I found this class to be vary interesting, even though I hate politics. But going into a criminal law enforcement this class would help me get a better understanding on how the American Government works. Reading through the book I found and learned new things that I thought was helpful in the pursue of my career. As a requirement for the class we had a signature project. This project was on a controversial topic happening in the world. I chose to do my assignment on the topic of assisted suicide. This was a vary interesting topic and after doing my study I was shocked and in awe of the laws that protect and try to break down the process. I highly suggest this class to anyone looking to get a better understanding of our Government.
Signature Project
Casey Karren
29, April 2014 Jeanne M Westgard POLS 1100 Final Report Assisted Suicide The term Euthanasia originated from the Greek word for “good death”. It is the act or practice of ending the life of a person either by lethal injection or the suspension of medical treatment. Because of this, many view euthanasia as simply bringing relief by alleviating pain and suffering. The word has also been applied to situations when a decision is made to refrain from exercising heroic measures in an end of life situation. Mention the term euthanasia and the first thing most people think if is the epic assisted suicide battle of the 1990s. In the mid 1990s euthanasia proponents turned to the courts in Washington and New York, seeking to have laws against assisting suicide declared unconstitutional. But the issue of wether humans beings and more pointedly, doctors, have the right to help others die has been in the public discourse since before the birth of Christ. The hippocratic oath, which scholars estimate was written in the fourth century B.C., and includes the unambiguous statement: I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan. The oath, which most modern doctors do not take, also include a promise not to perform abortions. Advances in medical technology today often means that people are living longer and all too often suffer for long periods of time due to illnesses. This often means an agonizingly slow death. Assisted suicide is often viewed as the most logical choice when faced with these circumstances. Dutch doctors practice active euthanasia by lethal injection, (96.6% of all deaths actively caused by physicians in 1990). Physician assisted suicide is very infrequent, (no more than 3.4% of all cases in Holland of active termination of life in 1990). As far back as the 16th century, people have been arguing for the terminally ill to be aided in ending life by physicians who should not be held morally or legally to blame for assisting the individual. The beginning of the 21st century saw many bills supporting the use of euthanasia proposed in many western legislatures with little to no success. The fact is that everyone is going to die! the only question that remains to be answered is when, how and under what conditions. The state of Washington, and Montana have recently legalized physician assisted suicide. Also on May 20, 2013, doctor prescribed suicide became legal in Vermont. The U.S. Supreme court ruled in 1997 in Washington v. Glucksberg, that there is no federal constitutional substantive right to assisted suicide. In a 1997 companion case, the U.S. Supreme court ruled in Vacco v. Quill that there is no federal constitutional equal protection right to assisted suicide. Virtually every established medical and nursing organization in the United States declares physician assisted suicide unethical. However since Washington legalized there are some laws to fallow. Washington laws apply to state residents predicted to have less than six months to live. Such persons are not necessarily dying . Doctors can can be wrong, moreover treatment can lead to recovery. Jeanette Hall, who was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to a year to live, she was adamant that she would do Washington law, but her doctor Ken Stevens convinced her to be treated instead. She is still alive today 13 years later. To understand the debate for and against euthanasia, one must first understand the various forms that euthanasia can take. They include passive, active voluntary and involuntary. Passive euthanasia is the withholding of respirators and other life sustaining equipment, procedures, or treatment and is not typically objected to by law or most religions. Active euthanasia is intentionally causing the death or another person through specific actions. In the United States, an individual has the right to create and advanced directive that serves as the individual’s voice if he or she becomes incapable of making medical and treatment based decisions. The individual trusts, who is aware of the individual’s wishes, to make the same decisions he or she would in their stead should the individual be incapable of making those decisions for him or herself. These obviously are only viable options if they have been designated before the individual is in need of them. The medical culture has adapted the view to prolong life at all cost, frequently resulting in the elderly or terminally ill to be subjected to treatments that is futile and decreases the individual’s quality of life without noticeably lengthening it. Many view death as a medical failure, when in all actuality, death is inevitable. The focus is not o the debate to legalize physician assisted suicide or euthanasia, but rather on the practical steps that a physician can take to assess the patients‘ request address the root caused of the request, and ensure that the best quality of end of life care is practiced. Work cite Pickert, Kate. "Assisted Suicide." Time 3 Mar. 2009: 1-3. Web. <http:content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1882684,00.html>. Humphry, Derek. "The Future of Right-To-Die Movement." Assisted Suicide. N.p., 22 Sept. 2004. Web. 24 April 2014. <http://www.assistedsuicide.org/future_of_right-to-die_movement.html>. Schiavo, Terri. "Facts About Euthanasia." Fact About Euthanasia. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 April 2014. <http://www.terrisfight.org/facts-about-eithanasia>. "Top 10 Pros and Cons Euthanasia." ProCon.org. N.p., 13 Dec. 2013. Web. Apr.-May 2014. <http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resorce.php?resourcelD=000126>. Dore, Margaret. "Choice Is an Illusion." Choice Is an Illusion. N.p., 11 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.choiceillusion.org/2013/11/quick-facts-about-assisted-suicide-_11.html>. |
Quiz Essays
Fighting restrictions on parenting by LGBT people is critical because this discrimination causes serious, enduring harm to the lives of LGBT people and their children. The ACLU challenges policies and laws that prevent qualified and caring LGBT people from foster parenting or adopting kids. We also strive to change laws or practices that interfere in custody and visitation relationships between LGBT parents and their children. Our work debunks myths about the undesirability of same-sex couples raising children – myths often heard in the nationwide debate over marriage. |