Do we have a "right to die?"
We do not have a right to die since a right is more of a moral claim. Therefore, death has a claim on us and not vice versa (Gielen, van den Branden, & Broeckaert, 2009). Most people parallel this concept with “right to life” which is totally different.
What is "euthanasia?"
“Euthanasia” is acting knowingly, directly and intentionally to cause the death of another person for example when one gives a physician gives a lethal injection to a patient (Pereira, 2011).
What is "assisted suicide?"
“Assisted suicide” refers to directly, intentionally and knowingly providing means of death to someone else so that the person uses those means to commit suicide (Pereira, 2011).
What kind of treatments and interventions, then, are morally obligatory, and which are not?
Interventions that are considered morally obligatory include aggressive management of pain. However, the physicians actions of deliberately taking the life of the patient even when the patient consents to it is not a morally obligatory intervention (Mishara & Weisstub, 2013).
Shouldn't a person be able to say that his or her pain and suffering is too much to bear, and have the right to be free of that suffering?
It is wrong for any person to opt for deliberate death because according to the Christian faith when the God-given ability of the body is no longer functional, and the professional judgment of the doctor is that there is no hope for recovery even under life support machines, a person should "let nature take its course."
What about people who are unable to communicate?
For those who are unable to communicate, the physician should consider the opinion of the next of kin, who will agree to the uselessness of any further “heroic efforts” and consent to termination of treatment.
What are some of the common myths supporting euthanasia and assisted suicide?
Some of the myths supporting assisted suicide and euthanasia include them being part of palliative care and by making them legal more choice will be offered to the patient (Pereira, 2011). The other myth is that lack of euthanasia or assisted death makes the patient die a painful and lengthy death.
How are euthanasia and assisted suicide political issues?
Assisted suicide and euthanasia contradict the federal purpose of the government which is to protect and defend the lives of its citizens (Pereira, 2011). A contrary move would majorly affect the politically marginalized, elderly and disabled (Mishara & Weisstub, 2013).
How do advocates of euthanasia and assisted suicide manipulate language to make their position seem acceptable?
Those who advocate for assisted suicide and euthanasia use phrases like “helping to die” and “assist in dying” when they want to advance their legislative proposals and philosophy. The veiled language makes something that is evil sound good (""Confronting Death: Who Chooses? Who Controls? A Dialogue between Dax C" by Robert A. Burt", 2016).
Do you believe that government should protect the lives of the sick, the dying, or the physically or mentally impaired, without judging the worth of those lives?
The government should protect the lives of everyone including the dying, the sick, and the mentally and physically impaired regardless of the worthiness of their lives (Mishara & Weisstub, 2013). According to the Christian values, everyone is equal before God.
Do you believe that the state has the right to allow suicide, or the administration of lethal drugs?
The state has no right to allow for suicide since there are other measures that can be used other than taking one’s life. The government should in turn, offer more support for good palliative care that allows for a painless natural death ("The Terri Schiavo Story", 2016).
Do you think that federally controlled drugs should be allowed for use in assisting a suicide?
They should not be used in assisted suicide but rather for the medical purpose it was meant for. Illegalization of assisted suicide will bar the use of federally controlled drugs in assisted suicides.
References
"Confronting Death: Who Chooses? Who Controls? A Dialogue between Dax C" by Robert A. Burt. (2016). Digitalcommons.law.yale.edu. Retrieved 7 May 2016, from http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/fss_papers/706/
Gielen, J., van den Branden, S., & Broeckaert, B. (2009). Religion and nurses’ attitudes to euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Nursing Ethics, 16(3), 303–318. http://doi.org/10.1177/0969733009102692
Mishara, B. L., & Weisstub, D. N. (2013). Premises and evidence in the rhetoric of assisted suicide and euthanasia. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 36(5-6), 427–435. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2013.09.003
Pereira, J. (2011). Legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide: The illusion of safeguards and controls. Current Oncology, 18(2). http://doi.org/10.3747/co.v18i2.883
The Terri Schiavo Story. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 7 May 2016, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cki55BM42kw
