Sydney Banks
Jeremy Bearden
English 101
16 November 2015

Dying With Dignity The right to physician-assisted death is a major issue that concerns people all over the United States. Today, different types of fatal diseases can now be identified through the use of science and high-level technology. Thousands of innocent people fall victim to these different types of illnesses each year in the United States. Physician-assisted death, also known as PAD, is the practice of a physician providing a patient the means to take his or her own life through the use of a lethal prescription. If taken, this prescription can kill instantly and painlessly. (Quill) The term euthanasia should not be confused with PAD. Unlike PAD, the physician performs the act in euthanasia, while PAD is performed solely by the patient. The debate goes back and forth between whether a terminally ill patient should have the right to choose a physician–assisted death. Some are against it because of religious and moral reasons. Others are for it because of their compassion and respect for the dying. Physicians are also divided on the issue. As the debate unfolds, many arguments arise on this topic of the legalization of this act in all fifty states. Physician-assisted death is a very important matter and it should be legalized by every state within our country.
Currently in the United States there are a total of five states that have legalized physician-assisted death. These five states include Oregon, California, Vermont, and Montana. (ProCon.org) Oregon was the first state in the United State to legalize PAD through a general election in 1994. The Act, referred to as Death with Dignity Act legalized the process of physician-assisted death but with limited restrictions. Washington followed by passing a similar Act legalizing physician-assisted death with similar strict conditions. However, firm