WP2 RESEARCH PROPOSAL As a Christian, I know for a fact, that for thousands of years, most Christians and Jews have always opposed suicide. With this being said, one may think that most of my biases could be a result of my religious background. However, in reality, I have actually become very open-minded about the overall concept of euthanasia. While doing my topic proposal, my religious beliefs were overriding my conscious. In order to continue my research, I overcame my biases but trying to imagine myself in the place of a terminally ill person facing death, or envisioning a family member trying to come to terms with there on death. This was not easy for me as it was difficult to not say “No, you shouldn’t attempt any form of suicide, which is a one-way ticket to hell.” But, I have come to the realization that some don’t have the strength to suffer any longer than they already have or continue to feel as if they are a burden to their loved ones.
I feel that in physician assisted suicide, to completely understand why someone would want to commit such an act, you have to put yourself in that person’s shoes. This can be difficult when dealing with such a controversial subject. In almost any situation it is true that if you have never personally been in the same type of situation, it may be easy to disagree with them. However, I feel like suicide is a heavier topic because it is literally life or death. I am choosing to write about the legalization of physician assisted suicide because this topic intrigues me in a way that I almost cannot understand. Now that I have officially chosen what side of the argument I want to be on, I see how it is easy to be persuaded to feel sympathy for those who have come to the decision of euthanasia.
I feel as if legalizing this entire process is more than about death and medicine, it is about human rights. It is about liberty and dying with any amount of dignity that this person has left. Considering my audience is a group of educated college students, I feel that the opinions of my audience will vary greatly. Some may be very religious and may want to shun me for agreeing with the idea of legalizing euthanasia in more places. On the other hand, some of my peers may be entering college trying to reach out and understand themselves on a new level, welcoming the idea. Some people who are majoring in the health field may find it more difficult to accept the idea of legalizing euthanasia because they will be the ones to administer the lethal injection. However, there may be some people who are interested in the idea of death, or the mercy of letting someone die on their own terms.
In my research paper, I am going to attempt to prove that assisted suicide, or euthanasia, should be accepted and legal across the world. Times have evolved and in our country, everyone is entitled to their human rights. As a country, we have come a long way when it comes to rights, whether they have to do with race, sex, or religion. Now another right to consider is the right to die. Today, it has become a very controversial issue as many attitudes have changed since thousands of years ago.
It is easy to see how the topic of euthanasia could be easily linked to depression and/or violence as support for euthanasia as gained during the Great Depression in the United States while Nazis in Germany used euthanasia involuntarily for murder. Many people overlook the main reason for physician assisted suicide, which is because of suffering and illness. When looking into physician assisted suicide, these people are not only facing physical illnesses, but sometimes mental illnesses too. Age also plays a role in these situations. Legally, a person has to be at least 18 to come to this conclusion. Some reasons people choose this option is because of their loss of autonomy, or they no longer enjoy life or are able to. When you think about it, their physical illness could easily lead to a mental illness such as depression or dementia because of their inability to enjoy even the simplest things in life as we do every day. To some, the term suicide alone is commonly associated with selfishness, immorality. Overall, most people feel as if death is not the way out and whoever makes this decision is simply giving up on life. When you can no longer enjoy life, this is when suicide becomes sort of a “therapeutic choice” so to say.
I also want to lead my research into how giving out lethal injections or other drugs effects those in medical professions. Typically as a physician, it is their job to help save lives and help people to live longer. With there being so many moral, legal, and ethical aspects to assisting in suicide, I could only imagine that it must be difficult to end lives instead of prolong them. Given that I am not in the medical profession, how am I supposed assume that they are willing to administer a lethal injection, knowing that it is something that I would be hesitant to do.
In my opinion, assisted suicide could be easily compared to abortion. Maybe the comparison is not direct, so to say, but there is definitely a comparison to be made. Both procedures deal with death and a doctor will end a life in each operation. However I feel that if people could accept abortion, they can accept euthanasia. Euthanasia is even better than abortion because in abortion, you do not get the person or baby’s opinion. It is simply a one-sided decision. At least in euthanasia you will receive the opinion of the person who is going to die.
It may be hard to fathom how life could be worse than death for someone. There is always another way of dying. Instead of “killing someone” through physician-assisted suicide, some patients may actually refuse treatment, resulting in their death. In this way, the doctor is “letting them die.” It takes a great amount of judgement and a strong mindset to honor someone;s wishes when dealing with their wish of death or suicide.
As forms of research, I plan to create questions and take surveys of the opinions of students across campus. Also, I have two friends that are registered nurses, so when I return home, I plan to ask them about their thoughts on euthanasia and assisted suicide.
"Physician-Assisted Suicide." The New England journal of medicine 368.15 (2013): 1450-2. ProQuest. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.
This article introduces a case of an elderly man who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. It goes into great detail about his illness, progress, and where his family stands with the prognosis of his disease. Later in the article, it asks the reader how they feel about two different options. These two options are whether the feel physician-assisted suicide should not be permitted, or if they feel that it should be permitted. Under each option, the author recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of each argument. Offering a lot of detailed explanations as to what may or may not happen in both situations.
"Assisted suicide." Mental Health Practice Dec. 2011: 12. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.
This text is a guidance that has been written for nurses that have to respond to assisted suicide. It explains why people may express a wish to die in the first place. It describes the law on assisted suicide and advance decisions. It informs the nurses on how to respond to requests to hasten death and scenarios in which you can get a full understanding on how to respond. It also offers information on what information you can give to a patient about end of life care, such as hospice.
“Assisted Suicide And The Right To Die.” Congressional Digest 77.11 (1998):258. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2. Oct. 2013.
This article looks more into the legal aspects of assisting someone in committing suicide in the United States. It highlights the history of disapproval of physician assisted suicide. They provide details about laws governing against assisted suicide, and efforts to legalize assisted suicide. The author also offers information on several cases on assisted suicide in the Supreme Court.
Andre, Claire, and Manuel Velasquez. "Assisted Suicide: A Right or a Wrong?." Issues in Ethics 1.1 (1987): 1-4.
This article begins with the story of a man whose cancer had begun to torture his body. His request for assisted suicide was not seen. In the end, he asked of his own brother to shoot and kill him to put him out of his misery. It goes on to explain how medical technology, the law, and human rights all take place in physician assisted suicide.
Back AL, Wallace JI, Starks HE, Pearlman RA. Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in Washington State: Patient Requests and Physician Responses. This article gives estimates and descriptions of how often physicians receive requests for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. It also offers physician responses to these requests, which in gives insight to both sides of the situation.

K.M. Foley, "The Relationship of Pain and Symptom Management to Patient Request for Physician-Assisted Suicide," Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 6 (July 1991) 290.
This article offers insight on the many ways that euthanasia and assisted suicide could affect family members. It includes how it may emotionally and mentally impact family members.
Brodwin, Martin G. "Assisted Suicide and the Right to Die: The Interface of Social Science, Public Policy, and Medical Ethics."Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling 36.1 (2005): 32. ProQuest. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.
In summary, this journal offers information on medical ethics in performing assisted suicide.
Physician-Assisted Suicide and the Right to Die with Assistance. Havard Law Review, Vol. 105, No. 8 (Jun. 1992), pp. 2021-2040
The author provides information on the controversy of whether physicians should assist dying patients in suicide. It also goes into the details of human rights and “the right to die.”
Chetwynd, S. B. “Right To Life, Right To Die And Assisted Suicide.” Journal of Applied Philosophy 21.2 (2004): 173-182. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.
This article offers more of an ethical rather than political, or legal point of view on the right to die. The author defines the right to life, human rights, property rights, and many other rights.
Nelson, J.L. (1992). Taking families seriously. Hastings Center Report, 22, 6-12.
This article offers insight on how families are impacted and how they deal or have dealt with cases of physician assisted suicide.