What is physician-assisted suicide? It is a controversial debate so powerful and complex that it creates a lot of issues not only in the laws of public policy, but also in the ethical and moral values of people. It is a matter placed on the minds and hearts of all those involved in its decision making process. According to MedecineNet.com, physician-assisted suicide is "the voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician; it is the practice of providing a competent patient with a prescription for medication for the patient to use with the primary intention of ending his or her own life". Put simply, it is a substance provided by a doctor to end a person's life. Research carried out by the Pew Research found than in America, views on physician-assisted suicide are just about equal when it comes to public opinion. They found that 47% of Americans are in favor of allowing physician-assisted suicide for those that are terminally ill while a close 49% are against it. Therefore, this essay aims to bring across the statement that physician-assisted suicide should be legalized because it prevents patients from having thoughts of negativity. .
Imagine your life as it is right now. Yes you may grudgingly go to school or work and complain about not getting enough sleep, but you are generally healthy and happy. Now envisage yourself dying from stage four cancer. You may lose a lot of bodily functions and will not be able to do many things you are already used to doing for yourself such as bathing, clothing and feeding yourself. You may not even be able to speak coherently. You might not even be able to move because you'll be weak and bedridden. A feeling of constant discomfort is a sensation you might feel because doctors might be unwilling to give you adequate pain killers in fear that you might get addicted to them or have an overdose.