exploratory paper

Running head: ASSISTED SUICIDE

Layeni 1

Ayotunde Layeni

Professor Wilson

ENGL 1301-11162

22 January 2014

Assisted Suicide

Assisted suicide is considered a suicide undertaken with the help of another person or group of people mainly when an individual is suffering from physical illness. This issue has attracted a heated debate across the globe because most people consider it to go against the morals of the society (Kopelman, De & Society of Health and Human Values 47). Moreover, it presents religious, ethical and legal concerns as to whether it should be allowed or not. However, certain countries have legalized assisted suicide where the patient has the right to take the final act. While countries and some medical practitioners allow assisted suicide, it triggers controversies as to what grounds should it be allowed. Religious and cultural basis has a vital role in deciding on the issue.

However, several questions arise; do individuals have a right to die? Is it morally upright to participate in assisted suicide? What impact does assisted suicide have on the society and future generations? Does it mean people control life (Friedman 6)?

I am curious about the issues of assisted suicide because it affects life. It might not affect my life directly but it does affect the way I think concerning the issue. I want to understand on what legal grounds is assisted suicide allowed given that the cultural contradictions pose several challenges (Rubin, 1). I am interested in knowing how families of a patient considering assisted suicide base their decisions and how they live without being haunted by the act.

I already know that assisted suicide exists. Some people allow it even when they know it goes against their religious beliefs. Furthermore, certain cultural groups do not allow assisted suicide even when they know the person is feeling unbearable pain. Life is vital and should be respected hence most people stick by that.

I need to find out the perceptions of different races and ethnic communities across the globe concerning assisted suicide. I would like to how the citizens of those countries who consider assisted suicide legal believe and picture the issue. I also want to establish whether or not more countries are willing to incorporate the idea in their constitution (Friedman 39).

Works Cited

Friedman, Mark Assisted suicide. Oxford: Raintree. 2012. Print

Kopelman, Loretta and Society of Health and Human Values. Physician-assisted suicide. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic. 2001. Print

Rubin, Edward. Assisted suicide, morality, and law: Why prohibiting assisted suicide violates the establishment clause. Vanderbilt Law Review, 63(3), 761-811.2010. Web. 22 Jan 2013 http://search.proquest.com/docview/346157917?accountid=45049