Choosing to Die

Imagine, you are in never-ending pain. You understand that you are going to spend the rest of your life in a hospital bed, barely being able to move. Doctors are by your side constantly; most of the time changing your I.V or giving you shots, and medicine to swallow. 

If you knew the rest of your life was going to be one long struggle, where you would wake up in the morning in pain, go to bed at night in pain, what would you want to do? 

A lot of people do not agree with Euthanasia, also known as doctor-assisted suicide. They argue that it is immoral because it is killing a human being. They also argue that it is just a way for families to save money- if their loved one chooses to die, it will result in less hospital bills. This group also argues that allowing assisted suicide will create an environment where patients will be pressured to commit suicide. Taking the option of suicide, they argue, is a way for patients to understand they are taking the burden away from their family; by committing suicide, they will help their families because the families wouldn't have to continue to pay health bills or visit the patient in the hospital. They argue these patients will feel pressured to relieve their families from the "burden" they are giving to them. Furthermore, they argue about what the future holds for the patient- the patient could feel they will never have a cure from their chronic pain, but perhaps doctors are working on a cure; what happens if the patient commits suicide, and then there is a cure for their disease?

They also argue about what the laws would be if assisted suicide did become legal. Is every patient allowed to commit suicide with the help of a doctor?  How long does the patient need to be in the hospital? What ways of suicide will be used? 

On the other side of the argument, there are people who support Euthanasia. They understand the patients are in chronic pain; pain that is never going to go away. They understand the difficulties these patients are facing. These patients may feel a loss of control in their lives- they can't control their body, their pain level. They can't go outside and live a normal life. Being able to choose to commit suicide gives these patients a way to control their lives again. They understand these patients may feel that they are a burden to their families and caregivers. These caregivers put a lot of hard work to make sure the patient is okay, and that keeps them from living their life to their fullest potential. 

• The reasons patients gave when requesting PAS in Oregon:
  
  • 86% reported a decreasing ability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable
  • 100% reported loss of autonomy, and
  • 86% reported loss of dignity
• Of those patients in Oregon that request PAS, roughly 62% of them actually complete it.
• 90% of those patients died at home.
• 88% of them were on hospice.

(taken from http://dying.about.com/od/physicianassistedsuicide/a/why_PAS.htm)

What do you think about Euthanasia? Do you agree with the practice or do you think it is immoral? What would you do if you were in the shoes of the patient, knowing that pain is the only physical feeling you are going to feel for the rest of your life?

I think Euthanasia is a great idea, ONLY if it is controlled in a lawful manner. I think patients should have to be suffering for a long, long time before they can do assisted suicide. I think patients need to be incurable from their illnesses. But I also understand that these patients are undergoing serious pain, both physically and emotionally. These patients deserve the right to choose whether to live their lives in this pain or to go to their after lives. People deserve the right to choose to die if they want to because, in the end, it is their life, it is their body, and it should ultimately be their personal choice.