Do Individuals Have the Right to End Their Lives by Euthanasia - Essay Example

Some patients believe that they have their “constitutional right” (Goldman & Schafer, 2011, p.7) to make a decision about their life and opt for a more dignified death. Forman (2008, p.7) writes that the concept of assisted suicide is common to euthanasia which means good death. There is a thought that such a practice is a blessing for those who are suffering from endless pain that cannot be lessened even with the use of medicine or years of treatment. Panzer (2000, par. 8) states that “One method of hastening death used by physicians, nurses and even family members is to administer overly high dosages of narcotics, sedatives or antidepressants when the patient does not need for them.” Lethal injections are also used to hasten death. High doses of morphine are also given. Hence, the primary aim is never to kill and to get relieved ourselves but to help the patient to die an easy death and relieve him of his pain.

Moreover, an individual’s consent matters the most (Behuniak & Svenson, 2003, p.11). Otherwise, it becomes murder. After all, it is he who is suffering from all the pain and distress. It is a very hard task to decide whether or not to take a patient’s life deliberately. Consider a patient with a deadly disease or cruel debility which has made his life so unbearable and so troublesome with pain that pleasing, significant, focused survival has ceased to exist. If such a patient says, “I am unable to bear this pain. This is becoming intolerable for me and I no longer want to become a burden on my family. Please relieve me of this torment.” After considering all alternatives, it would be wise for the physician to respect and honor his choice of a dignified death. The role of the physician is to do what is in the best interest of the patient (Orfali, 2011); and sometimes, it becomes better for the patient to die instead of living in torment and despair when there is no chance for him to get better.

However, legislators have a controversial view on the issue. They think that assisted suicide should not be legalized even with the individual’s consent. According to Forman (2008, p.8) and Lo (2013, p.149), Oregon passed the Death with Dignity Act in 1997, which legalized physician-assisted suicide, but later the Act was challenged by the Federal Authorities and was argued in the Supreme Court in 2005. In 2006, the decision was in its favor.

To sum it up, physician-assisted suicide is an issue of controversy on legal and ethical grounds. Some people think that it should not be legalized since the matter of life and death is in the hands of God; while, others think that it is a wise option when the patient has no chances to get better and is showing intolerable pain. The survey attempted to persuade the audience that assisted suicide should be legalized with the individual’s informed consent and under extreme conditions of pain and torment.