Arguments Against Legalizing Assisted Suicide

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Introduction

In the world of medical ethics, the debate over the legalization of assisted suicide has sparked interest. The contention revolves around whether assisting terminally ill patients to end their lives upon request is morally justifiable. This paper contends that legalizing assisted suicide at the request of the patient is a compassionate and ethically defensible response to the suffering of terminally ill individuals. By upholding the principles of autonomy, compassion, and dignity in end-of-life care, assisted suicide provides a humane option for those facing unbearable pain and irreversible conditions.

Presenting Arguments to Support the Thesis.

Looking at this topic, there are very many different ideas that can support this …show more content…
Terminally ill individuals, facing the prospect of prolonged suffering and loss of quality of life, should have the autonomy to choose the timing and manner of their death. Legalizing assisted suicide empowers patients with the autonomy to exert control over their final moments, preserving their dignity and sense of agency. As well as helping healthcare professionals feel as though they are helping the patients how they want to be treated. Another key point is relief from unbearable suffering, as many terminally ill patients endure immense physical and psychological suffering as their conditions progress. Despite advancements in palliative care, some forms of suffering remain unmanageable, leading to diminished quality of life. Diane Pretty suffers from motor neurone disease and is experiencing the disintegration of her own body. In the end, she was denied the legal right to choose the circumstances of her death. This decision may be consistent with legal precedent, but it’s morally wrong (Doyal, 1). Diane is going to suffer the rest of her life until her death because of the issues with not allowing assisted suicide, even when the …show more content…
For objection 1 ethical concerns about the sanctity of life, there are deeply held moral principles that make sense but they must be balanced against other ethical considerations, such as autonomy and compassion. In cases where individuals face intolerable suffering with no hope of relief, respecting their autonomous decisions to end their lives can be a morally justifiable course of action that upholds the important principles of compassion and dignity. The perfect example would be Diane Pretty, who was denied the ability to end her life even when she would be in pain for the rest of her life. Even if doctors believed that medical treatment could provide no benefit because of her inability to even engage in any type of self-directed activities, they could legally withdraw life-sustaining treatment like hydration and nutrition (Doyal, 1). Looking closer at objection 2, the risk of coercion and abuse, some safeguards and regulations can be implemented to mitigate the risk of coercion and abuse in the practice of assisted suicide. Looking closer into this, there are new laws quite often to make sure that there are correct laws in place that protect the people targeted such as the elderly, psychologically ill, etc. These regulations may include stringent eligibility criteria, thorough evaluations by multiple healthcare
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