The debates of the living will and death has raged for years since the conviction of Dr. Kevorkian in 1999. Questions still reign of why and how ethical physical assisted suicide is to human life, but no one knows the direct answer. Religious groups have rallied and lobbied on the floor to condemn the passing of such laws such as Oregon (Braddock III and Tonelli, 1998, p. 2).
We, as the individuals with life choices, should have the right to die if we feel the pain is too much. So the question remains – How can the courts regulate one’s right to choose death over pain? In a way, the regulations are impairing a competent, conscious individual from using their freedom of choice as stated in the Constitution. If the courts separated the church from the state, this discussion would not be in place. Religious leaders feel that physician-assisted suicide is unethical because of their doctrines; at the same time, these individuals are not experiencing the unbearable pain (Braddock III and Tonelli, 1998, p. 3).
I am in support of the living will and dying with dignity. I would not want my loved ones to have to make such a difficult decision and would not want my life prolonged if there is no quality of life. I also would not want to see any other dying family member kept alive artificially if it is their wish to go peacefully. I would not normally feel this way but after watching a loved one being terminally ill and in so much pain, I feel that they welcome death. These instances are true to many individuals opting for withholding and withdrawing life support or treatments (Braddock III and Tonelli, 1998, p. 5).
The Term Paper on Feel Pain Animals Animal People
Ashley Lyons 5/9/03 What exactly is pain? A scientific definition would have it that pain is a "sensation of discomfort that may lead to distress and feelings of urgency resulting from stimulation of specialized nerve endings" (FASS, 20). Few people, though, exclaim, "Oh, my specialized nerve endings!" upon stubbing their toes. More often, people vocalize how and what they are feeling when they ...
Arguments against the dying with dignity debate raise more questions within me: Will I opt for this same treatment if I were to remain in an unlivable state? The answer lingers through my veins as I consider the people who have taken this route. Our freedom to choose is within our decisions of if our life is worth living after a critical accident has impaired us mentally, physically, and emotionally.
References Cited
Braddock III, Clarence H. and Tonelli, Mark R. (1998).
Physician-Assisted Suicide: Ethical Topic In Medicine. University of Washington School of Medicine: Ethics In Medicine. Retrieved October 6, 2006 from http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/pas.html.
