Death With Dignity Act, Research Paper Example

The issue of assisted suicide is controversial, with people on both sides of the issue having strong opinions. Simply out, assisted suicide allows patients with terminal illnesses to coordinate with their doctor to bring an end to their suffering. In most cases this coordination between patient and doctor involves the provision and administration of some form of lethal medication (such as a combination of narcotics and sedatives taken to end breathing and minimize pain). In the two states that have passed assisted suicide laws, Oregon and Washington, this system where doctors and patients work together is protected by legislation, and in the state of Colorado the courts have determined that assisted suicide is legal. The main arguments against assisted suicide are all are taken into consideration by the laws, and there is no significant opportunity for abuse of the law. As a state that considers personal freedom and liberty to be important values, the state of Texas should adopt policies and laws similar to those in Oregon and Washington.

The main argument in favor of doctor-assisted suicide is that patients should have the right to die with dignity and be in control of their own destinies. As medical advances and new technologies make it possible for people to live longer and longer lives, some patients are having their pain and suffering at the end of their lives dragged out unnecessarily and even cruelly. Many laws io place in Texas and around the country make it almost impossible for doctors and hospitals not to do everything they can to prolong the life of a patient, even if the patient is in serious and constant pain. Assisted suicide laws are designed to allow people like this who are never going to recover to make the choice with their physician to develop a plan to end their suffering (Cdn.colorado.gov)..

One of the main arguments against assisted suicide is that it may be abused by people who are just depressed, or who may be able to recover or diminish their pain with the help of their doctor. The laws in Oregon and Washington consider this, as they are designed to ensure that this does not happen. Patients must undergo physical and psychological evaluations and there are established criteria to ensure that a patient is not just choosing suicide because of depression (Doh.wa.gov). These laws are intended to protect patients who are suffering from a health care system that often prolongs that suffering needlessly. Assisted suicide laws do not make it easy for people to kill themselves, they simply allow this important decision to be made in private between doctors and physicians (Public.health.oregon.gov).

Assisted suicide laws protect good doctors from prosecution. Many physicians who are involved with end-of-life care or who have terminally ill patients have already assisted with suicides by making medications available that, if taken in large amounts, are lethal. This system forces assisted suicide into the shadows, and leaves doctors potentially liable for legal action simply for helping their patient. By adopting assisted suicide laws, the state of Texas can bring the issue out from the shadows and make sure that physicians are protected. These laws will not only protect the good physicians, they will help to avoid potential abuse of the assisted suicide system, such as patients who are pressured into suicide by family members or caregivers.

The State of Texas is a place where individuality and self-expression are considered to be God-given rights. But for many people who are suffering with pain, suffering, and terminal illness, the state stops them from ending that suffering and dying with dignity. If Texas truly values freedom and liberty, they will allow physicians and patients to make decisions about assisted suicide together, privately, and without interference by the government.

Works cited

Cdn.colorado.gov,. ‘Colorado Medical Board Policy: Guidelines Regarding The Treatment Of Terminally Ill Patients’. N. p., 1997. Web. 1 Aug. 2014.

Doh.wa.gov,. ‘Death With Dignity Act :: Washington State Dept. Of Health’. N. p., 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2014.

Public.health.oregon.gov,. ‘Death With Dignity Act’. N. p., 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2014.