If individuals are allowed to kill themselves with cigarettes that are legal, why can't terminal patients choose to end their lives when they desire to? People can see that smoking kills but they fail to see that smoking is a slow suicide. "The study for Cancer Research UK by Sir Richard Peto, professor of medical statistics at the University of Oxford, found that between 1950 and 2000, 42% of deaths in middle age (35-69) in men were caused by smoking, peaking in the 1960s" (Smoking Kills). They may not want to see it like that but in the end it must be taken into consideration. Euthanasia is a form of suicide that is not yet legal worldwide because of how controversial it is in today's society. Euthanasia is an act of assisting a patient by lethal injection or with a cocktail of barbiturates. Euthanasia is safe, simple, and a cost effective way to relieve endless pain and suffering from the patient and their family. Euthanasia should be legalized in all states because it allows the patient to chose their fate at anytime, retains their dignity, and gives the patients family comfort knowing their loved one isn't suffering anymore. .
Janet Adkins, a teacher, wife, and mother of three sons was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Doctors informed Janet soon after the diagnosis that she would not be able to care for herself. Janet could not bare to live a life where she was not capable of caring for herself everyday and slowly dwindling away. Janet attended counseling sessions and determined that it would be best to end her life before the worst came. Janet and her husband made efforts to meet three different Oregon doctors who fell short. It was not until they heard of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a well-known euthanasia activist from media reports, that they had hope. They contacted him and explained the situation; he went over her medical records and decided that he would assist her in her decision to end her life.