Does the Constitution provide US citizens the right to die? A recent Montana Supreme Court case has brought the controversial issue of physician assisted suicide into the national spotlight again. Currently, Oregon and Washington State allow physician assisted suicide (via statewide referendum) and Montana would be the third state in the the Union to allow terminally ill patients to die with the help of a doctor.
Opponents of euthanasia argue that physicians would be placed in an extremely compromising legal position. Doctors who help terminally ill patients commit suicide could not only violate their Hippocratic oath but also place themselves in a position of possible legal ramifications. Moreover, opponents also argue, from a moral and religious perspective, that the decision to die is not ours. According to this stance, only God has the power to decide when, where, and how we die.
Supports of the Right to Die issue argue that our bodies are our own personal property. Since the Fourth Amendment provides all citizens with a reasonable expectation of privacy, does this right to privacy extend to the decision to take our own lives if we're terminally ill?
What do you think? Should terminally ill citizens be able to take their own lives with the assistance of a physician? OR Is this going too far? Is it not our decision when we die? Please respond to this very difficult issue.
66 comments:
Physician assisted suicide must only be used to end the suffering of terminally ill patients, who have absolutely no chance of recovery. It must be strictly controlled so as not to be used as a persuasive tool or a method of committing suicide without probable cause. (Suicidal depression is not a probable cause!) The patient must consent to having their life taken, however, unless they are determined unfit to do so by at least 3 doctors, one or more of which specializes in psychology/psychiatry/sociology. If said patient is considered unfit to decide, the doctors and/or caretakers (family included) of said patient will decide.
I think that terminally ill patients, or patients with extremely painful diseases, should be able to choose to end their own life. Living in a hospital and slowly dying is harder then most of us (hopefully) know, and for people in that situation euthanasia could be a welcome relief from the pain of their life. Choosing when and how to die can make you and your family feel more peaceful and ready for the actual event, whereas waiting helplessly for a death beyond your control can make your last months/weeks/years even more stressful.
Also, I think that keeping someone alive against their will is cruel. I view that the role of doctors in society is to help people. In cases such as those involving euthanasia, I think doctors can help more by helping a person to end their life peacefully and painlessly than watching while someone weakens and dies. If doctors disagree, they should of course have the right to not participate in euthanasia, but I think patients should be able to choose euthanasia as a way to end their pain.
This issues is really being dealt with in an insane fashion. Death is forever, permanent, and incredibly important, it should be every persons own right but unfortunately that is not always the case. I think that if someone is terminally ill and suffering they have the right to choose when they die. It shouldn't be someone else's decision to decide how long you suffer. Religious issues come up that suicide is a sin, though if the person has seriously thought the whole thing through and it doesn’t bother them religious views shouldn't be an issue. Suicide isn't the best way out but if you have the right cause it really is your life.
Another problem is the issues with a doctors Hippocratic oath. Assisted suicide really shouldn’t be considered murder. If the patient is completely at peace with there decision then the doctor is only doing their job to do what’s best for the person. I know that this is a very complex issue that no one will ever agree on, but it really is each persons choice. I think it should be legal just not state sponsored. That way it can be a persons right and not everyone has a say.
Physician assisted suicide is most definitely wrong. Even if you're terminally ill, it is wrong because whether the doctor kills you with or without the patients it is suicide. It is God's right to decide who and at what time the person will die.
Also, everyone is going to die anyways, so why should you speed up the process and instead enjoy life, no matter what. I just got an email about a girl who lost an arm and a guy who lost a leg and both went into deep depression. Before the accidents, both were dancers, so when someone suggested taking up the occupation once again the two became dance partners and now are some of the best dancers in the Chinese area. They both learned to except their deformities and to get them off their mind. They found a hobby that both loved.
So even if you are sick or have a lost ligament, you need to find the joy in life and live life like you were going to die tomorrow.
If Terminally ill people are suffering i think they can choose that they Would like to end their life. They are given the right to do what they want to with their body and i don't see how its anybody choice but their own to decide how they end life.
Also if some one chooses to die this way they must need several doctors opinions. And clearly if they are not fit to make that decision them self's then their family and physicians should choose for them.
I think that the issue is extremely controversial for good reason and I think it is tough to give this problem a strong stance. On one side, i am for euthanasia. I think that just like some would argue that we have the right to have guns in a public place because of the second amendment, we also have the right to our own privacy and our own bodies. I think that many people can't understand the pain someone is in until they are in the position. I also think that in a way it is cruel and unusual punishment to keep someone alive when they don't want to be alive. On one side, people should be able to do what they like. The USA has come so far with civil rights that this would just be adding to our rights. If someone is terminally ill they have the right to do as they like with their own body. The person is in pain and they have the right to do what they like.
But on the other hand, death is a process and for some people it is a process of forgiveness and of letting go that needs to happen for someone to rest in peace. My mom works for hospice, and all the time she comes home with stories of patients forgiving their daughter for something horrible or the patient forging someone for something. In the same sense, death often brings families together and i think that death is something that everyone goes through. Also, put your self in the position of the doctor who has to issue the euthanasia. Can you even imagine being forced to kill someone or possibly losing you doctor license. There is also the argument that the doctors could get in trouble for the action of killing someone, but i disagree with that. If it is legal in the state for the doctor to euthanize a patient then there is no way they can get in trouble for doing their job.
I am most definatley for euthanasia. I feel that anyone who wishes to take away their own life should be able to. Personally, I would not want to be living in a hospital, put on tubes everyday and be a vegtable. I would choose to take away my life, and I know that I would be serious about making that desicion.
Even though family members and other people would not want that person to die, it is not their choice, and they will have to learn that keeping that certain person on heavy medication until they die is not making them happy, even though their friends and family would not want them to go.
Then there is the issue with the doctors. People say that the doctors are doing a sin in helping the patient rest in peace, but I think not. That is definatley not murder, they are assisting an ill person! While some doctors would rather not assist a patient in dying, there are brave souls out there who will.
I think that all people should have the right to do with their body as they please.
I firmly believe that if a person is in enough pain and is deemed terminally ill then they should have the right to take their own lives. Who are we to tell someone that God doesn't want them to die. Perhaps God wants these people to make their own decision. We were given the ability to choose so why shouldn't we be able to choose this for ourselves
However i also believe that we should not force physicians to do this deed. First of all it defies the oath they take as doctors. They also could have a moral issue with it so i also strongly believe that physicians shouldn't be forced to take these peoples lives. I think that a new profession should be created for doing this. Thus eliminating all legality issues and this will also eliminate the problem with the oath that doctors take being hippocritical. I believe this is the best solution to this issue.
I am semi religious man. I believe that God choses when we die and we should not try to make it come sooner. however if the patient has absolutly no chance of recovery then perhaps it is okay to ask to be let go. i do not know for sure where i stand on this issue.
also, i believe that the doctors should not be allowed to put patients to death because it goes against the hipacratical oath.
Again, a very touchy issue. Technically, since the Bill of Rights gives us the right to our own property, including our own bodies, We should be able to decide when we die. Since the Bill also says that no religion will be given preference in the Union, religious arguments cannot legally be considered. However, complex homicide laws would have to be significantly altered and would thus possibly be weakened, the legal side of this issue must be considered carefully.
however, I ultimately believe that people have the rights to their own bodies, and suicide should be considered among those rights. I don't believe that a family consensus needs to be reached, because the family may not be willing to let go of their family member even if that person is. So, I believe doctor-assisted suicide must be an option protected under legal statutes. -Eamonn Morris
When it comes to a patient deciding to take their own life with the assistence of a physician there should be limitations. For instance, only if they have been diagnosed to be terminally ill by multiple doctors and if there is absolutely no possibility of recovery. If both of these apply, then the person should be able to choose to end their own life. They should be able to make decisions concerning what they do with their body.
The 4th Amendment provides right to privacy to citizens and that includes what they do with their body. Suicide is wrong, but if you are in constant pain or living on life support then you should be able to end your life. Some people may not want to live in a coma and never wake up. Who is to tell someone what they should be able to do with their body. Many times the decision may involve family members, but in the end the decision should be left to the person concerning what they do to their body. To add to that there can also be a huge financial burden to keep someone alive. Although it may sound harsh, continuously having to take care of and watch over someone takes time and money that some people just don't have. It can be a great burden.
I'm sort of back and forth on this issue.
I believe if patients are terminally ill they have the right to end their own lives. Our bodies are our own personal properties and we can choose what we want to do with them. If one is terminally ill and in pain and wants to die and the doctor won't let them go to a happier place, wouldn't that be sort of considered as cruel and unusual punishment? Wouldn't you call that torture, for forcing them to remain in pain and die a suffering death?
I fully respect the religious beliefs behind this, but what if God wanted these people to choose their death? Maybe that's his choice of how/when they die?
Although I somewhat am for euthanasia, I don't necessarily believe that it should be the doctors deed to do. Reason why is because it could be against their morals and values and also because of the oath. Yet again, it is their job to be a doctor, but if all doctors were forced to end ones life then, I believe that there would be a lot less physicians out there. How about a new occupation for such a deed? ... just a thought.
I also think that euthanasia should be used only to the bare minimum. I am one who has had a terminally ill person in my family and had "6 months to live" from the doctors and my blessed uncle was given 2+ years to live from God. Knowing this, I believe that doctors should be extremely careful of when using such a medication because the patient could potentially live longer than what the medical records say.
Kyle Havlick
Citizens who our in a severe state in which they are suffering constantly should have the right to die. Whether the person is paralyzed, in constant pain, or in a state in which they cannot use their body in which they please, they should be given the choice to end their life. A paralyzed man most likely feels like a burden to himself and his friends and family. A lot of which come from the fact that their friends and family will always be trying to make things better by showing kindness and love. But knowing that they’re giving up so much to try to make things the best they could possibly be for you, you would feel like a huge burden on them. Even if the love is completely true, a lot of the love would be coming from pity. And since your life is basically over because you wont be able to do the things you love, why make it harder on your family too?
I understand the circumstances coming from religious views, but you our only choosing this because what God made you to do has been taken away from you. (In my case, I was born to dance). And if your only talent that you live for was taken away, you are not living. Physically yes, but you would always feel emotionally detached from life.
You should only be given the right to die when your horrid conditions are permanent. When someone is suffering from pain, a lot of time will want to die. And going to see a doctor is brave of them since if they have no cure, the doctors (not necessarily doctors) will not put them down or let them put themselves in any danger. They could’ve stayed home and done it themselves, but instead they went to the hospital for a more civilized manner. A lot of the suicide rates will go down once citizens are given the right to die. Because suicide is often committed because that is their only choice to end the suffering.
I believe that if you would be living in pain for the rest of life with some devastating disease and have abosolutley no chance whatsoever for recovery that a person can choose to ask to be euthanized. I know that if i was going to be a vegetable for the rest of my life I wouldn't want to be a burden for my family or have to watch me suffer that would be unbearble. I also agree with the other side of the arguement(considering I am a non-demoninational Christian) that God has a plan for your entire life and decide when it is the right time for you to pass away.
I believe that everyone has the right to their own body like it says in the 4th amendment so they have a choice to do what they would like to their bodies. Which implies no one can tell you what or what not to do the decision would lie with you and you alone. That brings me to a point I think that whenever anyone makes a will that will have to put into it that if in a sitaition where if they were in a vegetative state and no chance of recovering, whether they would want to remain on life support or have them pull the plug
This is a very serious issue in our world today and many different people will have different views on it based on background and moral beliefs. I think that as long as a psychiatrist and several experienced physicians are involved, it should be legal for an extremely ill person with no chance of recovery to take his/her own life with a doctor's help. A psychiatrist should be involved because when someone is so sick and suffering, often mental problems and distortions can arise and experts need to help these patients think clearly and logically.
Doctors deal with death all the time as part of their job and therefore are very experienced in the area of deciding whether or not a person is physically and sometimes mentally ready to die. But several physicians should definitely be involved in a case like this so the right decision can be made. When controversy about a doctor's obligations to the Hippocratic oath arise, I think that euthanizing someone could be thought of as similar to taking someone off life support. If consent is given by the patient, a psychiatrist, certain family members and a certain number of doctors, then the deed can be done and everyone may rest in peace, especially the receiver of the euthanasia shot.
I think euthanasia should be legal and terminally ill people should be allowed the choice of relief through death. I think that people who are terminally ill and in great pain do not want to suffer through that. I think that would be a violation of cruel and unusual punishment, making people stay in life with that sort of illness. What if your old and have cancer, wouldn't you rather go out peacefully and and dignified than in a lot of pain having to depend on someone for everything.
Personally I would rather ride out the disease because of there is an afterlife I wouldn't be able to "live" with my self if I did that, but I would like to have the option. The doctor and other people shouldn't think of it as helping someone commit suicide or killing them. Rather think of it as helping someone out of a lot of pain. Like in the medieval times when they would deliver mercy strokes to their enemies or horses. So I think euthanasia should be legal.
This issue is very controversial and I find it very hard to have 1 solid position.
One side I have to agree with is that it is their own body, they should be able to do what they want with it. Also if someone is going to die a slow and painful death they shouldn't have to suffer if they want to die.
The other side I have to agree with also is that doctors take a sworn oath: "First do no harm." It would be a direct violation of this oath if a doctor did help someone die through injection. I also believe that allowing physician assisted death opens the door for so many legal cases. On the death certificate, the cause of death will say "homicide," which opens the door for tons of legal cases where a family is accusing a doctor of murder.
I think that this is such an emotionally difficult issue for us to decide on until you have experienced it. I definately have to lean more toward the right to choose what you do with your body but I also have to agree with the other side. All and all I think that this is an extrememly hard issue to decide fully your position on.
Meaghan James
I think that physician assited suicide is completely wrong, unless that person was terminally ill, and because of this illness was in great pain. Such as people with stomach ulcers, or liver cancers, comething that would kill you slowly and painfully, but will eventually kill you, you should be able to have a doctor give you an injection to save you from that pain. But, in addition to this, you should have to go to court and prove that you were terminally ill, and are going to die a very slow painful death, and be able to get some kind of legal document that allows your doctor to give you a lethal injection.
However this is very contraversial for doctors, because I know that if I was a doctor I most certainly would not want to help someone kill themselves. This also goes against the oaths that they must make before they become a doctor. So I think that the doctor must be allowed to say that he will not give the lethal injection.
I think that physician assited suicide is completely wrong, unless that person was terminally ill, and because of this illness was in great pain. Such as people with stomach ulcers, or liver cancers, comething that would kill you slowly and painfully, but will eventually kill you, you should be able to have a doctor give you an injection to save you from that pain. But, in addition to this, you should have to go to court and prove that you were terminally ill, and are going to die a very slow painful death, and be able to get some kind of legal document that allows your doctor to give you a lethal injection.
However this is very contraversial for doctors, because I know that if I was a doctor I most certainly would not want to help someone kill themselves. This also goes against the oaths that they must make before they become a doctor. So I think that the doctor must be allowed to say that he will not give the lethal injection.
I think that physician assited suicide is completely wrong, unless that person was terminally ill, and because of this illness was in great pain. Such as people with stomach ulcers, or liver cancers, comething that would kill you slowly and painfully, but will eventually kill you, you should be able to have a doctor give you an injection to save you from that pain. But, in addition to this, you should have to go to court and prove that you were terminally ill, and are going to die a very slow painful death, and be able to get some kind of legal document that allows your doctor to give you a lethal injection.
However this is very contraversial for doctors, because I know that if I was a doctor I most certainly would not want to help someone kill themselves. This also goes against the oaths that they must make before they become a doctor. So I think that the doctor must be allowed to say that he will not give the lethal injection.
If the patient is truly ill and is in pain, and expects to die either way I believe that they should have the right to ask the doctors to kill them. I don't think that it is right for people to be suffering in pain and not have a choice to end their lives or not.
Now I think that is a wise decision to allow the family to have a say in this situation too. They will all be affected by this choice as much as any other loved one if not more, so I see it only fair as for the family to talk to the sick relative and to come to a conclusion. Now if it is a child, I understand that it is the parents choice to allow the child to die or not but I think it is only fair if the parent asks the child about it first. This would be an extremely hard decision to make but I think that this is a fair and good way to come up with an answer
I believe that terminally ill patients have the right to end there own life with the aid of a physician. If you were going to to die and the rest of your short life would be in pain wouldn't you want a way out? I know I would and I think that any one who is dieing a painful death should have the right to end it sooner. I think it is said in the forth amendment the right to privacy does cover ones own body and that covers the right to die.
I also don't think that doctors would be breaking the Hippocratic oath because the would be doing the wishes of the person and helping them.
In my opinion, euthanasia can be used if the patient is terminally ill and the doctor agrees. If the patient is in immense pain, I believe euthanasia is a viable option. I personally would not use euthanasia, but really I cannot say whether I would if I was in intense pain. If the pain was so bad, the only way to relieve the pain may be to kill oneself. Also, this is a free country and people can do what they want with their bodies. Even if I believed that euthanasia was not a "good" thing, I still can't tell people what to do with their bodies. If someone really wishes to end their life, and they have a good reason to do it, I say let them.
To add, many people say that "It would be immoral of the doctor," or "This is for God to decide." Well, if that person (who wants to take their own life) is not religious, and really desires to die, then I believe they should. Coming back to the doctors, I think that if the doctor really wants to help they can. If the doctor is religious, or does not want to help the patient, obviously they should not, and it should be no crime. But if the doctor believes this is not murder, than I say go ahead with it. This may cause problems, but there are already problems. People can kill themselves without euthanasia, and that is much more gruesome. Also, things like assisted suicide (only legal in 3 states), may elevate into shadier practices if it is not legalized and then monitored.
i think that if people want to commit an enthusian suicide, that it is their decision. especially if they are in great amounts of pain from a terminal illness. At least it is a humane way. I dont really agree with people throwing themselves in front of speeding cars.
if peole believe that it is gods decicion to take away peoples lives then they can just believe that they will have a terrible fate from disobeying god
Personally, I believe that absolutely, if someone is in very intense pain, they should be allowed to take there own lives. Now, I'm allergic to dairy, and when I was younger I would throw up whenever I had a medium amount of dairy. While I was throwing up, I would always be melodramatic and say that "I want to die," probably to get some pity and attention. Now, if an adult was sick with a very painful disease and wanted to make there family feel sorry for them, I feel that that is in no way a reasonable solution. To take ones life via Euthanasia, I believe that you must have the sick persons consent, at least two other relieble family members consent, and at least three different doctors affirmation that there was no forseeable way to survive the disease. Finally, you should not be able to force a doctor or nurse or anybody for that matter, into Euthanizing someone. That violates your constitutional rights, I believe.
Zack Neher
What kind of government would restrict free will in the people? If someone is in pain, or contracts an illness that is terminal, why should they live to suffer? They know what is going on, they recognize the situation. They have the choice to die and end suffering.
The situation would be different if the doctors were making the decision, not the patients. But as it is, it is the patient and the patient alone making the decision, under his or her's own free will. There shouldn't even be a debate about this. It's complete bogus, there really is no reason to argue about someone choosing what to do with themselves.
The will of the person should have overruling power over everything else. It's not up to someone else to keep you alive when you clearly don't want to live.
What kind of government would restrict free will in the people? If someone is in pain, or contracts an illness that is terminal, why should they live to suffer? They know what is going on, they recognize the situation. They have the choice to die and end suffering.
The situation would be different if the doctors were making the decision, not the patients. But as it is, it is the patient and the patient alone making the decision, under his or her's own free will. There shouldn't even be a debate about this. It's complete bogus, there really is no reason to argue about someone choosing what to do with themselves.
The will of the person should have overruling power over everything else. It's not up to someone else to keep you alive when you clearly don't want to live.
People should be able to take their own lives with the assistance of a physian. Each and every person should have complete control over their body and should always have the right to die if they are terminally ill. It is fully a person's decisicion to live or die and so religious arguments are irrelevant in my mind because it's not what other people believe, it's up to the terminally ill, suffering paitent. In the Declaration of Independence, it states that each peron has some inalienable rights one of them being the right to live. So, if we have the right to live shouldn't we have the right to die when we choose to? When a person is definately going to die and is suffering too much while they're alive they should have the opition of passing on in a controlled peaceful way.
I think that people have the right to decide if they want to die. especially if they are terminally ill. Also doctors should not be forced to assist in the suicide if they chose not too; the patient must fill out a written consent, so the doctor doesn't get into legal trouble. I think that religion doesn't play a part in this conflict, because if you are religious you won't choose to take your own life, and if you aren't then you can make your own choice.
Although suicide is not even a remotely positive thought, our bodies are our own and the choices that we make should be our own. John Locke said that all humans have the right to life, but they should have the right to end their life to.
I think that Euthanasia should only be used in dire situations where the patient is in too much pain. The patient must think that dying would be a better solution than staying alive and bearing with the pain.
There should be exceptions for the doctors who assist Euthanasia. It shouldn't be called a homicide and the doctor shouldn't have to put to jail or something that the patient wanted the doctor to do. It is the patient's will to die or not, unless it's depression. Depression can be cured unlike leukemia or other diseases.
The right to die is our descision. Our government already has too much control over us. They shouldn't violate any more of our rights. However, I don't think that the doctor should be in any part of it. Euthanasia is a clear violation of the hippocratic oath. A doctor is supposed to do everything in his power to keep the patient alive. The word "euthanasia" is simply another word for murder. We forget that. If a patient wants to commit suicide, he should be able to without the doctor.
“Suicide is not chosen; it happens
when pain exceeds
resources for coping with pain.” This statment was found using Google and applies to this situation. If the patient wants suicide, it means the doctor has failed and should be ashamed. Many overlook this.
~Joe Roessler P1
You have the right to end your life on your own terms if you are terminally ill and will never recover. Although doctor assisted suicide is violating the doctor's Hippocratic oath, if the patient is in a lot of pain or is unhappy with what they have to deal with for the rest of their natural born life and they want to die, they should be allowed to end their lives so they won't have to suffer.
The patient should get at least three different doctors to tell them they're terminally ill and will never recover. After that, if the patient is unable to decide what is best for them, as in if they're psychologically or sociologically uncapable of that task, then caretakers, such as family, relatives, loved ones or children, would have to decide for them, preferably someone who knows the condition of said patient. However, if the pacient is able to decide they want to end their life, they should be informed of all their options, before death is chosen.
Patients should have at least two months to think things over so they don't do anything rational that they might end up regretting, just to be safe. Also, if death is decided, the patient should be able to have one or two family members or close freinds be with them when they die, because, lets face it, who would want their last sight to be an ugly doctor who doesn't have the ability to comfort them in their last moments?
I think that people should be able to choose by themselves when they leave this earth. If a patient is in an intense amount pain, and they basically can die or live they rest of their lives in a hospital then they should be allowed to physician assisted suicide. If they have no desire to live like that, then why are we not allowing it? It's not fair to make someone live their life if they are in such a bad state of health. P.A.S should only be used in cases where the patient has agreed and decided that that is the route they want to take. If a doctor or physician thinks it is best, but the patient doesn't it can absolutely not be allowed. It is a very difficult subject to discuss but I firmly believe that people should choose if they want to end their lives in certain cases like this.
Doctor assisted suicide, while a depressing thing to think about, is also vital to consider. If someone is terminally ill, they deserve the right to decide what will happen to them. We have the right to our own bodies. If I were in constant pain that was so bad I couldn't even speak or interact with people, or if I knew there was nothing else that could be done, I'd want to just cut the suspense of day-by-day death or life and just let go, with fond feelings rather than bitter ones.
Doctor assisted suicide could be the less painful route for both patients AND their families. It would be crueler to let them watch a loved on slowly die then to have them say their good-byes and just let go. However, I think that the patient should get the opinion of at least 3 experts as well as the approval of their close family. If it would be a minimally painful natural death, then the patient should get to live out the rest of their lives. If, however, the patient is in constant, unmanageable pain, they should be allowed to make that choice for themselves. This is a choice that anyone would have trouble making, but it's clear that it must be one.
I think that physician assisted suicide should absolutely be legal. If someone is terminally ill and has no chance of recovering, why would we put them through more pain than we have to. As for the physicians, they can personally have their own moral beliefs but if there are some doctors who will help terminally ill patients then that should not be illegal.
From the religious standpoint, I think that it doesn't apply here. This is because people have the right to chose there own religion and just because one person's religion doesn't allow this doesn't mean everybody's does. Telling someone that they can't end their pain because THEIR god doesn't want that, I think is absurd.
Physician assisted suicide is a way more humane way to deal with terminally ill patients, let alone the fact that it is our right to do whatever with our bodies that we want, as long as it does not harm someone else. Think about it: If someone has Lou Gehrig's disease, they are virtually guaranteed to die. If the victim of a terrible condition like that have no wish to suffer through the disease that is going to literally eat them from inside out,it is perfectly fine for people to choose to die.
God, in the New Testament at least, is portrayed as a kind, caring leader. I don't think that if there is a God he would be against ending terrible suffering, prolonging the inevitable.
Finally, doctor is only a murderer if he purposely kills someone against their wishes. Doctor-assisted suicide doesn't even really concern the doctor. But the Hippocratic Oath says that a doctor may NEVER do more harm than good. But if a patient is going through agonizing pain on a way to a more agonizing death, isn't it doing more harm to not help them die?
I think physician assisted suicide is neither completely right nor completely wrong. However, I think it goes against the Constitution to tell people they cannot choose to die because of religion.
I think a patient should not have the option unless multiple doctors agree they have no chance of recovery. If they are given the option to die, I think it should be their decision, because a person's life is their property. If the patient is not conscious or is otherwise unable to decide, I think doctors should wait until they are sure the patient will not ever become able to decide for themselves, and if that is the case, they should then let the family of the patient choose.
There is the issue that some doctors do not want to administer euthanasia, because of the Hippocratic Oath or because of personal morals. I don't think that physician assissted suicide is murder unless it is against the patient's wishes, but physicians should be given the choice not to administer euthanasia, to have another doctor do that instead.
My opinion on this issue is that people should be able to decided weather they want to take their own life. If someone is terminally ill, i believe that they should have the right to end their pain. That may be hard for healthy people to understand, because we may never know the pain that these patients undergo. I think everyone has the right to be responsible for their own bodies.
I also understand that some doctors may not want to perform this procedure because of their opinions on this issue. No doctor should be forced to do this. Maybe we could create a separate profession for this type of medical care. Overall, i believe people have the right to decided what is best for them.
I think if a person is in a terminally ill state they should have the right to take their own life. The constitution completley supports their decision through right to privacy. To people who object, who are you to tell them what to do with their bodies, if you were in their situation, in excrusiatling pain would you want to end the suffering, our going to die anyway, it would be more peaceful anyway, then waisting away in the hospital, slowly dying in pain, you've gone through enough, why not just end it. In addition the religious concept shouldn't even enter the debate. We all don't believe in god, we don't all think god has his time for us. Shouldn't we have a right to choose for ourselves and not be controlled by god.
I doctors job in society is to help and provide for people. If someone wishes to die they should provide treatment. People in hospitals die in the hospital all the time under pregnancy, surgery, diseases. How is this any different.
I also believe that if there is a terminally ill patient and they wish to die and are in pain, they have the right to die. It is up to the doctor if they personally want to be the ones to "kill" them, and can always have another doctor do it for them. If the patient want a specific doctor to do the deed, then he can choose to wait because some doctors wont "kill" their patents.
If religion is a issue, I believe that it is still the patients choice and if it is against their religion, then they don't have to die. Others might have a problem with the "God's Will" aspect but they are not the ones in pain. IF held against their will, it is a form of cruel and unusual punishment, which is against the 8th amendment. If the doctor has a problem with the religion aspect, then another doctor can do it for them. Need to remember it is a free country.
I think that in the state of Montana, you should be allowed physician assisted sucide. Our bodies are leagally your own property, then we should be able to do what we want with them. I think that in any case, if you want pyhsician assisted sucide then, you should be allowed it.
To me if the doctor in question doesnt feel comfortable in complying with that request then that doctor doesnt have to do it but, they should suply the person with someone that could. Furthermore if helping in the persons death breaks the doctors sworn oath then change it. If they are going to change the law then they can change the oath.
Many people believe that is there own right to die because the constitution gives a right to privacy, I believe otherwise. God has a purpose and a plan for everyone and it is not our right to interfere. I am not saying that I feel no sympathy for those with terminal illnesses, that would be a terrible situation for the patient their family and the physicians. I just feel that there are better ways to deal with this type of situation than suicide, for instance give the patients other medications to ease pain or help them in any way. I know sometimes people hurt so bad they cant be helped but they will go when it is their time.
I think that you have the right to do what you want with your own body and no one can force you to do anything with it. If a person is terminally ill and if they have had a proper mental evaluation and have consulted with their families they should be able to die in a peaceful, respectful way. For some people this would be a great option, no one is telling you that you have to go and die this way, it is an option. If you have religious beliefs against this sort of thing that's great you don't have to have this done to you, it's your choice.
As for doctors preforming this procedure no one is forcing them to do it. If you had a patient that wanted to end their life this way and you did not want to do it or if you had a religious belief against it you could just tell them to go and find someone that would do it and i'm sure that they would if they wanted it bad enough.
Imagine sitting in a hospital bed, alone, and in horrible pain, knowing you could die any minute, any day, or any time!! It would be awful. The fact that you are in such excruciating pain, and know you are going to die in that pain, is a horrible feeling to pass away with. I know if any other person was in that situation, the majority of them would want to die peacefully with euthanasia as well. It's always hard for family and friends, but if they really cared about them, they would accept the patient's decision, and let them pass in peace and without any more misery.
I also think religion shouldn't be allowed to affect the government. There are so many different religions and if the government cases laws off of only christianity, it is unfair to everyone else.
On the topic of religion though, if they are going to bring god into laws and rights, then they should at least be consistent... I thought in the bible they said they jesus accepted everyone, and that everyone should accept everyone, but they went against that in the gay marriage law. They can't bring god's "rules" into the Bill of Rights only when convenient.
Overall, people should be allowed to end their lives when terminal. the end...
-alex davie
I think that euthanasia should only be used in cased where the patient will die in a painfully. It the patients body and they can do what they want with it even if it means having there life cut short. A patient should state his/her claim of why his/her life should be ended then they should if the reason is reasonable cause and they are checked for depression they will be killed. Before they are killed the patient must sign a document stating that they asked to be killed and that no legal action should be taken against the doctor who administered the euthanasia to reduce the risk of homicide charges.
Since people are so divided on this issue and it would be impossible to reach a consensus, I think that the best way to deal with it would be to allow people to decide for themselves whether or not they feel comfortable with taking their own life.
Many of the arguments against the right to die are based on religious standpoints.
But what about people who don't agree with or believe in the religious standpoint? Doesn't freedom of religion in America allow you to believe in whatever it is that you want to believe in (which includes being an atheist)? Isn't forcing people to agree with a religious standpoint comparable to forcing people to believe in that religion?
I think that people should have the right to decide whether this is moral. It should be legal, so that people who believe that taking their own life is right will be able to do that, and people who belive in a religious standpoint will be able to ignore it and not be a part of it.
It could be argued whether or not helping patients die is against the Hippocratic oath. If a patient is terminally ill and in great pain and if they truly wish to end their pain, would assisting suicide be harming the patient, or helping them? I think that the doctor needs to decide for him/herself if helping a person die is against the Hippocratic oath. If you are someone who is comfortable with taking your life, you need to find a physcian who is also comfortable with it if you want assisted suicide.
However, the right to die should still be used with caution and restraint. The patient should be completely sure that they are terminally ill, they are in pain, and that they are comfortable with taking their own life before they proceed to do so
This way, people will be allowed to believe in whatever they want to belive in, and their decisions will only affect themselves.
I do not know what it is like to have a terminally ill disease and be in severe pain. I do not know what goes through a patient's head when they are lying there and can't control anything themselves. But I can imagine that a peaceful death on your own time sounds appealing when you've gone through so much that was not what you had planned for. So in this respect, Euthanasia should be available to those who are nearing the end and can't take it anymore. It should NOT be considered murder when physicians have aided in the relief of these people. The doctor's have suffered enough by coping with the task mentally; they do NOT deserve to go to jail.
However, is giving up a positive message to the rest of the world? How will others find the inspiration to persevere through their own, if simpler, hardships? Not to imply that patients who are in extreme pain or experience vast disabilities should wait it out, but if Euthanasia is legalized, it should not be taken lightly. As a couple of others have commented, several doctors must deem the patient truly terminally ill, in terrible pain or incapable of living a happy life. Then the patient must decide, with family whether this is the end for them.
I think that we should be able to choose when and how we die if we are going to die anyway. One reason i think this is because if you are going to die you should be able to choose to die in peace if you are going to suffer from a painful disease until death. Also this would allow people to have a definate final time with family and friends and allow them to do things properly.
Constitutionaly we are technicaly not allowed to take are own lives however this goes against our right to privacy. Therfore seeing as it is a state issue i would vote to aprove it.
Also to address the violation of the hipocratic oath and what not i would say that the oath may have to be changed so that it says more like i will not harm any patient that has not given concent or something along those lines. Also i would have only the doctors that were willing administer the drugs. That is what i belive about the right to die issue.
I think that patients who are terminally ill should have the right to die. Once they have made this decision, they are most likely mentally ready to end their life because they know it will end soon anyway and they want to rest in peace with their families surrounding them as they pass away. Sometimes terminally ill patients die at unexpected times and their family doesn't know about it until it's over.
We have the right to be happy, and hopefully to die happily; the government can't take that from us. Even if it is suicide, this option makes the family and the patient more prepared for the passing.
I Think that under the circumstances, a person should have the right to physician assisted suicides. If i was in that much pain and I was a burden to my friends and family, I would seriously think about physician assisted suicide.
A person has the right to do what they want with their bodies. I might be a controversial topic for some people, but for others, It is the best thing.
I believe that physician assisted dying should be legal for those who are terminally ill. I do not think that people should be able to suffer during a long, painful death from a disease. Some people may argue that this form of "suicide" is against nature or that God has wanted us to go that way. I disagree with this. On Tuesday I was in the car listening to the radio when this issue came up and a woman from Montana was telling the reporters about her story. Both her and her husband have had cancer and many other complications health wise and they have been through so much pain that the woman said she would not want to live until a terminal disease took her life for it would be going for God's will not against it. However prolonging life through a horrible disease is against God, she said.
I don't personally believe in God but I do see this side of the story and think she makes a good point. People did not naturally live to 110 years old 110 years ago and the modern technology we have today just expands that life span and therefore we have come to think that this age is an appropriate age to die at but no sooner which is not usually the case and is certainly not true for terminally ill people who have to live their last days suffering.
i think that people should be able to take their own life if they desire to do so, however they should not make the doctors kill the patients if they don't want to. I think that the patients should be given a way to kill themselves like pulling the plug or injecting themselves with euthanasia.
I think that keeping people alive against their will is wrong because your essentially torturing them by keeping them alive against their will. so i think that the patients should be able to take their own lives if they wish.
In my opinion Euthanasia is a moral issue that is wrong. You should not kill yourself under any circumstances. But, telling people what choices to make and how to live (or in this case die) is wrong. People have free will. I am Catholic and believe that humans have been granted free will by God. Since we have free will, this means that we should be able to do what we want with our bodies no matter if it is right or wrong.
Also, doctors should not be forced to administer the shot. Only doctors who are willing should be allowed to. You shouldn’t make someone kill someone else. The point of a doctor is to help someone and even if they are in dying pain they are not being helped by having someone kill them. A doctor would be violating the Hippocratic Oath. This means for very serious legal and emotional repercussions.
I really think that it should not be the Physician or the doctors job...I think it should be the job of the person who is wants the shot. It is really unfair to the Physician or the doctor because they might get in some trouble. I think it is very important to have the patient to go through a test so they aren't committing suicide. So they have to be in a mentally state that is ok and there condition. If they pass all those tests then it's their choice. If the patient is not able the family shall decide the choice. But the family must know about it. If not there shall be no euthanasia. I think euthanasia shall be aloud if test are good.
Terminally ill citizens should be able to take their own lives. The Constitution states the right to privacy in Fourth Amendment allowing us to choose whether we want to die or not. In some ways, I feel that the pro-euthanasia side of this issue is similar to the pro-choice side of the issue of abortion. The pro-choice argument is that the woman has the right to choose whether she have a baby or not. The pro-euthanasia argument is that people who are terminally ill have to right to choose to die. Both of these arguments use the Fourth Amendment as support. Everybody should have the right to choose how they want to die and if they choose to die using euthanasia, then we should let them.
Also, if the person in this situation is truly suffering, why would one let him/her suffer longer. If this person chooses to die in this way, let them. They have the right to choose how they want to die.
Physician assisted suicide should be legal for patients who are terminally ill. They should be allowed to die on their own terms instead of waiting in misery for their lives to end. The last few months of a terminally ill patient's life can be extremely painful and they should have the right to end their life while they are still enjoying it. If a patient chooses to die via euthanasia, they should be required to sign a contract stating that they agreed to die with the help of their doctor. This way, doctors could not be charged with murder.
As for the hippocratic oath, doctors would be violating it by not helping the terminally ill patients commit suicide. They would be harming the patients, making them miserable rather than happy, if they did not allow the patient to die on their own terms. Although I believe there is a God, I believe that people also have free will to an extent and that they can end their lives when they choose to do so.
Euthanasia is said to be very painless and fast for you are sedated when it is administered. The tradeoff here is that a quick, painless shot in the arm while the patient is peaceful and surrounded by loved ones would seem like a more restful way to die for most than being pumped full of chemicals until you vomit, being nuked by radiation day in and day out, never knowing when your last day will be and the day where you are so numbed by the pain that you can finally feel nothing at all and die a slow, painful death to the said terminal illnesses.I plead the Eighth for it is cruel and unusual punishment to force a human being to live inside the torture chamber that their body will become shortly. The Federal Government has no right to tell us what to do with our bodies so for the preceding reasons, I affirm this week's topic: Physician assisted suicide should be legal and an option for all people with terminal illnesses.
I support Euthenasia 100% and I believe that it should be legal in every state. Nobody should be able to tell you what to do with you body, not even the government. If you are suffering from a medical condition, you should have the right to end your life. Why should it be illegal to choose to pass on if you are suffering? I consider it torture to prohibit person from ending their misery through death.
If your body isn't yours, what is? We have the unalienable right to life, but also the right to the pursuit of happiness and if putting yourself to sleep forever ends your suffering then it should be legal.
Physician assisted suicide should be aloud because patients have the right to their own bodies. If a patient is terminally ill and is suffering so much that he/she wants to die, then it should be their choice. It might be considered murder, but with the consent of the patient it wouldn't be. The Hippocratic oath is to not make patients worse, but if the patients is already dying, doesn't want to live anymore and there is no treatment to make them better then it's not really making it worse for the patient.
With most issues, the religious sector of the far right at least tries to disguise the fact that their opinion is based on a religion held by less than 15% of Americans. Here they're not even going to bother. Why should i not have the right to end my painful, humiliating life if your god says I shouldn't? I'm not saying that you have to choose euthenasia when you're terminally ill, why should your religion have any bearing on my choices?
The kind of people who would be getting euthenized are terminal patients, who have maybe six months to live. They spend each waking moment in pain, and they often can't do anything by themselves. They need help to wash themselves! Why should they have to endure this if they don't want to?
I think that the issue is extremely controversial for good reason and I think it is tough to give this problem a strong stance. On one side, i am for euthanasia. I think that just like some would argue that we have the right to have guns in a public place because of the second amendment, we also have the right to our own privacy and our own bodies. I think that many people can't understand the pain someone is in until they are in the position. I also think that in a way it is cruel and unusual punishment to keep someone alive when they don't want to be alive. On one side, people should be able to do what they like. The USA has come so far with civil rights that this would just be adding to our rights. If someone is terminally ill they have the right to do as they like with their own body. The person is in pain and they have the right to do what they like.
But on the other hand, death is a process and for some people it is a process of forgiveness and of letting go that needs to happen for someone to rest in peace. My mom works for hospice, and all the time she comes home with stories of patients forgiving their daughter for something horrible or the patient forging someone for something. In the same sense, death often brings families together and i think that death is something that everyone goes through. Also, put your self in the position of the doctor who has to issue the euthanasia. Can you even imagine being forced to kill someone or possibly losing you doctor license. There is also the argument that the doctors could get in trouble for the action of killing someone, but i disagree with that. If it is legal in the state for the doctor to euthanize a patient then there is no way they can get in trouble for doing their job.
considering the fact that the only patients who would be able to use the euthanasia are terminally ill, some with extremely painful diseases and horrible situations ie. eating through tubes, cant move, cant speak, etc. My uncle has throat cancer, he will never hear his own voice again, he will never taste real food again, i think it should be the patients choice. You cant force someone to vegitate. I can see how euthanasia would be a viable option, especially financially. it costs thousands of dollars to keep a vegetable alive, it costs more than 10000 euros a day just to keep my uncle in the hospital with all the tubes and doctors. So, considering all these things, i say it is alright by me.
ps. it's gabe, sorry mr. N, i tried the open id thing but it wouldnt post.
People should be allowed the right to die if they want to when they want to. American citizens have a right to,"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and what if somebody is in pain and they would like to die? Is that not a pursuit of their own happiness if they would feel happier just to die?
~Brynn Conroy
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