Assisted Suicide Essay -- Euthanasia Essays

The right to assisted suicide is an intricate topic posed upon those in the United States and several other countries throughout the world. Assisted suicide proposes a controversy of whether or not a person has a right to solicit death through the help of a licensed physician. This issue has sparked an intense moral controversy. Assisted suicide has become apparent in various places around the world such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Oregon and Washington (Humphry). The increasing legalization of assisted suicide creates an even bigger controversy because it disrespects the beliefs of many who are pro-life. But, the act of legalizing assisted suicide in countries and states shows that people are starting to be think more compassionately instead of binding strictly to the laws. When people think of the words â€Å"assisted suicide† many believe it is the action of helping a person commit suicide without the aid of a licensed doctor, making it seem unlawful and inhumane. The importance of assisted suicide is that is directed by a physician that serves to make dying as painless and dignified as possible. Even with this understanding, people still oppose this action because it goes against their religious and moral beliefs. Others support the legislation because of their compassion and respect for those who suffer. Supporters main argument for assisted suicide is that everyone has their own freedom and self determination to decide what they want to do with their lives; others should not be able to control a persons fate. An advocate believes that assisted suicide should be allowed as long as their is no harm inflicted on others. Contrastingly, people who argue against assisted suicide have the opi... ... should be up to them of how they want to live it. The United States allows for freedom of religion and freedom of speech, so how can assisted suicide not be allowed when we have the right to speak for ourselves. Our life is not our own if we cannot choose when to end it. Works Cited "Assisted Suicide: A Right or a Wrong?." Santa Clara University - Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. http://ww.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1n1/suicide.html †¨Humphry, Derek. "Liberty and Death: A manifesto concerning an individual's right to choose to die." Assisted Suicide - Information on right-to-die and euthanasia laws and history. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. http://www.assistedsuicide.org/liberty_and_death_manifesto_right_to_die.html Kuhse, Helga, Peter Singer, and John Lachs. Bioethics: an anthology. 2nd ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2006. Print.