Assisted Suicide

Physician assisted suicide, which is commonly referred to as euthanasia, is a process in which a physician aides an otherwise incapable person of committing suicide. Physician assisted suicide has been a hotly debated political subject for the past few decades and has recently gained legal support in the United States and across Europe.

Prior to 1977, physician assisted suicide was illegal in the United States. In 1977, after the Karen Ann Quinlan case, the State of California legalized living wills which allowed for euthanasia. In 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a Michigan physician became infamous for encouraging people to commit suicide. In the same year, the Supreme Court approved the use of non-active euthanasia. In 1994, Oregon approved the Death with Dignity Act which permits doctors to assist terminal patients to end their lives. The Bush administration attempted to reverse the law in 2001, but failed to do so. In 2008 Washington joined Oregon as the second US state to legalize physician assisted suicide.

Euthanasia is gaining some international support as well. Voluntary euthanasia is presently legal in Switzerland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Belgium. Voluntary euthanasia is illegal in China, but is gaining some more public support and gaining acceptance among doctors.

Physician assisted suicide has a significant amount of proponents and opponents. The main argument for accepting physician assisted suicide is that people should have the right to die and that it goes along with other democracy principles. Proponents also cite the quality of life that people in a vegetative state or dying of a terminal illness is extremely painful and difficult to endure. Another argument for allowing physician assisted suicide is the cost associated with living with a terminal illness places a significant burden on the patient and their families.

While there are several strong arguments for physician assisted suicide, there are several arguments against it. The main argument against physician assisted suicide is that the practice of assisted suicide could compromise the roles of doctors and that the black and white line they practice with could become blurred. Some opponents believe the lack of resources in the medical field will bring pressure to terminal patients to choose voluntary euthanasia.

Other opponents of physician assisted suicide believe the practice is largely a moral issues. They view involuntary euthanasia to be a form of murder, while voluntary euthanasia is a form of suicide. Both practices are completely immoral and against many religions.