publicized efforts may have done more harm than good for his cause. Concern about his activities led to laws against assisted suicide in his own state, Michigan, as well as in other states. In 1999 Dr. Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder in Michigan for engaging in euthanasia, which is illegal in all states. He was released from prison in 2007.

Opponents point out that legalizing assisted suicide and euthanasia could result in serious consequences. One fear is that dying people might not receive proper care if euthanasia appeared to be a cheaper, easier alternative. Another fear is that choice and the right to determine one’s fate might not always be the deciding factors. Voluntary euthanasia might lead to the involuntary euthanasia of individuals incapable of making the choice or thought to be unworthy of life. This occurred during the 1930s and 1940s when the Nazi rulers of Germany euthanized mentally retarded people and others they classified as "defective." Those opposed to assisted suicide believe that the taking of life is wrong in any circumstance. They ar...

... middle of paper ...

... a gift from God. No one should decide another human’s fate. Therefore, assisted suicide should not be legalized because it holds human life in the balance.

Works Cited

Works Cited

Advameg, Inc. "Euthanasia - Body, Life, History, Beliefs, Cause, Time, Person, Human, Definitions of Euthanasia, Definitions of Assisted Suicide, Arguments in Favor of Euthanasia." Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. .

Hassan, Mahjabeen. "Euthanasia: Should Humans Be Given The Right To Play God?" Serendip. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. .

Saunders, Peter. "Ethicsforschools.org - Euthanasia." Index. 2002. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. .

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