Should physician-assisted suicide be allowed?

This paper explores physician-assisted suicide and whether it should be allowed. The debate centers around the ethical considerations of allowing a physician to end a patient’s life, and what implications it may have for both medical professionals and patients alike. Supporters of physician-assisted suicide argue that it allows terminally ill patients to choose when their suffering ends and enables them to die with dignity. Opponents counter that this form of suicide is immoral and could lead to an increase in nonvoluntary euthanasia—where people are killed without their consent or knowledge. Through analysis of legal cases, interviews with experts on either side of the argument, and discussion of various state laws governing assisted suicide, this paper will explore both sides of the issue in order to evaluate if physician-assisted suicide should be allowed.

One of the main arguments for allowing physician-assisted suicide is that it gives terminally ill patients the right to end their own life if they so choose. This argument is based largely on a respect for autonomy and self-determination—the idea that people should be able to make decisions about their own lives. Supporters also point out that this type of suicide can provide relief from prolonged suffering and allow patients to die with dignity. On the other hand, opponents argue that assisting someone in taking their own life is fundamentally immoral and could lead to abuse or nonvoluntary euthanasia if not carefully regulated. In addition, some worry that legalizing assisted suicide could put vulnerable populations at risk of being pressured into ending their lives prematurely.

In order to evaluate the fairness and implications of physician-assisted suicide, it is important to look at state laws in regards to the practice. Currently, only eight US states have legalized assisted suicide. In most cases, there are strict regulations surrounding who qualifies for this type of procedure and what kinds of safeguards must be put in place before any action is taken. Furthermore, some states require that multiple doctors verify a patient’s terminal illness before allowing them access to an assisted death.