The Right to Die Movement outlines two ways in which one may choose to end their life – assisted suicide or active euthanasia. Both are different forms of voluntary death, built upon the same concept that all individuals should have ultimate control over their bodies, and therefore consent to their own death. Assisted suicide "entails making lethal means available to the patient to be used at a time of the patient's own choosing" while voluntary active euthanasia involves the physician in carrying out the patients request, often through the use of intravenous delivery of a lethal substance [Wha15]. The beliefs of the Right to Die Movement raise controversial concerns as many people are against this way of thinking, leading to counter movements such as the Right to Life Movement. .
Relation to Other Social Movements .
The Right to Die movement is strongly connected to the Disability Rights movement, as the Disability Rights movement opposes the beliefs of the Right to Die movement. The Disability Rights movement advocates for individuals with disabilities to have equal rights as all other individuals. "Loss of autonomy" is considered a sufficient reason to receive assisted suicide in areas (such as Oregon) that have legalized such practices. Members of the Disability Rights movement believe that because of this, the Right to Die movement is discriminating against people with disabilities, and pressuring them to receive self-assisted suicide in order to rid their families or care-takers of the burden that they may place on them. The Disability Rights movement's fight against the legalization of assisted-suicide has made it is increasingly hard for the Right to Die movement to be successful. .
The Right to Die movement is also related to the Right to Life movement. It is the countermovement that continuously poses a threat to the Right to Die movement, as it believes that all humans should fight for life, and assisted suicide and euthanasia should remain illegal in the minds of our government.
