Ethical Issues In Assisted Suicide States

By Tammie Caldwell


Mercy killing is one of the most controversial issues since the time of civilization. Many cultures in the past have done so, not only for animals but also for humans. Conservative and religious cultures are against this while other cultures have considered its legalization. In the US, this has been legalized in several states like Vermont, Oregon, and Washington. There had been a lot of assisted suicide cases in those places.

This is the supposed legal rights of a person to choose death in cases of terminal illness that has gone increasingly hopeless. However, even if the patients themselves request this, there is always a question of ethics in assisted suicide states. Some groups are advocating for and against it. The division of perceptions is very evident.

However, before this is resorted to and before medical professionals approve, there has to be a request from the patient who must be very sure and is in his or her stable cognitive sense upon request. In addition, witnesses must be there which constitutes the doctor and a non relative. Moreover, the patient should have been diagnosed six months prior by two different doctors who both ruled that he or she has six months only to live.

This topic has been spurred once again because of the Brittany Maynard, who requested to be euthanized because she wanted to end her suffering from brain cancer. She died in two thousand four when her request was granted. She was one of the advocates of assisted death. Some states are now passing bills regarding the legalization of such act.

When this issue has flooded the media and has created a lot of opinion clashes, a lot of bills that are yet to be approved has reached the tables of the Supreme Court. In two months time early this year, there were already around ten passed, not including those passed last year. Lawmakers and state officials are the ones who carry the heavy responsibility of approving or rejecting the proposed bills.

She finalized her decision in November of last year and she died on the same month. She was also an advocate of the movement to legalize doctor assisted suicide. It has stirred a controversy in the social, cultural, spiritual, and political areas of the society worldwide.

Various groups have opposing opinions. In the first few months of twenty fifteen, around ten states have already passed a bill waiting for approval from the Supreme Court, not to mention other states that have passed bills as well the previous year. Politicians and legislators have also been divided with this and they are having dilemma in weighing decisions.

But some have been inspired by the aforementioned issue, so a lot of bills that request for the legalization of assisted suicides have been laid on the table. It is up to the Supreme Court to finally approve them. Just early this year, there are already ten pending bills plus the other pending bills passed late last year.

Regulators and law bodies must be able to wisely weigh their final decision. It is very complicated to come up with amendments that assure a win win result. Negative and positive implications have been seen regarding this, depending on the culture, religious, and ethical views of individuals.




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