One may ask, what is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide? ... For all practical purposes, any distinction between euthanasia and assisted suicide has been abandoned today. ... People do have the power to commit suicide. Suicide and attempted suicide are not criminalized. ... Suicide is a tragic, individual act. ...
Currently in the United States, Oregon is only state that has legalized physician assisted suicide. There are four different categories of euthanasia, and similar to euthanasia is patient assisted suicide. There are concerns with the legalization, and acceptance of physician-assisted suicide, that the right to die will become the duty to die (Torr 80). ... The Act also states that ending one's life within the guidelines of the act does not constitute suicide. ... Although similar sounding to involuntary euthanasia, involuntary passive euthanasia is very different. ...
