In recent years there has been a growing movement toward the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. In historic election held on November 5, 1991, voters in the State of Washington decided not to legalize euthanasia for consenting, terminally ill patients by voting down Initiative 119 (Cundiff 1-2). This initiative would have allowed physicians to carry out euthanasia by administering lethal drug overdoses to those terminally ill patients who requested it.

“Assisted suicide” is another term that is similar to euthanasia. Assisted suicide means to provide a person who plans to kill himself/herself with the means to do so. This may be accomplished by supplying a lethal overdose of medication, by providing a gun, or by other means (2). Initiative 119 also would have legalized physician-assisted suicide. Currently in the US, except in Michigan, assisting suicide is a crime (2).

There are two different types of euthanasia: “acti

Robert T. Hall, a professor of sociology and philosophy at West Virginia State College and the author of several books and articles on morality and ethics, contends that withdrawing life-sustaining treatments from dying patients is a common, legal, and painful method of physician-assisted suicide (89). Hall asserts that many terminally ill patients who wish to end their suffering are not undergoing life-sustaining treatment and therefore require more assistance from their doctor such as a drug overdose. In such cases, physician-assisted suicide is an ethical and humane course, he argues, and the practice should be legalized. Hall states that the problem of physician-assisted suicide poses a double question and requires a double answer. Critics often charge that if physician-assisted suicide was legalized, patients who are mentally unstable or simply depressed would quickly choose suicide. But current laws stipulate clearly that no physician should ever offer or agree to any medical procedure unless it is in the best interest of the patient. With regard to physician-assisted suicide, the physician must be convinced that there is no other option and that the situation is so intolerable to the patient that an easier death is in his/her best interest (91).

Years ago euthanasia was something unacceptable in society. Today, however, euthanasia should be legalized. As the biological and medical sciences become more adept at prolonging life, there is a need to consider the extent of a person’s right, ability to choose, to accept, and to reject treatment for some treatable condition. Cases may become complicated by the mental state of the patient, by religious and cultural beliefs, by balancing the rights and welfare of an individual against those of the general population, and by the practical costs and requirements of providing treatment and care (Cundiff 35).

There are some clear cases in which euthanasia or assisted-suicide are a must. Such is the case as with Mr. Humphry’s wife Jean (Cundiff 72-78). Jean had a strong family history of cancer and she developed cancer of the breast in her early forties. She underwent mastectomy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy. Jean courageously endured pain and disability during remissions and relapses for two years and four months. Finally, she felt that there was no other solution than to end her life as she refused to live in pain the rest of her life. With the help of her husband, she took a lethal overdose of a sedative and painkiller.

Words like voluntary euthanasia, assisted suicide and self-deliverance might make some people afraid, but for members of right-to-die societies worldwide, this word evokes a sense of peace, comfort and individual control. Recently, delegates of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies met in Boston to talk about their concerns and efforts on behalf of patients’ rights (Waveney Ann Moore 1). Mary Gallnor, the group’s immediate past-president stated that the World Federation’s message is gaining acceptance and that within the next couple of decades voluntary euthanasia could become legalized in a number of c

Some topics in this essay:
Virginia College, David Cundiff, Society Die”, Baptist Church, Jean Cundiff, Levitt Guralnick, Jean Humphry, Dr Kevorkian, Colombia Belgium, Currently Michigan, terminally ill, assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide, terminally ill patients, ill patients, voluntary euthanasia, ill people, doctor-assisted suicide, legalization euthanasia, euthanasia legalized, terminally ill people, euthanasia unacceptable society, religion plays, ago euthanasia unacceptable, religion plays role,