"Do you know what it's like to be unable to scratch an itch or pull up a blanket? Do you know the horror of "living" with no sensory stimulation other than torturous pain for days upon days, weeks upon weeks, months upon months and years upon years" (Larsen 77)? In "Put Me Out of My Misery, Shoot Me!" by Ron A. Larsen, there is a very clear message supporting the need for legalized euthanasia. Larsen tries to convince the reader to support assisted suicide by using very explicit details in describing the suffering the old woman is experiencing. He is clearly a supporter of active euthanasia, where an overt effort is made to bring about death, such as administering a lethal injection. "Push a needle into my veins; press a pillow to my face; put a bullet to my head-as an act of love" (Larsen 78). To make an active effort to put a person out of misery is very controversial, although I agree completely in the patience's or patience guardian's right to deny any medical treatment. .
Proponents for euthanasia justify their case on the three moral principles of mercy, autonomy, and justice (Battin 18). Opponents contend that life is too precious for anyone to end it. They also claim that euthanasia would lead to devaluation of human life, because it would force medical professionals and patients" families to judge the worth of other lives. However, isn't forcing hopelessly ill patients to continue their suffering and total dependence on others a devaluation of human life? "And please do not speak to me of the sanctity of life, for this is not life" (Larsen 77). Larsen clearly thinks so. .
"For decades I was a beautiful woman-vibrant, charming, athletic, and sexy. Men stared and whistled at me on the street from my teens until I was past sixty. They wanted to mate with me, to possess me" (Larsen 76). Larsen makes us merciful by opening our eyes to the possibility that it may one day be us in a state where death is the best alternative.