Death with Dignity Act

3 Pages 685 Words

In November 1997, Oregon voters approved the Death with Dignity Act for the second time with an overwhelming majority of 60%. Yet, opponents of assisted-suicide feel it will get out of hand and target certain people in society, such as the disabled or the elderly. Since the law passed there have only been 265 lethal prescriptions written, with only 171 patients actually ingesting the medication. Many of the patients who received a lethal prescription were diagnosed with terminal cancer, ALS, or malignant neoplasm.
Patients who requested assistance with suicide appear to be motivated by several factors such as, the loss of autonomy and a determination to control the way in which they die. Additionally, suffering is not just a matter of physical pain and only the patient himself can determine what constitutes intolerable suffering. I believe that by asking for help, a patient may really be expressing their despair about their future.
The Death with Dignity Act allows a terminally ill Oregonian, who is suffering unbearably to self-administer medication, prescribed by their doctor, to hasten their death. Careful safeguards are mandatory. In addition, documentation of the request and medical opinion is necessary and the death must be reported to the Coroner.
A person who sought physician-assisted suicide would have to meet certain criteria in order to receive a prescription of barbiturates that would be sufficient to cause death. The patient must be terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live. In addition, the patient must make two oral requests and one written request for assistance in dying. They have to prove to two physicians that they are sincere, are not acting on a whim, and that the decision is voluntary. It must also be established that the patient is not being influenced by depression. The patient must be informed about any alternatives such as comfort care, hospice care, and pain control. They must also wait for 15 day...