Many people who are suffering from a long-term or terminal illness wish to end their suffering in a humane and dignified way. This has recently become a controversial topic in the United States as more people advocate for the right to end their own lives. Today, there are a handful of assisted suicide states in America that allow this.
Currently, Washington, Vermont and Oregon allow physician-assisted deaths. Montana and New Mexico may soon allow this due to recent court cases that may be appealed. The main argument against this practice is that allowing doctors to help patients to end their life violates their Hippocratic Oath, which all doctors have traditionally taken. The Hippocratic Oath basically promises to do no harm to a patient. There are also various religious objections to this practice as well, from both Christian and non-Christian faiths.
There is also a concern about prejudices against the disabled arising from these laws. This is because do not resuscitate orders are more often used for a person who is hospitalized with a severe disability. A person with a lifelong disability may also suffer from burn out and feelings of depression from many years of prejudice and intolerance in society. These individuals are believed to be more likely to refuse treatment and therefore end their lives prematurely.
This practice is sometimes confused with euthanasia or mercy killings. With euthanasia, the doctor will administer a lethal drug to cause death. However, physician-assisted suicide is only carried out at the request of the patient and with his or her consent. The patient will administer the means of death themselves. These types of deaths are normally committed with the help of another person, often a doctor.
Despite these arguments, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that a person does not have a constitutional right to assisted suicide. This has allowed states to pass various laws prohibiting such procedures. Helping someone to commit suicide is deemed a felony by most state laws.
If you have a relative who is a considering getting a doctor to assist them with dying, it is highly recommended that they do no rush into the decision. They need to understand both the medical and legal implications of doing this. Firstly, if they do not live in one of the states mentioned, then they will likely not be able to get a doctor to help them die. In some cases, the doctor may even lose their license or face charges for presenting this as an option to their patient.
Many health care professionals oppose this practice due to the possible harmful effects it may have on certain vulnerable people. This is often called the slippery slope argument, which is based on the fear that once society permits assisted suicide or euthanasia for terminally ill people it will start to affect other vulnerable people as well, such as the disabled and the elderly. The concern is that it might be used by people who feel unworthy to live because of their age or disability.
New Mexico ruled recently that a terminally ill patient has a constitutional right to receive help in dying. While state law declares it a felony to help a person commit suicide, the judge in the case ruled that the constitutional right of the terminally ill person overruled the state law. Therefore, it is unclear if this ruling applies throughout all of New Mexico or only to the county where the ruling was made.
Currently, Washington, Vermont and Oregon allow physician-assisted deaths. Montana and New Mexico may soon allow this due to recent court cases that may be appealed. The main argument against this practice is that allowing doctors to help patients to end their life violates their Hippocratic Oath, which all doctors have traditionally taken. The Hippocratic Oath basically promises to do no harm to a patient. There are also various religious objections to this practice as well, from both Christian and non-Christian faiths.
There is also a concern about prejudices against the disabled arising from these laws. This is because do not resuscitate orders are more often used for a person who is hospitalized with a severe disability. A person with a lifelong disability may also suffer from burn out and feelings of depression from many years of prejudice and intolerance in society. These individuals are believed to be more likely to refuse treatment and therefore end their lives prematurely.
This practice is sometimes confused with euthanasia or mercy killings. With euthanasia, the doctor will administer a lethal drug to cause death. However, physician-assisted suicide is only carried out at the request of the patient and with his or her consent. The patient will administer the means of death themselves. These types of deaths are normally committed with the help of another person, often a doctor.
Despite these arguments, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that a person does not have a constitutional right to assisted suicide. This has allowed states to pass various laws prohibiting such procedures. Helping someone to commit suicide is deemed a felony by most state laws.
If you have a relative who is a considering getting a doctor to assist them with dying, it is highly recommended that they do no rush into the decision. They need to understand both the medical and legal implications of doing this. Firstly, if they do not live in one of the states mentioned, then they will likely not be able to get a doctor to help them die. In some cases, the doctor may even lose their license or face charges for presenting this as an option to their patient.
Many health care professionals oppose this practice due to the possible harmful effects it may have on certain vulnerable people. This is often called the slippery slope argument, which is based on the fear that once society permits assisted suicide or euthanasia for terminally ill people it will start to affect other vulnerable people as well, such as the disabled and the elderly. The concern is that it might be used by people who feel unworthy to live because of their age or disability.
New Mexico ruled recently that a terminally ill patient has a constitutional right to receive help in dying. While state law declares it a felony to help a person commit suicide, the judge in the case ruled that the constitutional right of the terminally ill person overruled the state law. Therefore, it is unclear if this ruling applies throughout all of New Mexico or only to the county where the ruling was made.
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