Physician Assisted Suicide During The United States And...

Nicole Clarke Professor Patrice Hughes Intro to International Studies, 201640-ISS-2200-02Z 28 November 2016 Physician Assisted Suicide and Assisted Suicide in the United States and Other Countries Suicide. A term many of us are uncomfortable with, it is a tender subject especially for those who have been affected by it personally. What about the term physician assisted suicide (PAS) or assisted suicide? Around the world and more recently in the United States we have seen these terms in the news more often. Various forms of medically assisted dying and/or assisted suicide for the terminally or hopelessly ill competent adult have been approved by 2010 in the following ten states and nation: Switzerland (1940), Oregon (1994), Colombia (1997), Albania (1999), The Netherlands (2002), Belgium (2003), Washington (2008), Montana (2009) and Luxembourg (2008) (Humphry). With the addition of England and Wales (2010), Vermont (2014), New Mexico (2015), Quebec (2015), California (2015) and Canada (details pending for 2016) (â€Å"Assisted Suicide Law Reform†). Physician assisted suicide and/or assisted suicide is a major ethical issue in medicine, as well as an issue that involves l aw and public policy (Weir 7). In this paper I will discuss the different types of physician assisted suicide including the different practices in different countries. EUTHANASIA Euthanasia is a term that when asking friends and family, I found most often is associated with â€Å"putting our animals down† whenShow MoreRelatedThe Ethics Of Assisted Suicide1526 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Physician assisted suicide, otherwise noted as â€Å"PAS,† has existed for many years, however has made a controversial appearance in legislation recently. Patients’ and their end of life decisions have shaped the way PAS has been portrayed today. Nurses play an important role in the everyday life of transitioning patients, which places them at the forefront of assisted suicide. Nurses must have clear and defined rules when it applies to assisted suicide, and what they can do if thisRead MoreEuthanasia Is The Act Of Killing Someone1284 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia is the act of killing someone that is very sick or injured in to prevent a painful suffering in life. One type of euthanasia is physician-assisted suicide, which is the use of a particular medicine given to a patient by a doctor to cause a peaceful death. This a very controversial topic when it comes to the subject of terminal or severe illnesses such as cancer and dementia. Brittany Maynard is a well-known example of person who took her own live under Oregon’s aid-in-dying law due toRead MoreThe Questionable Morality Of Physician Assisted Suicide945 Words   |  4 PagesThe Questionable Morality of Physician-assisted Suicide Physician-assisted suicide is one of the most controversial procedures in all of modern medicine, and the ethics of the practice have been in question for several years. It is legal in five states in the United States and many countries around the world. The operation involves a trained physician intentionally supplying lethal doses of drugs to a patient who administers the drugs to his or herself. It is a practice that is commonly confusedRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide And Its Impact On Society1274 Words   |  6 PagesTo better understand physician-assisted suicide, it is important to consider its history in our society. Euthanasia can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, however by the thirteenth century Christians, as well as Jews, opposed the practice due to religious beliefs. The earliest United States law prohibiting assisted suicide was passed in New York in 1828. During World War II, Hitler organized mercy killing of the sick or disabled; often referred to as, Aktion T4 this program was enacted for disabledRead MoreEssay On Physician Assisted Suicide1549 Words   |  7 PagesWriting Project Worksheet 1. This paper will examine the Washington state policy of physician-assisted suicide. 2. State Info: (characteristics, size, culture, political culture, industries, features, etc. to explain state support of policy) Washington is a state in the northwestern United States with an estimated population of 7,288,000, as of July 1, 2016. Washington’s population is primarily white at 69% (not including Hispanics), with Hispanics comprising 12.4%, Asians 8.6%, and African AmericansRead MoreThe Right to Commit Physician-Assisted Suicide1685 Words   |  7 PagesThe Right to Commit Physician-Assisted Suicide Physician-assisted suicide is suicide by a patient facilitated by means or information (as a drug prescription or indication of the lethal dosage) provided by a physician who is aware of how the patient intends to use such means or information (â€Å"Physician-assisted suicide†). Physician-assisted suicide should be accessible to the incurably ill patient. Allowing a patient to have this freedom could, for one, bypass tremendous pain and suffering.Read MoreThe Debate Of Physician Assisted Suicide1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe Debate Surrounding the Topic of Physician Assisted Suicide Who gets to make the choice whether someone lives or dies? If a person has the right to live, they certainly should be able to make the choice to end their own life. The law protects each and everyone’s right to live, but when a person tries to kill themselves more than likely they will end up in a Psychiatric unit. Today we hear more and more about the debate of Physician assisted suicide and where this topic stands morally and ethicallyRead MoreAmerican Suicide Story: Your Right to Die1067 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican Suicide Story: Your Right to Die Matthew Gregorie Pima Medical Institute American Suicide Story: Your Right to Die The year was 1776, the United States was on the brink of war with England and in an unwavering effort to be free from the tyranny of King George III, America’s fore-fathers drafted forth a Declaration of Independence. Included in this declaration was a line that still resonates in the hearts and minds of free thinking men and women: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evidentRead MoreThe Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Released1181 Words   |  5 PagesDisease Control and Prevention released a suicide report in 2015 stating that in The United States, suicide is the 10th leading cause of deaths. As many as 44,193 individuals have died per year, which means there is about 123 suicide deaths a day happening as of now in The United States (â€Å"Suicide Statistics†). This is only the statistics of deaths that have been successful in The United States, it is not counting all suicide deaths around the world nor suicide attempts. This alone is already a majorRe ad MoreThe Legal Definition Of Assisted Suicide987 Words   |  4 PagesPhysician Assisted Suicide Physician assisted suicide is one of the most controversial topics in the medical world today. Many individuals feel as if it is wrong to ask your physician to end your life regardless of your condition. Patients that are terminally ill and that want to end their life with dignity and on their terms often seek assistance in ending their life. They may have many reasons for wanting to end their life instead of holding on such as they do not want to become a burden to their