Every year millions of people are diagnosed with terminal illnesses. What if we had the power to end their suffering in a painless and peaceful way… we do. Euthanasia provides patients with a lethal injection (by the assistance of a physician) in order to put a stop to their pain and suffering from a terminal illness. If we legalize euthanasia we can end the suffering of patients diagnosed with a terminal illnesses, it releases patients from being a burden to their family to pay the medical bills and gives patients the ultimate choice over their life.

People who are in constant pain, have a poor quality of life, and are not expected to live should not be forced to continue living. To deny someone the right to death when they are in immense pain every day is barbaric. Euthanasia gives patients the option of a merciful death, rather than a bullet to the head. As some believe that euthanasia will turn physicians into “murders” Peter Rogatz, MD, has a different opinion on the matter; “Physician-assisted suicide isn’t about physicians becoming killers. It’s about patients whose suffering can’t relief and about not turning away from them when they ask for help.” If a patient’s life threatening disease cannot be cured they should have the option of a peaceful death.

Medical bills can be very costly, especially when you have to spend a big part of your time in the hospital or on heavy medication. Terminally lii patients can feel overwhelmed because of the cost of pain treatments and the burden that they put on their family members to help take care of them. In a study from the Life Recourses Charitable Trust they found that many terminally ill patients who committed suicide did so because they felt that they were a burden to their family. If patients were euthanized before medical bills got out of control it would be easier on them and their family members.

It seems so wrong that someone with a terminal condition who is in constant pain can be forced to endure life by a doctor. When they are suffering everyday how can we deny them the right to their own death? As stated in an excerpt on euthanasia from The Death with Dignity National Center (DDNC); “The Greatest human freedom is to live, and die according to one’s own desires and beliefs.” It is alright to let go sometimes, everyone dies one day but not everyone has the right to choose when that day is.

If euthanasia were to be legalized we would have the power to end the suffering of terminally ill patients, but we force them to endure the pain. Patients can be suicidal due to the burden they feel they put on their family members to help take care of them and pay the cost of medical bills. Everyone should have the right over their life and be able to decide when they are ready to die. It is morally wrong to tell patients they have to live on in chronic pain.

James L. Werth and Debra C. Cobia, "Empirically Based Criteria for Rational Suicide: A Survey of Psychotherapists," 25 Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior