Recently, there has been pressure on the Government by certain human rights advocates to enact laws that allow a terminally ill person to end their life. There are very few assisted suicide states in the United States right now; however, their number may grow due to this pressure from advocates.
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.
In New Mexico, a doctor may help a terminally ill patient to die and not be prosecuted. This is according to a court decision handed down in 2014; however, this case is currently being appealed, so advocates and legal authorities are waiting to see if it will be overturned.
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.
Despite these arguments, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that a person does not have a constitutional right to assisted suicide. This has allowed states to pass various laws prohibiting such procedures. Helping someone to commit suicide is deemed a felony by most state laws.
If you have a relative who is a considering getting a doctor to assist them with dying, it is highly recommended that they do no rush into the decision. They need to understand both the medical and legal implications of doing this. Firstly, if they do not live in one of the states mentioned, then they will likely not be able to get a doctor to help them die. In some cases, the doctor may even lose their license or face charges for presenting this as an option to their patient.
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.
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.
In New Mexico, a doctor may help a terminally ill patient to die and not be prosecuted. This is according to a court decision handed down in 2014; however, this case is currently being appealed, so advocates and legal authorities are waiting to see if it will be overturned.
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.
Despite these arguments, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that a person does not have a constitutional right to assisted suicide. This has allowed states to pass various laws prohibiting such procedures. Helping someone to commit suicide is deemed a felony by most state laws.
If you have a relative who is a considering getting a doctor to assist them with dying, it is highly recommended that they do no rush into the decision. They need to understand both the medical and legal implications of doing this. Firstly, if they do not live in one of the states mentioned, then they will likely not be able to get a doctor to help them die. In some cases, the doctor may even lose their license or face charges for presenting this as an option to their patient.
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.
About the Author:
You can visit fenregistration.org for more helpful information about Important Information About Assisted Suicide States.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment