Policy Question

Should assisted suicide or euthanasia be legal in situations where an individual is experiencing intense suffering ? This question brings to light moral and ethical issues which have been the cause of heated debate for several years . In an attempt to find an answer , assisted suicide , euthanasia , and mercy killings must first be defined

Assisted suicide is when someone provides an individual who is physically able , with the means necessary to end his or her own life Euthanasia is when someone provides the means necessary and then performs the act that takes the

life of another individual . This act may take place either with or without the consent of the individual who is suffering . Euthanasia is performed when death is considered to be in the best interest of the individual in question (Mathes , 2004 Euthanasia is often performed by administering extremely high doses of narcotics , sedatives or antidepressants . The patient develops respiratory depression which results in death (Panzer , 2000

Doctor Jack Kevorkian emerged in the public eye in 1990 due to his involvement in the assisted suicides of at least 130 people . Although many people credit him for launching the right-to-die movement , he did not . He acted entirely on his own initiative until he was charged and convicted of second degree murder in the death of Thomas Youk Kevorkian didn 't launch the movement , but his actions did bring the right to die issue into the lime light (Humphry , 2007

There are pros and cons of assisted suicide . Both sides of...