Physician-assisted suicide is when a doctor aids a patient in taking his or her own life. One main problem with this is that doctors and courts are making the decision and instituting the procedure on their own. According to The Ethics of Euthanasia by Daniel A. Leone, polls show the general public’s opinion that families or surrogate guardians should make the decision to die, and not courts or doctors. Not only is the obvious fact that murder of any sort is illegal and should be condemned by all means, clear, but there are also many other reasons why I oppose the resolution that physician-assisted suicide, a form of active euthanasia, should be legal.
For my first contention, I would like to point out that the patients in question are those with serious illnesses and terminal illnesses. Such patients who request to die must be well informed and competent.
Scientists have proven that such circumstances are nearly impossible to achieve due to mental and emotional side effects. “Some patients who are depressed may choose to end their lives in a temporary and treatable state of depression caused by a serious illness,” reported Dr. Yook of the American Doctor Association. It is the state’s responsibility to make sure that these people’s lives are protected.
My third contention is that physician-assisted suicide will have numerous negative side-effects on society. Euthanasia is about the right to kill. If we were to allow euthanasia to occur, we must legalize all forms of homicide and suicide. Personal morals cannot become involved when trying to differentiate between homicide, suicide, and physician-assisted suicide. All forms include killing and could not become legal if we are to maintain a sane society
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