Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Quest to Die with Dignity

In general, most societies uphold a pre-established set morals and ideals. That being said, under these ideals, it is up to a competent informed individual to make decisions regarding their lifestyle as long as no others are at risk or come to harm. Under this principle then, one of the most common and powerful arguments for assisted suicide “builds upon these ideals or rights, basing the justification for assisted suicide upon people to be in command of their own destiny. Allowing people the sort of assistance in dying that they choose acknowledges that this is a personal matter that they should control” (Kopelman, De Ville 90). Defenders of physician-assisted suicide contend that allowing a right to seeking aid does not affect others as no one would be coerced to commit suicide or help others in doing so. This argument accompanies that of liberty rights in relation to not legalizing assisted suicide. By not legalizing the process, the argument suggests that a citizen’s right to liberty and control over his/her own life is infringed upon, and essentially falls into the hands of others, namely a physician, should he/she find him/herself in a position in which they are unable to make a life-determining decision. One problem with this argument is acquiring physician consent to even assist a patient. According to Kopelman and De Ville, “studies show that doctors and nurses overwhelmingly disapprove of or will not participate in activities in assisting patients’ suicide” (91).

The core of the debate comes down not to a democrat or republican’s stance on the issue, but to an individual’s concern of protecting his/her personal liberties. Staying consistent with past and current trends, it appears that physician-assisted suicide will continue to gain favor and eventually become legalized in certain specified instances. Though disability groups and religious movements continue to fight in opposition of legalization, public polling has retuned results favoring the act from 1990 to present day.