miercuri, 24 iunie 2015

Facts About Various Assisted Suicide States

By Ruthie Calderon


Many people who are suffering from a long-term or terminal illness wish to end their suffering in a humane and dignified way. This has recently become a controversial topic in the United States as more people advocate for the right to end their own lives. Today, there are a handful of assisted suicide states in America that allow this.

Oregon has allowed physician-assisted deaths since 1994. These rules came into effect in 1998. Since that time, more than three hundred terminally ill people have used this law to bring about their deaths.

There is also a concern about prejudices against the disabled arising from these laws. This is because do not resuscitate orders are more often used for a person who is hospitalized with a severe disability. A person with a lifelong disability may also suffer from burn out and feelings of depression from many years of prejudice and intolerance in society. These individuals are believed to be more likely to refuse treatment and therefore end their lives prematurely.

This practice is sometimes confused with euthanasia or mercy killings. With euthanasia, the doctor will administer a lethal drug to cause death. However, physician-assisted suicide is only carried out at the request of the patient and with his or her consent. The patient will administer the means of death themselves. These types of deaths are normally committed with the help of another person, often a doctor.

In Vermont, the state legislature passed a law called End of Life Choices in May 2013. This law allows patients to have a doctor-assisted death if they have been diagnosed with having six months or less to live, as confirmed by two doctors. This was the first political institution in the U. S to pass such a law. It is important to note that in Oregon and Washington, the decision was made by the voters.

So far, three different states have made laws allowing assisted suicide in very limited cases. The Oregon law allows physicians to give lethal medications to a terminally ill patient so that they can end their lives. However, this comes with specific steps, including a waiting period and various release forms that must be signed before the medication can be given. Vermont and Washington also have similar laws.

Many health care professionals oppose this practice due to the possible harmful effects it may have on certain vulnerable people. This is often called the slippery slope argument, which is based on the fear that once society permits assisted suicide or euthanasia for terminally ill people it will start to affect other vulnerable people as well, such as the disabled and the elderly. The concern is that it might be used by people who feel unworthy to live because of their age or disability.

In addition, they also need to get proper counseling before they make this decision. A qualified therapist can talk them through various end of life issues. It is also important that the therapist assess the patient for signs of depression or other mental illnesses. If the patient is severely depressed, they should be dissuaded from pursuing the suicide procedure until they overcome the depression and can think clearly. They must show they fully understand the ramifications of dying and how this will affect their loved ones.




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