Assisted Suicide and Terminally Ill Patients

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that assisted suicide should be legal for terminally ill patients. These patients should have the right to assisted suicide. It states that making choices about illnesses and taking charge of one's life should be a terminally ill person's right. Severely ill patients have more pain and discomfort during the last few days of life. Terminally ill patients should not have to worry about medical bills. It also argues that terminally ill patients should have the right to assisted suicide in order to determine their own fate, end suffering, and reduce financial buildup.

From the Paper:

"Making choices about illnesses and taking charge of one's life should be a terminally ill person's right. It is true that Christian, Jewish and Muslims discourage all forms of suicide. It is considered tantamount to playing God. (Van Biema 61). Thomas Aquinas, a 13th century theologian and writer, believed that in addition to violating God's laws that suicide violates a natural desire to live and that the practice harms others. However, people opposed to this ideology advocate that individuals should be able to die in peace and with dignity. From a religious point-of-view, the Hindus are in favor of suicide in lieu of living with dishonor (Retterst?l)."

More papers on Assisted Suicide and Terminally Ill Patients:

• Research Paper # 52609 : "Terminally Ill Patients and Artificial Hydration"
• Analytical Essay # 148305 : "Physician Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Pros and Cons"
• Analytical Essay # 141739 : "Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: