There are many different arguments surrounding the issue of assisted suicide.Some people fear that if made legal in the United States, many severely depressed people will seek assisted suicide. To them suicide may be a "permanent solution to a temporary problem". Opponents argue that clinically depressed people need to be provided with counseling and medications. These people will gain years of enjoyable life that would have been lost had they committed suicide. However proponents of assisted suicide say that there would have to be strict guidelines and regulations if it is made legal. A person would have to be diagnosed as terminally ill. Therefore, people couldn't make impulsive decisions and have someone kill them because they feel depressed and are too scared to do it themselves. .
Many terminally ill people are living in excessive pain for long periods of time. Some can not afford pain killing medication because of poverty or lack of health-care coverage. Some people don't get the right pain medications because "their doctor lacks knowledge, proper training, or practices certain beliefs" (Doctor Assisted Suicide). Although many physicians oppose assisted suicide, arguing that patients should seek proper medical care, most terminally ill people die in excessive pain due to inadequate care. .
Some terminally ill choose assisted suicide because of large medical bills that begin to add up. People do not want to be a burden to their families. They want their beneficiaries to get as much of the money as they can. The longer they stay hospitalized, the more their assets diminish. Opponents argue that greedy family members will suggest an earlier death so they can inherit as much money as possible.
Many people diagnosed with degenerative diseases such as ALS, Huntington's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS, and Alzheimer's fear the slow and painful loss of quality of life in the future. They no longer wish to live because they will eventually lose their independence and must be cared for like a child.