Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Physician Assisted Suicide Form Of Suicide - 1,267 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

The movement for choice in dying is dedicated to the view that there are at least two forms of suicide. One is 'emotional suicide', or irrational self-murder, in all of it complexities and sadness. Let me emphasize at once that my view of this tragic form of self-destruction is the same as that of the suicide intervention movement and the rest of society, which is to prevent it wherever possible. I do not encourage any form of suicide for mental health or emotional reasons. Nevertheless, life is a personal responsibility and we know some people are so tormented that they cannot bear to live.

In such circumstances, understanding is called for. I believe that there is a second form of suicide -- justifiable suicide, which is rational and planned deliverance from a painful and hopeless disease. I don't think the word 'suicide's its too well in this context but we are stuck with it. I have struggled for twenty years to popularize the term 'self-deliverance' but it is an uphill battle with a news media which is in love with the words 'assisted suicide' and 'suicide. ' They are headline grabbers. Also, we have to face the fact that the law calls all forms of self-destruction 'suicide. ' Additionally, all medical journals today refer to 'assisted suicide' in their papers. Let me point out here for those who might not know it that suicide is no longer a crime anywhere in the English-speaking world. (It used to be in many places, punishable by giving all the dead person's money and goods to the government. ) Attempted suicide, which hundreds of years ago in Europe was punishable by execution, is no longer a crime.

Do not confuse this decriminalization with health laws where a suicidal person can in most states be forcibly placed in a psychiatric wing of a hospital for three days for evaluation. But giving assistance in suicide remains a crime, except in the Netherlands in recent times under certain conditions, and it has never been a crime in Switzerland and Germany, although the taboos there are strong. The rest of the world punishes assistance in suicide even for the terminally ill; although the American State of Oregon recently (l 994) passed by citizens' ballot measure a limited physician-assisted suicide law. After court battles initiated by the pro-life movement, the Oregon law took effect at the beginning of l 998, a year during which there were 16 lawful assisted suicides, while in l 999 there were 27. Not exactly the stampede our critics were predicting! Even if a hopelessly ill person is requesting assistance in dying for the most compassionate reasons, and the helper is acting from the most noble of motives, any form of direct euthanasia remains a crime in the remainder of the Anglo-American world.

You cannot ask to be killed. Punishments for this are usually 'life' and for assisted suicide, fines or up to fourteen years in prison. It is this catch-all prohibition which ERGO and other right-to-die groups wish to change. In a caring society, under the rule of law, we claim that there must be exceptions for the hopelessly ill after all other avenues have been exhausted.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian was guilty in law but morally innocent (in my view) of helping a terminal man to die by lethal injection. A Michigan jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and he was jailed for 10 - 25 years. In recent years two spouses in New York State have been imprisoned for assisting their sick wives to die. Exactly there is the huge law reform problem we have to surmount. Word origins and euphemisms The word 'euthanasia' comes from the Greek -- Eu, "good", and Thanatos, "death." Literally, "good death." But the word 'euthanasia' has acquired a more complex meaning in modern times -- it is generally taken nowadays to mean taking action to achieve a good death.

Suicide, self-deliverance, auto-euthanasia, aid-in-dying, assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide, physician-assisted dying -- call it what you like -- can be justified by the average supporter of the right to die movement for the following reasons: - 1. Advanced terminal illness that is causing unbearable suffering - combined physical and psychic -- to the individual despite good medical care. This is the most common reason to seek an early end. (And as Oregon research has shown, being a burden to others is an additional factor. ) 2. Total loss of quality of life due to protracted, incurable medical conditions. 3. Grave physical handicap which is so restricting that the individual cannot, even after due consideration, counseling and re-training, tolerate such a limited existence.

This is a fairly rare reason for suicide -- most impaired people cope remarkably well with their afflictions -- but there are some disabled who would, at a certain point, rather die. What are the ethical parameters for voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide? The person is a mature adult. This is essential. The exact age will depend on the individual but the person should not be a minor, who comes under quite different laws. The person has clearly made a considered and informed decision.

An individual has the ability nowadays to indicate this with a "Living Will" (which applies only to disconnection of life supports) and can also, in today's more open and tolerant climate about such actions, discuss the option of a hastened death with health professionals, family, lawyers, etc. But they may not demand it. The euthanasia has not been carried out at the first knowledge of a life-threatening illness, and reasonable medical help has been sought to try to cure or at least slow down the disease. The pro-choice movement does not believe in giving up on life the minute a person is informed of a terminal illness, a common misconception spread by our critics. Life is precious, you only pass this way once, and is worth a fight. It is when the fight is clearly hopeless and the agony -- physical and mental -- is unbearable that a final exit is an option.

The treating physician has been informed, asked to be involved, and the response taken into account. What the physician's response will be depends on the circumstances, of course, but we advise people that as rational suicide is not a crime, there is nothing a doctor can do about it. But it is best to inform the doctor and listen to the response. For example, the patient might be mistaken -- perhaps the diagnosis has been misheard or misunderstood. In the last century, patients raising this subject were usually met with a discreet silence, or meaningless remarks, but in this century's more accepting climate of personal freedoms most physicians will discuss potential end of life actions, however cautiously. The person has made a Will disposing of worldly possessions and money.

This shows evidence of a tidy mind, an orderly life, and forethought -- all something which is paramount to an acceptance of rational suicide. The person has made plans to exit that do not involve others in criminal liability or leave them with guilt feelings. As I have mentioned earlier, assistance in suicide is a crime in most places, although the application of the law is growing more tolerant. Few cases actually come to court. But care must still be taken and discretion is the watchword. The person leaves a note saying exactly why he or she is taking their life.

This statement in writing obviates the chance of subsequent misunderstandings or blame. It also demonstrates that the departing person is taking full responsibility for the action...


Free research essays on topics related to: good death, form of suicide, terminal illness, physician assisted suicide, rational suicide

Research essay sample on Physician Assisted Suicide Form Of Suicide

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com