The issue of assisted death is widely acknowledged throughout the world. In fact, doctor assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands as well as the state of Oregon, and the act also takes place illegally in the U.S. and around the rest of the world. Assisted suicide is either prohibited by law or has been prohibited by court rulings in just about every state. Attempts to legalize assisted suicide through voter initiative were defeated in California in 1992 and Washington State in 1991(issues).. Over 20 state legislatures have considered and overpowered similar laws(issues).

Oregon's policy on doctor-assisted suicide differs from all oth

When the statistics of doctor-assisted suicide are very intriguing when observed because a good portion of doctors and patients feel it is necessary to have euthanasia exist in the medical world. A survey of cancer patients and their doctors by researchers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass. that was released in June 1997 exhibited the opinions of doctors, patients, and the general public on the issue(Issues). The study found that more than one-fourth of cancer patients had seriously thought about requesting assisted suicide or euthanasia. About 12% had discussed assisted-suicice with a doctor or with family. A smaller number, 3.4%, had saved up drugs with the intention of taking an overdose, and 1.3% had read "Final Exit," a book spread by a group known as the Hemlock Society, who is a right-to-die group. The book was written by Derek Humphry and it detailed ways to end your life(issues). The American public as whole remains mainly impartial on the issue. Opinion polls consistently show that between two-thirds and three-quarters of Americans approve of doctors helping terminally ill patients to end their lives (issues). Dr. Kevorkian had also been acquitted of all charges by three Michigan juries although he broke the law of performing his practice.

When assisted-suicide is made legal many risks and unwanted conditions may become evident. People fear that if the issue becomes legalized it will be utilized most commonly by lower class and lower income families because of the inability to afford expensive medical operations, procedures, and medicines. It is also a concern that the ill person will choose suicide just to take the financial burden off their families shoulders. It is also a worry that care giver of the ill one might purposely make the patient choose suicide because of the difficulty of caring for someone with a fatal sickness or to collect life insurance instead of paying money for further medical attention.

When all things are considered, it is obvious that the existing Death with Dignity Act is the best way to handle the issue. The fact is, if one believes that assisted-suicide is immoral and wrong, then they should not participate in it.

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Approximate Word count = 1482
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)