For terminally ill patients, life could mean imprisonment in a body filled with never ending pain. The Constitution guarantees not only freedom, but also the pursuit of happiness. Surely there is no happiness in constant suffering.
Some would argue that life is sacred and that we should seek to save and prolong it at all costs. Of course this is true, but once again one might return to the issue of quality. We have no problem with helping animals to die peacefully when they are terminally ill or in pain. I believe that human beings are all the more deserving of such a service. It is also not fair to expect family members to witness the prolonged suffering and degeneration of a loved one. If both the patient and family members are in agreement, I believe that assisted suicide should be provided in order to preserve the dignity of the patient. I therefore agree wholeheartedly with the outcome of the case. It is a pity that this law is not more common throughout the United States.
In terms of unanswered questions, there are two issues that could be addressed: the first is the status of the assisted-suicide law in other states, and the second is the authority to make the decision regarding assisted suicide. Ms. Greenhouse mentions that Oregon is the only state where assisted suicide is allowed. I would perhaps...
For the many African-Americans who struggle with poverty, concerns about HIV and AIDS often fall to the bottom of their lists of concerns (Messina, 1994). When feeding their families, paying the rent or taking a sick child to the emergency room are everyday problems, concern about a disease that might be fatal in a decade is unlikely to be a priority. In African-American communities, childbearing is extremely important. Various researchers have
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