what are some reasons why doctor-assisted suicide should not be legalized?

Answer 1

Do no harm.

It's the first rule in medicine. It is not a decision doctors should make or should be taught to make. Doctors are healers and should never be put in a situation where they need to make a decision on who lives and dies. Medical powers of attorney and DNR orders cover just about every situation in a humane and ethcial manner. Let's not redifine suicide, the act of taking one's life, into something other than that.

Answer 2

I think it should be. I don't know about Doctor assisted, as they take their oath. But, there are ways they can prescribe certain medicines, and tell them how to overdose it in a proper, non painful way. This allows the person to do it themselves. If a women's body is hers to choose whether or not she has a child(I am pro-choice by the way), then if someone has a terminal illness, or a condition that may not kill them, but makes like intolerable, and they no longer want to live, why not?

Personally, if I had an illness that I knew was going to kill me in say three months. That is about the time I try base jumping, bull riding, and things of that nature. If something goes wrong, oh well.

Answer 3

I believe doctor-assisted suicide should be legal in certain circumstances. If I had a disease or injury that meant the rest of my life was just going to be spent experiencing pain I would want that option.

But here are some arguments against:

Someone might consent to this under duress (pressure) from those who are inconvenienced by them and their condition or those who stand to inherit their wealth, etc.

Someone might be under the influence of drugs when they consent.

An error might have been made in the diagnosis or prognosis. The patient might not have the incurable disease they've been told they have.

If a fraudulent consent were produced, the deceased would not be around to testify.

Someone might not be "of sound mind" when they consent (e.g. they might be permanently or temporarily insane).

Someone experiencing temporary but intense pain or depression might make a rash decision to consent.

Answer 4

At first glance, it really doesn't seem like there's any reason not to allow such suicide. However, we are in danger of crossing a very critical line. How long before the doctor alone decides whether or not you live or die? Sounds silly and brutal, but think about this:
Abortion became legalized sometime around the 70s. Sometime after that, doctors crossed a critical line and started pulling out babies partially from the birth canal and butchering the baby on the spot, brutally killing the baby who tries frantically to free himself. See a parallel there? It's simply wrong for a doctor who has sworn to do everything he can to save lives to turn his back on his promise and instead take lives. Of course, those who support abortion likely do not see a problem in this.

Answer 5

Even though I believe it should these are some of the reason the con side gives:

1. God is the only one who should give or take life.
2. Life is precious.
3. Life of a loved one should not be taken. Every day with that person is precious.
4. A cure may come about.
5. There are pain medications reliable enough to handle any pain.

Answer 6

I see no problem with Doctor assisted suicided and only if one of these two things apply;, the person asks for it (if they are able to) and/or if it is clearly something the doctor thinks is best for the patient, i.e he/she is in a coma and will never recover. I do not think that any family member should do this to anyone even if they think it is best for them because it is emotionally driven rather than medically driven.

Answer 7

It should not be legalized IF it cannot properly be regulated. For example, we know that when depressed teens begin taking antidepressants they have a risk of contemplating suicide. This is not a time to allow a person to seek doctor-assisted suicide.

Thus, it must be properly regulated. I do believe it CAN be properly regulated, but you could make an argument that it is impossible to know for certain if a person is in their full rational mind when they seek to end their life.

Answer 8

Many persons who desire to commit suicide are not of sound mind, either due to mental disorder and/or the cumulative effects of physical conditions. Some of those can and would recover from their illness, but would be killed by the doctor before appropriate treatment is adminstered.

As rumored in New Orleans during the Katrina flood, when given that power, not ALL doctors can be trusted to kill only willing participants. They make the choice that people's quality of life is not enough to warrant living.

Answer 9

There are none. If a person wants to die he or she should die. How did it become the responsibility of a society to hold sway over the individual. There is only one purpose to any rule that has ever been written; to protect me from you and you from me. When we have to protect ourselves from ourselves we have gone down the wrong road. I cannot harm a hair on your ugly toe but you can't stop me from pulling all the hair out of my own head and knitting it into a yarmulke.

Answer 10

It should be legalized,but only for those who are terminally ill.It can't just be done because someone decides one day that they no longer want to live.There must be strict medical conditions for it to be allowed.