Argumentative Essay: Death With Dignity Act

Can you imagine going through long battle with a disease only to be told that you have only 6 more months to live. All of these thoughts and questions start running through your head and you feel like you’re dreaming or having some sort of out of body experience. Being diagnosed with a terminal illness is unimaginable, emotional and physically trying. Cancer is the number one leading cause of terminal death in the United States, to put that into a better perspective one out of every four deaths is cancer related. That’s about 564,000 deaths annually and 1,500 deaths per day.

This poll also found that 56 percent of Americans believe that physician assisted suicide is a morally acceptable act regardless of its legality, and only 37 percent believe it is morally wrong. Additionally, 62 percent of adults agree that a person has a moral right to suicide” (Ralph A Capone). Other states including Oregon, that have passed death-with-dignity laws include Vermont, California, Colorado and Washington. There is a death with dignity bill that is slated to go before the Maine Legislature in support of physician assisted suicide.

Imagine you have difficulty waking up, trying to fight the constant sensation of drowsiness with the little life you have left. When you wake, you struggle through the haze of confusion to finally realize that you are in the same monochromatic, secluded room you’ve been in for the past two months or possibly two years. No family in sight. No pets. No fireplace awaiting you.

“Be smart, be strong, live honorably and with dignity, and just hold on” (Fray). Physician assisted suicide or better known as Death with Dignity isn’t your everyday topic or thought, but for the terminally ill it’s a constant want. The Death with Dignity isn’t something that all people or religions are in favor of and nor is the act passed in all states in the United States. Only three states in the U.S. today, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington offer their residents the option to have aid in dying as long as all the requirements are met. Death with Dignity doesn’t effect just the terminally ill person, but as well as family and friends around them creating many conflicting thoughts when opinion if Death with Dignity is truly moral and a choice

Some examples of a terminal illness include cancer, stroke, and ALS. Many people disagree with assisted suicide, but it is the better choice for those who do not what their disease to change who they are. The main arguments to allow this in our country is that the tremendous amount of pain and suffering of the patient will end, euthanasia, and health care costs will be reduced. Some people may choose to live their life with dignity and end their life in dignity, but assisted suicide would allow the choice to be their own. The pain a person can go through is a tremendous amount, especially those who are dying from a terminal illness.

California govener, Jerry Brown, recently signed the ABX2-- the "End of Life Option Act"--making it a statewide law. According to Brown, he signed the bill based on his own feelings and is getting critized for doing so. He claims he "wouldn 't deny that right to others" but is getting pushed from the Californians Aganist Assisted Suicide which is claming that Brown since Brown came from a more wealthier background unlike the million others of Californians – he is not looking out for the disadvantaged who dont have access to better doctors and medicine. Though some on in head with Brown, claiming that they dont have to go through any more pain—both physical and emotional-- , many organizations oppose it saying it will encourgae

The Death with Dignity Act, also known as the Right-to-Die Bill, allows terminally-ill adults grant their wishes to hasten their death in some states where it is legalized. These patients that are mentally capable of making their own decisions have the right to voluntarily request and receive a prescription medication to end their suffering sooner. Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and California are the only states that practice the Death with Dignity Act. Oregon voters approved Death with Dignity Act in 1994 and went into effect in 1997. Washington implemented the same act in 2008 followed by Vermont in 2013 which is the first state to pass through legislative process.

It would be nice to be able to choose where we die, how we die, and why we die. Now we can with assisted suicide, but not all agree on the terms that come with this subject. Many agree that aid-in-dying should be available to those suffering from a terminal illness, but is this process of assisted suicide constitutional? Aid-in-Dying should not be practiced in hospitals because it has a negative effect on others and their families. Aid-in-dying should not be practiced in hospitals because it is unconstitutional.

The Right to Die 1) Introduction a) Thesis statement: Physician assisted suicide offers patients a choice of getting out of their pain and misery, presents a way to help those who are already dead mentally because of how much a disease has taken over them, proves to be a great option in many states its legal in, and puts the family at ease knowing their love one is out of pain. i) The use of physician assisted death is used in many different countries and some states. ii) Many people who chose this option are fighting a terminal illness.

However, there is hope of a peaceful death for these patients that exists in a controversial law being considered by many states throughout the country. It is known as the Death with Dignity Act. This law gives terminally ill patients the option of ending their own life in a painless manner at a time and place of their choosing by

There are real case incidents in which a 14 year old girl suffering from terminal cystic fibrosis is asking her country’s president for permission to end her life. She had self shot a video in which she says “I am tired of living this disease and she can authorize an injection through which I can sleep forever”. The girl's video has sparked a broader conversation about whether euthanasia should be legalized in the largely Catholic nation. According to me we should let euthanasia be legal as there is no significance in keeping them alive against their wish as we don’t know how much they are suffering. Another incident is where the woman moved to Oregon where euthanasia is legal to take advantage of Oregon’s death with Dignity Law.

Imagine having to endure so much pain and suffering for a majority of your life that you would just want it all to end. Well, there is a way one can stop their own pain and suffering and it is called euthanasia. Euthanasia is the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease. The act may only be done solely to those diagnosed with terminal illnesses such as cancer, aids, and heart disease. Many people agree with the idea of euthanasia as it can help those who are suffering be stripped of all the pain they are enduring.

The definition of right to die according to Cambridge Dictionary is “Right to die is the belief that a person should be allowed to die naturally rather than being kept alive by medical methods when they are suffering and unlikely to get well (Cambridge Dictionary).” While other websites have definition for right to die, some don’t have a definition because they claim that there is not definition for it. Right to die could be active euthanasia, passive euthanasia, suicide, and an assisted suicide. Active euthanasia is when a person is intervening to end someone’s life while passive euthanasia is when a person is withholding and withdrawing treatment to maintain life. “Assisted suicide is suicide committed by someone with assistance from another

Voluntary euthanasia is legitimate in a few nations and U.S. states. Non-voluntary euthanasia is illicit in all nations. Automatic euthanasia is generally acknowledged murder. As of 2006, euthanasia is the most dynamic range of exploration in contemporary bioethics.

The most common location for the euthanasia act is in Netherlands but also in some other locations around the world. In the Netherlands euthanasia is also allowed without a parents or guardians consent. My argument is that I am pro euthanasia just because when you put yourself in a person shoes you would understand what they been through and the suffering pain they endure every day after the cause of illness. My opinion on this topic is that if I was in this predicament I would want to be able to choose whether or not I would like to choose a quick and painless death than suffering from pain and suffering on a daily basis.    The cost for the medication or what the lethal dosing item is less than 100 dollars but the cost of a assisted suicide can cost up to 100,000 dollars just to insure proper care of the patient to help the family in grief.