Ethics of assisted suicide 0641Mr. Holder18/04/2014Doctor-assisted suicideIn recent years the media has shifted more attention to the hot topic of doctor-assisted suicide. This expanded coverage has caused an ever-widening divide on both sides of the debate due to the ethical concerns that arise from this act. Partly because of advances in modern medicine, assisted suicide should be viewed as a morally correct decision that individuals can make for themselves when it is not possible to overcome a life-threatening mental or physical disorder. This form of medicine should only be used when individuals have exhausted all possible procedures and options and have a dismal chance of being healthy again. The results of assisted suicide can be considered morally correct with regards to consequentialism, social contract theory and deontological ethics. The act of assisted suicide can be considered altruistic if one does not ultimately want to represent a physical or monetary burden to other individuals. A patient can also help save others regarding organ donation. We as a country must learn to observe the choices of terminally ill patients and understand when they want to give up in their battle. If a person chooses to end their life, this should not be seen as a sign of weakness, but rather as an affirmation that this person no longer wants to suffer. Take the case of Matthew Donnelly for example. Mr Donnelly's body was riddled with skin cancer from years of work with X-rays. Mr Donnelly had been in declining health for years and wanted to be relieved of this pain. He had lost his nose, his left hand, two fingers on his right hand and part of his jaw. Since his state had no rules for assistance... middle of the paper... weak. Ultimately, it should be the patient's decision when he will be able to give up the fight of his life. There should be an easy and painless experience like doctor-assisted suicide when you feel the need to no longer experience suffering. According to consequentialism the only thing that matters is that the patient finds peace and no longer suffers. As with social contract theory, if we want to make physician-assisted suicide legal, a strict set of guidelines and rules must be established so that patients can be at peace without others manipulating the system. Finally, it is our duty as human beings to ensure that all our actions are legal and ethical regarding assisted suicide. Doctor-assisted suicide will still be a hot topic for years to come, and the ever-increasing debate will help push it further into the headlines.