Right to Die Revisions in BOLD

Matt Iannacco

Writers Workshop

!0^th Hour

Controversial Paper

“Right to Die”

It is becoming a more and more talked about subject among old and ill couples and families alike. If someone in the family becomes incapable of moving or even talking or is in so much pain they can no longer function, do they have the right to kill themselves, subjected to a mercy killing, euthanasia or put on their will that they would rather die then have this happen to them? This is a very misunderstood topic that is being talked about in families and buildings of law all over the world.

In many states such as Montana, Washington, and Oregon and many countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Albania, and Luxembourg euthanasia and assisted suicide is legal. "They should use the machine on you!" said Dr. Jack Kevorkian who designed machines that allow the terminally ill to end their lives. Kevorkian admits to euthanizing over one hundred and thirty sick or incapable people. This should be legal in all states and all countries because it is your life and no one should have control over your life or keep you in the pain you are having. Euthanasia and assisted suicide should be legal because you should be in control of your own body, and not have the government to tell you whether you can live or die.  

Respecting some ones will if they are in an ill state or if they wish to die or be euthanized should be held to every word they put in their will. Legal scholar Eugène Sutorius of the age of sixty three said that he wanted to face death “in a stoic manner” and didn’t want to have to fear that the government would let him die when he wanted to. As for neurologist Swaab he says that death is just cells wearing down and not being able to keep their clock ticking. Swaab also stated that “When you feel you have no more life left in you, you should be able to say so, and act on it.” The government should not be able to say whether or not you should stay alive. And if someone does put in there will that after the age of ninety six they don’t want to live anymore then they should be able to get that last wish.

Some people who appose euthanasia and assisted suicide say that it will negatively effect your loved ones and people around you, and that if people just keep killing themselves off if they get sick there will be no way for doctors to try and treat them or find cures. But if doctors have done everything they can to try and help a person the person that is being operated or trying to be cured should be able to request an euthinization. As Doctor Ravencroft of Australia’s northern territory states “I value sitting with dying patients or holding their hands. It reminds me that life is a great mystery and we all share the characteristics of being human. We take part in all of life, including dying, but we are not masters of it." But what if his patients are miserable and don’t value sitting with him and he is just making them suffer even more? They should be able to ask him to assist them in taking their lives and be able to stop feeling the pain that they are feeling.

In conclusion euthanasia should be legal in all states and all countries because it is the person’s life who is in subject and if it is their last wish to move on away from the pain then they should be able to. Also if they put in their will that they would not want to live any more it should be respected to the last word. The government or anybody should not decide when someone lives or dies, And as Timothy Lace once said “Death is not he greatest of ills: worse is to want to die and not be able to.”