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A Compassionate Way to Die
Mylissa Hickman
Professor Celeste Brown
English 102
6 November 2014
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A Compassionate Way to Die
Physician-assisted death is a taboo topic for most and for others can be considered a compassionate way to die. Many argue this type of legalized euthanasia is considered a suicide. Others will argue this is a choice of ones free will to die in a compassionate manner without the dread of suffering through the end stages of their terminal illness. Physician-assisted death became legal in 1983 and Oregon was the first state to participate in the Death with Dignity Act. The laws that are in place for the participants and doctors of the Death with Dignity Act are very strict to prevent this law from being abused. Physician-assisted death may not be for everyone but for those who are indeed in need and are in the last stages of a terminal illness it is and should available to in every state. Physician-assisted death is not the travesty people make it out to be; instead, it is a way to die with dignity and should legal in all states.
There is a lot of controversy around physician-assisted death. Many consider it a suicide others will consider it a compassionate way to die when a terminal illness will eventually leave one incapable of enjoying life. When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness it is the quality of life rather than the quantity of life in the end. The outcome of any terminal illness leaves its victim feeling like they have no choice when their time draws near. Physician-assisted death allows the patient to feel like they have a choice to end their life and their suffering at the discretion of a physician before they are unable to make decisions for themselves. A physician in Oregon states, "It is not uncommon for people in the end stages of catastrophically disabling neurological illnesses, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Huntington's disease, to desire a controlled and painless end to their existence"(Mendelson). Death with Dignity Act is in place to help the patient go quietly in their sleep with a prescription from their physician when they feel the time is right before their terminal illness gets out of hand.
Many will argue that physician-assisted death is considered wholesale suicide. This is not the case. In the state of Oregon many of those that pursue the prescription most times go on living and do
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not even take the lethal dose of barbiturates. Others will argue that this Act will encourage those to take their lives and that it is ok. This law is not intact for those reasons. The Death with Dignity Act is in place for those who are diagnosed with a terminal illness that will leave them to die a horrendous painful death. Those who are given this type of death sentence deserve the choice to end their life before their terminal illness puts them into a state of mind where they can no longer help themselves.
People consider it to be "God's" choice to decide when it is time for one to die and consider assisted death a suicide. The same statement can also be argued is it God's choice to leave someone with a terminal illness that will eventually leave them in so much pain that no amount of medicine will put them at ease. Do we really believe that to be Gods will for us when terminal illness strikes? According to Gallup a poll Based Agency, " In May 2011, Gallup named PAS the most devise moral issue in American life. According to their "Values and Beliefs" poll, forty-five percent of the population now think it is morally acceptable, while forty-eight percent believe it to be morally wrong. In June, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its first full statement on PAS, "To Live Each Day with Dignity"(Kaveny). In the last stages of any terminal illness does one get to live each day with dignity? It is important that we as people not think of Death with Dignity Act from a political or religious stand point but from a compassionate stand point for those who are suffering in the last moments due to terminal illness.
The compassion behind the Death with Dignity Act is allowing people to live their life as comfortable as possible through the end stages of their terminal illness. When the time comes that they can no longer bear the pain or take care of themselves they have a option to go peacefully in their sleep at the discretion of their physician. These laws are important to the patient and gives them a sense of security instead of paralyzing fear when they are told they only have months to live and will die a slow excruciating death due to a terminal illness.
When a terminal illness strikes it gives the person with only months left to live. In those
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months the person diagnosed will eventually lose any control over their life that they ever had. Physician-assisted death gives the patient a choice to take a prescribed dose of medication when the end draws near and the pain is no longer bearable. A physician explains it best, "Many people who are struggling with debilitating and terminal illnesses must deal with excruciating and unrelenting pain, as well as the loss of their autonomy and the ability to care for themselves"(Mendelson). It is unethical for one to die under these terms if there are other options available to them. Death with Dignity Act is for those who wish to pursue it and again it is not for everyone but for those who are interested it should be available to them.
The Death with Dignity law that has been passed is a compassionate way to die for the patient of a terminal illness. A compassionate way to die is giving patients a choice to end their suffering in the last stages of terminal illness. Those who are diagnosed with a terminal illness are indeed going to die,
there is no mistaking it. Most terminal illnesses leave the patients unable to take care of themselves and
leave them in so much pain that medication can no longer help control it. When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness and told they have only a few months to live and will die a torturous death the people deserve a choice and a chance to end their life before they no longer can make choices for
themselves. A journalist described a great example of the end stages of terminal illness, "When 'life' (being able to do things for yourself and others) is taken away, unless a heart attack or accident strikes first, every human being is usually descends into the 'miserable existence' stage (cannot do anything for yourself or others-totally helpless). This stage of that life-death cycle can last weeks, months or years and is the most dreaded of human experiences"(Kaplan). There is no mistaking the horrendous pain and suffering terminally ill patients go through when their time draws near. This reason alone is why the Death with Dignity is such an important option for these individuals.
Washington laws were passed in 2009 for the terminally ill who wish to receive a
prescription to end their suffering in the last stages of their terminal illness. Since this law has passed in
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Washington very few have used it but for those who wish to it is available. This law gives those who feel they have lost complete control the opportunity to end their suffering if need be when that time comes. "Washington State enacted a Death with Dignity law in March 2009. Since that time, a relatively small number of people have taken advantage of life-ending prescriptions, suggesting that critics' fears about the program are misplaced"(Serena). Very few people who have been given the opportunity to end their life at their discretion have indeed used the prescription. This Act gives those who are interested the choice to end their life when they feel they have had enough of the pain and suffering.
Death with Dignity laws are legal in four states throughout the U.S. and before it became legal in the U.S. people would go to other countries that assisted in this type of law. The Netherlands enacted
their law in 2001 and Canada joined in as well in 2011. In these states the doctors who are authorized to
prescribe this type of prescription must have the prescription signed off by two medical physicians that
are indeed allowed to perform this type of procedure abiding by their state laws. Oregon was the first state that started to fight for physician-assisted laws in 1993 and although these laws did not go into effect until 1998 Oregon continued to fight for this law and eventually it was the Death with Dignity Act that has been put into place. "The state's Death with Dignity Act was adopted after voters approved a referendum on the issue by a 51 to 49 percent margin in 1994. Because of the legal challenges, however, it did not go into effect until 1998" (Reed). The laws associated with the Death with Dignity Act are very strict and have rules to adhere by. This is important for those people who think the Act will be abused by those who do not have a terminal illness and simply want to take the easy way out.
States that do participate in the Death with Dignity Act monitor these procedures and the doctors that prescribe these lethal doses. The laws are not the same for hospice though it is not a state law that requires that hospice needs to be aware if they have a patient who has been prescribed a
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euthanasia prescription or if their patients are participating in the Death with Dignity Act. "Several safeguards are built into the measure. Two doctors , the patient's primary physician and a second doctor, must agree the patient has a terminal illness and is able to request death inducing drugs. The law also requires two requests for the by the patient, with fifteen days separating the first and second request"(Reed). Hospice does not condone the Death with Dignity Act but according to state law it is not a requirement that Hospice be notified. As long as the laws are strict with this type of Act there may be a chance at more states getting involved and participating in the Death with Dignity Act. The Death with Dignity Act is very important to have in all states because it regulates physician-assisted suicide using specific guidelines and safeguards. The guidelines that are put in place are there to prevent this Act from being abused.
Physician-assisted death is not wholesale suicide nor is it suggested for those who have a curable illness. Physician-assisted death is a compassionate choice one has when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness and told they have only specific period of time to live. The Death with Dignity Act is a choice for the individual who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. This choice should be available to everybody in every state. Everyone deserves the chance to die with dignity rather than a humiliating death. We do not have a choice over which terminal illness we are struck with but we should have the choice on whether or not we allow that terminal illness to consume us.
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Works Cited
Gordon, Serena. "Physician-Assisted Suicide Laws Are Actually Seldom Used." The Right To Die. Ed.
Tamara Thompson. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. 2014. Opposing Viewpoints In
Context. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
Kaplan, Kalman J. " The Death of Martha Wichorek." First Things: A Monthly Journal Of Religion &
Public Life. Issue 246. Academic Search Premiere. Web. 9 Oct. 2014.
Karaim, R. "Assisted Suicide." CQ Researcher. 17 May 2013. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
Mendelson, Scott. "Terminally Ill People Should Have The Right To Die." The Right To Die. Ed.
Tamara Thompson. Farmington Hills. MI. Greenhaven Press. 2014. Opposing Viewpoints In
Context. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
