ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER

Assisted Suicide



Part I: Thesis statement

Without doubt, modern death has become formidable. Physicians now have technologies and knowledge needed to prevent natural death almost indefinitely. Too often, terminally ill patients suffer needless pain and stay alive without real hope, as families have a terrible death clock.

In ancient Greece and Rome it was permissible in some situations to help others die (Smith 2000). For example, the Greek writer Plutarch mentioned that in Sparta infanticide was practiced in children who lacked "health and vigor." Both Socrates and Plato sanctioned forms of euthanasia in certain cases. Voluntary euthanasia for the elderly was an approved custom in several ancient societies.

Euthanasia has been accepted both legally and morally in various forms in many societies. "There is no more profoundly personal decision, not a that is closer to the heart of personal liberty, that the choice that makes terminally ill to end their suffering.," U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein wrote (R-Organizations supporting the legalization of voluntary euthanasia were established in Britain in 1935 and United States in 1938. They have gained some public support, but so far failed to achieve its goal in the two nations. In recent years decades, Western laws against passive voluntary euthanasia have slowly been relief (Quill 2005).

The pro euthanasia or "right to die" movement has received considerable promotion and the adoption of laws in 40 states in 1990, which legally allow competent persons to make "living wills." They want to encourage and instruct doctors to withhold life-support systems if individuals terminals ill.

Euthanasia is occurring in all societies, including those in which that are considered immoral and illegal. A final medical assistance to a sense and void "void" of a life is both accepted and tolerated by the medical profession. In a Colorado survey, 60% of physicians stated that have cared for patients in whom they believe active euthanasia justifiable, and 59% expressed their willingness to use lethal drugs in these cases if it is legal. In a study of 676 physicians in San Francisco, 70% believe that patients with incurable terminal illness should have the choice of assets euthanasia, and 45% would carry out such a request, if it is legal (35% oppose). Almost 90% of physicians in another study agreed that it is sometimes appropriate to give medication to relieve suffering, but may accelerate a patient's death. Euthanasia also is the practice of ending a life to free a person from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering. Euthanasia is an environment conducive to the suffering and long term. Euthanasia is a relatively new dilemma for the United States and has earned a bad reputation of the negative media publicity surrounding assisted suicides.

Euthanasia has a purpose and should be evaluated as humanely as filling a vacuum created by our modern society sometimes inhumane. Proponents of legalization legislation assistance claim of suicide, that all people have the moral right to freely choose what they will do with their life if they cause no harm to others ...