Physician Assisted Suicide

The topic I chose to write about is physician assisted suicide.  I feel this topic is not discussed as much as it should be and that it should be an option given to all patients who are terminally ill.  The only states in which physician assisted suicide is legal to perform in are Vermont, Oregon, Washington, and Montana.  There are many different illnesses that do not have a cure which results in a slow, usually painful death.  By the use of physician assisted suicide, this painful death can be avoided and the patient can live they’re last days comfortably doing what they want.

Recently in the news, there has been an on-going story about a woman from California who moved to Oregon after she was given six months to live after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.  She had made the decision in October to die using physician assisted suicide, but decided to wait a while longer.  As of November 1, 2014 she passed away in her home surrounded by her family.  This story has brought attention to physician assisted suicide and how it can be a positive way to die.  If this woman decided to go through different treatment options, she would just be prolonging her suffering as there is no cure for brain cancer.  Because of physician assisted suicide, this woman died a peaceful death surrounded by those she loved.

I think when physician assisted suicide is discussed people usually discuss the ethical issues that surround it and not the humanity side of the argument.  When our pets are having a hard time toward the end of their life, we take them to the vet where they put them “to sleep” to end their suffering.  This should not be any different for humans.  Instead of peacefully going “to sleep” humans are told they have to take the slow and painful route to die.  Physician assisted suicide should be legal to eliminate suffering from a slow and painful death.