Pro Physician Assisted Suicide

Kumar Macawili

Sam Joseph

English 101

April 4, 2012

Physician Assisted Suicide

An extremely controversial subject that has developed over the recent years is the act of Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS). PAS is the help of the physician in giving the drugs or knowledge to a suffering patient so they may commit suicide and end their life in peace. The death is caused by the patient only and should not be confused with Euthanasia in which the death is caused primarily from the physician (Northwestern.edu). The questions brought up about its ethics come mainly from a moral standpoint and other questions rise about the possible abuse patients will be given access to. Although many of the moral perspectives ask whether or not it’s ok to allow a human life to willingly accept death, what must be maintained is the personal choice of an individual to have full autonomy over his or her body and to die peacefully if they are living terminally ill in pain. This essay will show that PAS is a practice that should be legalized to sooth the suffering of an unnecessary end and disprove arguments that claim it isn’t morally just.

“More than 80% of America is Christian” (AdventistReview.com) and so using Christian based morality viewpoints is a fair generalization for what is argued in terms of PAS ethics in America. A quote from the bible which relates to the subject comes from the book of Corinthians “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (Corinthians 6:19-20). Many Christians argue that any type of suicide is a renunciation of God and goes against the sanctity of life itself. One’s own religion is a very personal preference and is held on to because of the deep spiritual meaning that it provides. Even though it is not entirely possible to argue that they are wrong according to their own faith, what must be observed is that...