Many Americans suffer great pain as they struggle with cancer and other diseases in the last few months of life. Although modern medicine offers a number of options for easing the pain through hospice and drug therapies, some citizens would prefer to end their lives on their own schedule through what was once mislabeled as "assisted suicide"
This term often creates images of euthanasia by raising the specter of doctors and government making the decision about when a terminally ill patient should be given the drugs to die. In recent years, however, the term has been replaced by the concept of "end-of-life-choice". Drive by the "death with dignity" movement, which is led by a public interest group called "Compassion and Choice" (www.compassionandchoice.org), the campaign has won voter approval in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Hawaii. Under current law in these states, patients, not doctors, are given the option of ending their own lives through drugs that east them into a life-ending coma or deep sleep, leading to death within minutes.
These states require at least two doctors to certify that a patient has only six months or less to live. With this certification in hand, the doctors are allowed to give the patient a prescription for the life-ending drugs. Having decided to end his/her life, the patient is asked two questions before taking the drugs: 1) Do you wish to end your life, and 2) Are you able to administer the drugs by your own hand? If the patient answers yes to both questions, he or she is given the drugs to act. Some patients decide to take the drugs, while others do not.
What do you think? Should all states give their citizens the right to end their own lives?
yes, because if they don't then the people who have 6 months or less to live want to end thier own lives by taking those drugs, and do not live in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Hawaii, they will not be able to use those drugs. If all the states do not give their citizens the right to end their own lives, then they would be represssing the peoples (Patients who want to end their lives through the drugs) civil rights,and the hospital and state could be sued for letting the Patient use the drugs, and be very costly and a mess for the govermnet/state to deal with.
ReplyDelete- lillian Smyth 1B 8/26/13
Angelica Witherspoon 1B
ReplyDeletePersonally, I do not believe that human euthanasia is a good idea just because of my religious views. I feel that if there are family members and people within the hospitals that are willing to help a person through their illness as well as to help ease the pain and suffering that these ill persons are enduring, they would be able to die more at peace because they died knowing that they fought a good battle. With all of the technology and medicines that have been created to prolong life, I feel that it should be taken advantage of.
In my opinion, I do not think this issue requires a law. If people are terminally ill, and wish to end their own lives, then by all means go for it. But I do not think doctors should have to assist with that suicide. I'm sure overdosing on the right over the counter drugs will produce the same effect. Passing a law allowing assisted suicide does nothing; it's not like you can be put in prison if you break the law... I'm not trying to sound harsh, I just think that this is a personal decision, and does not need to involve a state law. People who are terminally ill should by all means be able to control how they die if they do so decide, just not through a federally funded doctor.
ReplyDelete- Angelina Alejo 1B
I think, that if the person wants to end their life, then let them. If they are in that much pain and suffering, they should have a say so. It's their body. Coming from personal experience, it's harder to watch a love one suffer and to be in pain then for them to die. Because after they're gone you just know they are at peace.
ReplyDeleteIf people can take the life of an unborn child who has no say so, why can't people who are able to speak out take, be denied the choice?
Francis Perez 1B
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think that states should get involved in their citizens' "end-of-life-choice" If someone wants to end their life due to pain, they should just do it without any assistance or approval. I agree with Angelina when she says, "Passing a law allowing assisted suicide does nothing; it's not like you can be put in prison if you break the law" and also, I do not mean to be harsh, it's just the truth. It's that person's life and if they want to take it, let them. But they do not need any doctors to assist them. (Gee it's hard not to sound harsh saying that)
Just as a human being has the right to live, I also think that the opposite could be true, implying that they also have the right to die. In my opinion you don't need to be in pain in order to have the right to die. If for ANY reason a person feel as if life is meaningless to them and want to pass on already, GO FOR IT. It's YOUR life. However, I think that the right to die is law that should only be available to someone 35 years-old or over.
ReplyDeleteMike Jeune 1B
I believe that a person should have a right to die if they are terminally ill. I personally believe that it would be easier on the family as well as the ill rather drag on there death over a span of six months. Like others said above I don't know if it's a state issue though, in a scenario like this I doubt this person that is in so much pain will not take their own life because of a law. I think that the right to die has always been an option and state approval isn't needed.
ReplyDeleteNeishma Rivera
ReplyDeletePersonally I think this should be left for the person to decide, not the government. I believe that life is a precious gift and it should be enjoyed and cherished. Other people have different views and I respect that. But, I don't think the government should be involved in the decision of whether a terminally ill person wants to take his/her life . I also believe that a doctor can choose whether or not to administer the drugs.
Jarrod Archambo
ReplyDelete"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness", this phrase is the foundation for America stands for; so if some person wishes to end their lives peacefully, I say let them, it would make them happy. I believe Medicated Suicide with a humane process should be allowed for all states. although I personally wouldn't do it if that situation would to arise in my life for religious reasons, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't be given the right to "off themselves" if the pain is too much to bare. A Democratic Government is made for the people not the other way around. There are Religious groups that believe this wrong and that it's a sin against God; true that it is but I truly feel that judgment is placed upon the Lord not citizens (if you are religious).
Jose Vicenty
ReplyDeleteYes, i believe that everyone makes the choices of their lives, they've been doing it since the day they were born. I don't see why this would be any different. No one can blame the government or the hospitals or the doctors. I believe it makes complete sense that the doctors ask the patient to administrate the medication themselves, that leaves the patient in complete control. No one is forcing these patients to kill themselves, its their decision. Besides it's not like the patient isn't going to think about it first. No one immediately says yes to ending their lives. I'm not saying that i would do it. All i'm saying, is that everyone has the right to make their own choices and live with the outcome of those choices.
In my opinion, this choice to end one's own life is completely up to the person. Some may view this as weak and cowardly, but who's to judge a life that you have not lived? Of course, a life ending could really hurt loved ones, especially if they ended their life themselves. However, if a human being feels that they cannot go on the way that they are living, then they should have the right to die. As for doctors assisting in this act, I don't necessarily agree with. I think that most doctors might feel uncomfortable with doing so for the fact that their job mostly is to better patients and SAVE their lives if possible. But, if they are comfortable with administering fatal drugs, then by all means. It is completely understandable that one could not deal with the harmful effects of a serious illness, despite the feelings that one would feel after losing somebody they really cared about. On the other hand, I don't think it really matters how long a person has left to live or if they get drugs that will cause them to die. If somebody is really sick of their life and want to die, whether it be from an illness or other unknown factors, they will find a way to end their life.
ReplyDeleteJorean Bradley
ReplyDeleteIn my honest opinion,I believe that killing yourself is not right. True, the person IS going to die, they should let it run its course as opposed to merely ending themselves. I don't see suicide as weak and cowardly at all, but I just believe that they should get the bonus time to get all of what they need out of the way before they bite the big one. The doctors definitely should NOT help with this if the person does decide to so it. It's completely contradictory to what they're supposed to do, and it just isn't how it should go. Argue with me all you want, but it's just what I think. (And no, Kevin. That doesn't mean you should hawk me.)
Queen Jenna in the hizzzaaaay
ReplyDeleteI 90% agree with Jorean and Angelica. I don't believe killing yourself is the right answer for any situation you are in. Sometimes people live longer than the doctor estimated for them, so you never know! Make the most of the time you have left. Don't just give up. Think of the things you could possibly miss out on during those few months the doctors gave you. Think of those last few months your family wants to spend with you. If I was in the situation I never be able to just give up like that, not matter how much pain I was in.
For the other 10%, if I was in a situation where I was basically a vegetable with no brain activity, I would only hope someone just pulled the plug. I'm basically already dead. I wouldn't want anyone to have false hope in the situation, just pull the plug.
That is all :)
if I end my life I end my life. It's MY life not the state's or the public's life. If somebody wants to end their life then let them. You are not them to know what is truly going on in their heads and what type of pain they are suffering that is leading them to make that choice.
ReplyDeleteSo.. I guess all states should give the people the right to end their lives. People do it all the time anyways.
this is Sebastian by the way
DeleteGeovany Melendez 1B
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly believe that the terminally-ill should have the right to decide whether or not to they want to go out on there own terms. It's their body, their life, no one else (save the doctor of course) should be involved in this decision. It's a far more cruel fate to make someone live the rest of their short days in pain or in a manner that prevents them from being able to live their life to the fullest just because someone out there isn't strong enough or too morally righteous to believe that sometimes a peaceful death in one's sleep on their own terms is better than staying alive an being unable to truly live life.
I suppose I would not mind a law allowing people to commit suicide if they felt the small amount of life they had left wasn't worth living, and if a doctor has no reservations in giving the patient the drug then they should be allowed to do so. I'm sure their family would understand giving the immense amount of pain their loved one is enduring, or the small amount of life they have left to live.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure such this is issue is much more nuanced than this, but a superficial analysis leaves little to contest.
Kymber Myers 1B
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that citizens have all the right to be able to "end" there own life, because who wants to go through chemo & find out it didn't work, yes I would be highly disappointed, thus wanting to be put out of the misery and pain I'm going to experience later in the months I would indeed want to die, quickly.
I disagree with the concept of "end-of-life choice" . Both my grandfather and mother have died from a result of cancer. My opinion may be biased but I value life more than the next person. We are all blessed to be given life and that shouldn't be taken for granted . This easy way out doesn't solve anything. Its a poor excuse to stop living. Running away from your problems or in the case, dying, isn't something that can be played with by an administer of a drug. Id try to do as much as I could in those last few months. Not to just hang my cape and accept defeat .
ReplyDeleteThis was mine.
DeleteJacob clark 1/B
Yes, Because many people today are not only very religious but have the right to make their own decisions in life. Many people see it as if you are suffering enough and you can't withstand the pain, why would you carry on through your life, suffering and wanting it all to end. People see it that if you end your suffering, you could be presented in Gods grace and have him take care of your problems. Many people wouldn't mind ending misery for an eternity of health with God. Even though this would be seen as a "suicide" , many people don't have the money to take care of such expensive medical expenses. Not all treatments work, and in the end you could loose your life and all the money put towards trying to make you healthy again, could be a waste. Then you've got funeral cost. Why not just be one and done? -Christine Baezaponte 1B
ReplyDeleteI think that if someone really wanted to end their life because they had some life threatening illness that they would die from anyways then they should be given that opportunity. Why would you force someone who didn't want to deal with the pain anymore to stay alive? I mean in all honesty if I had cancer and was in pain and there was no chance in me getting better and being perfectly fine again then I'd want to be able to say "just let me die" and have it be over with.
ReplyDeleteNot to "copy" Ashley but I believe if someone is in a great deal of pain and could decide to take their life or "unplug the cord" I feel it should be their decision. Even though I personally feel that suicide is extremely wrong, it's still the person's choice to take their own life. Why would you force a person that could be in a great deal of pain to stay alive? I feel it would just push that person closer and closer to wanting to decide to end their life. If I were given my own drugs to take that would be an easy way to end my life by OD of the drugs. I believe that all states should let the people choose their own fate. You can't save everyone.
ReplyDelete