Physician Assisted Suicide Argumentative Analysis

Explanatory Synthesis In the 1980’s the first assisted suicide machine had been invited by doctor Kevorkian who was in support of physician assisted suicide. Physician assisted suicide was meant to allow for an individual with a terminal illness to have the right to die before their condition deteriorated and in a way to end with the individual’s pain. During the 1980’s assisted suicide was relatively new and no states had a law to allow for this practice. In 1999 doctor Kevorkian had gone to prison for assisting a patient with suicide, and from their on more debate about the topic arose. Shortly after in 1997 Oregon the first U.S state passed the death with dignity act that allowed terminal ill patients to end their lives with the help of

Supporters claim that physical pain should be an individual right. They believe that there should be no law that prohibits someone to suffer (Hook, 1989 p. 245). Olvera supports the idea expressing that PAS should be a legal alternative when there is no other form of pain relief (Olvera, 2015). However, Wagner states that there is anther alternative to stop pain and suffering such as training doctors to give more pain relief and anesthesia to patients. Even though some people may fear becoming addicts to theses medications (Wagner, 1998 p. 246). Knowing of the two possible alternatives and how people feel about them it is up to our society to deciding which is better and

Mattlin addresses a problem with the law after it states that the pill must be self-administered. He points out an issue of the language on how people like him who can’t move or feed themselves will take the pill even though there is really nothing monitoring someone from preventing the patient to allow someone else to feed them the pill. He expresses his concern for the possibility of a slippery slope in the safeguards of the law. It can allow for abuse and people will die without their consent (Mattlin, 2012). In support Wagner highlights a problem with the insufficient clarity of word terminal. It is stated that candidates for PAS are those who are terminal meaning death within six months. Which can also mean that those who take medication for diabetes and other illnesses can live far more years but also is competent for PAS if they stop taking the medication (Wagner, 1998 p. 246). On the other hand others may assure that the limitations taken are safe enough. Olvera states that Oregon has stellar track of no documented abuse. He also describes the lengthy process to obtain the lethal medication and how people hold on to it for a long time before consuming it to be sure of their decision. Through this he assures that there is no possibility for PAS to get out of control (Olvera, 2015). Overall the intention for our laws are to provide equality and give safe rights for the