assisted suicide :: essays research papers

Assisted SuicideIn 1997, Oregon became the only state allowing sound doctor-assisted suicide (PAS). Although physician-assisted suicide has been legal in Oregon for four years, it mud highly controversial. PAS is when a doctor prescribes their persevering to medication which would kill them. Patients essential pass certain requirements in order to request a prescription medicine for fatal medication. The diligent must be 18 years or older, a resident of Oregon, able to make health c are decisions, and diagnosed with a terminal illness that would lead to death within six months. after(prenominal) meeting these requirements patients are able to request a prescription for lethal medication from a licensed Oregon physician. To receive a prescription for lethal medication, the following steps must be completed The patient must make two oral requests to their physician, separated by at least 15 days. The patient must provide a compose request to their physician, signed with tw o witnesses present.The doctor who prescribes the patient and a nonher physician must confirm the diagnosis and prognosis. If either physician believes the patients judgment is impaired by a psychiatric or psychological disorder, the patient must take a psychological examination. The physician must inform the patient of alternatives to assisted suicide. Such as comfort care, hospital care, and anguish management. During 1998, 1999 and 2000, or so 16, 27, and 27 patients used PAS. Patients who died by PAS were more educated than other Oregonians who did not choose to commit suicide and had similar illnesses. All the medications prescribed are barbiturates. A physician or anyone else can not directly plow medication to end anothers life. In 2001, 44 doctors prescribed 33 patients to a medication that would end their life. In comparison, 39 prescriptions were written in 2000, 33 in 1999 and 24 in 1998. Although the number of prescriptions written for physician-assisted suicide has change magnitude in the past four years, the number of ill patients taking lethal medication has stayed small with less than 1/10 of one percentage of Oregonians dying by physician-assisted suicide.The reason I picked this topic is because I ideal it was very(prenominal)(prenominal) interesting and also very controversial. I find it very interesting that Oregon is the only state that has physician-assisted suicide. I feel very strongly that if a person was in so much pain where they wanted to commit suicide, then it should be allowed. I also curb with the requirements a patient has to meet before being granted the prescription.