Right to Die

Right to Die?
Euthanasia may be considered a wedge issue by some. However, when it comes to dying due to a terminal illness, why does law dictate our right? Bad choices are made every day that put people in danger. Sometimes the danger is even lethal. “Worldwide, tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year, and current trends show that tobacco use will cause more than 8 million deaths annually by 2030. Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States and is associated with multiple adverse health consequences, including liver cirrhosis, various cancers, unintentional injuries, and violence. People are actually choosing to die because of these habits. Tobacco and alcohol companies post record gains while medical doctors risk prison for assisted suicide. The law should not punish a licensed doctor who assists with euthanasia as physician assisted suicide, when it is the patient’s final wish. The law should be changed, and medical doctors should have a system in place that allows a terminally ill patient the right to end the pain and suffering via euthanasia.
Active euthanasia is also known as physician assisted suicide. A well known video documenting a physician assisted suicide involving Dr. Jack Kevorkian gained nationwide attention in 1998. Later, in 1999, Dr. Kevorkian was found guilty of second-degree murder and sent to prison. Currently, four states allow physician assisted suicide; Montana, Oregon, Vermont, & Washington. There are specific requirements in each state to perform a physician assisted suicide. All four states include a residency requirement.
Opponents will argue that “It is the duty of the State to protect life and the physician’s duty to provide care and not to harm patients. However, this argument is too broad. No one will argue that it is the physician’s oath to do everything in their power to save lives, but advocating euthanasia is specific to terminally ill patients who have...