The Corrupt Practice of Physician-Assisted Suicide Essay

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), cancer, Parkinsons disease, and Alzheimers disease are just some of the illnesses millions of people are diagnosed with every day. These diseases and many other afflictions have the potential to cause extreme pain and suffering to individuals. Each person who has a terminal illness knows that death is inevitable. Knowing this fact, the afflicted are torn between the decision of letting the disease take its course or opting for euthanasia. Derek Humphrey, a founder of the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, gives an accurate definition of the word euthanasia, The word euthanasia comes from the Greek-eu, good, and thanatos, death. Literally, good death†¦show more content†¦Currently, there exists two different kinds of euthanasia: passive and active. Passive euthanasia is when a physician withholds life saving measures or lets a person die naturally. For example, when a son decides to take his mother of f a life-support machine and this leads to her death, it would be considered passive euthanasia. On the other hand, active euthanasia occurs when a person causes the death of an individual who is terminally ill. An instance of this is when an individual proceeds to give a dying patient a lethal injection. Thus, physician assisted suicide is a form of active euthanasia where the physician is the person that facilitates the death of an individual. When discussing euthanasia, a clear distinction should be made between suicide and physician-assisted suicide. Suicide is when an individual intentionally ends their life. This occurs with a person who is emotionally and mentally unstable, but they can be treated for their instability. In contrast, an assisted death is where all the people involved have considered the questions and guidelines that include physical, emotional, social, and ethical issues (Humphrey 21). In Biomedical Ethics, authors Thomas A. Mappes and David DeGrazia, who both hold a Ph.D. in philosophy, define physician-assisted suicide, the final act is solely the patients, andShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Of Assisted Suicide1650 Words   |  7 PagesWhile suicide itself is no longer considered a crime within the United States, physician-assisted suicide remains illegal. This practice, despite being closely related, varies from euthanasia. These two practices are distinguished by who administers the lethal dose that kills the patient; euthanasia is administered by a doctor whereas assisted suicide is the patient’s voluntary consumption of a fatal medication that was prescribed by a doctor. Despite the variation, both practices are currently consideredRead MoreThe Hippocratic Oath Of Medical Ethics Essay1579 Words   |  7 Pagesprinciples and ideas without much thought or research. 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