How Mom’s Death Changed My Thinking About End-of-Life Care

 BACKGROUND: Charles Orstein’s mother Harriet was sent into a coma after her heart stopped while doctors were inserting a nasogastric tube. She was hooked up to a breathing machine, had a feeding tube inserted,  and was given a constant iv drip of medication to stabilize her blood pressure. Obviously this all costs a whole lot of money, on top of the cost to even be admitted in a hospital room.

Used for:  As an example for the monetary side of the argument.

Starting the debate on end of life

BACKGROUND: This article lays out the foundation for the debate, saying that a vast majority of American’s are senior citizens or quickly approaching that title. With the baby boomers becoming of age, that now leaves us with an important question, Do we have the right to die? Physician assisted suicide is only legal in a few states right now, but it is a topic of major importance. Many believe that a patient should have the right to die, and I do too. Life is something that belongs to the individual, not to a judge, or a doctor, and if I was terminally sick and wanted to end my suffering, then by God I should be able to do just that.

Used for: Background to help me become more fluent on the topic

State Senators Look to Introduce ‘Death With Dignity’ Legislation This Month

BACKGROUND: This article explains that even though Death with Dignity is only legal in 5 states, a very large state, New York, is fighting for that right to be implemented in their laws. The article focuses on a young woman in her late 20’s who recently chose to her life because she developed brain cancer and didn’t want to suffer. Two NY politicians are lobbying the bill in the state.

Used for: To show that even more populous, influential states like NY are proposing the legislation. And actually, with further research, this article helped me find that over 25 states are proposing death with dignity bills.

Assisted Suicide: A Right or a Wrong?

BACKGROUND: This article lays out a nice understanding of what those who support the idea of assisted suicide believe. They believe that we as compassionate human beings should be understanding of a suffering person who wants to end their life with a sense of dignity.

Used for: As an emotional argument to explain the compassion and understanding it takes to allow a patient to be freed from their suffering.

Jack Kevorkian Biography

BACKGROUND: Good ol’ Doctor Death. Jack Kevorkian is pretty much the symbol of physician assisted suicide because he helped over 70 terminally ill patients peacefully end their lives before any type of Death with Dignity law was enacted. He was brought on trial and even served jail time for his part in the deaths of those 70 patients, but even after he got out, he continued helping patients in need.

Used for: In my paper as a way to introduce the topic, and introduce an important figure to the PAS/death with dignity fight.

How A Woman’s Plan To Kill Herself Helped Her Family Grieve

BACKGROUND: This is an NPR broadcast on how Sandra Bem decided to end her life before her Alzheimer’s disease got the best of her. This story actually was very touching, although it made me extremely upset, I felt happy for the family who was able to see their loved one die with dignity. What was amazing to me was how her family collectively dealt with her death very well. They explained that seeing her go peacefully helped them immensely with the grieving process.

Used for: Helps psychologically with dealing with the death of a loved one with a terminal illness.

Stephen Hawking Backs Assisted Suicide For The Terminally Ill

BACKGROUND: There nothing really too powerful in this source, I just really like Stephen Hawking’s quote “We don’t let animals suffer, so why humans?” I think those words are very powerful in convincing those who might be on the fence with this controversy.

Used for: Used in my rebuttal part of the paper to structure that paragraphs argument.

History of Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide

BACKGROUND: This source shows that until recently, assisted suicide has always been seen as a negative thing. The roots of the negativity stem back to religious beliefs. Now, more and more people are realizing that there is much more of a positive aspect to having a loved one go peacefully rather than seeing them go in pain and suffering.

Used for: Used in the paper as a background to PAS and why it may be so controversial today.

Should euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide be legal?

BACKGROUND: I always like to browse these pro’s and con’s sites for insight on what the opposing side believes in. It helps create an understanding of what people believe on both sides, and it wrangles up all viewpoints in a concise manner.

Used for: Used this as a sort of a way to make sure I didn’t make an argument accidentally for the opposing side, making my essay weak.

Canada’s Highest Court Has Overturned Ban on Assisted Suicide

BACKGROUND: This is a giant step for PAS worldwide. Many (if not all I’m not sure) European countries have Right to Death laws enacted in their Constitutions, and now a North American country has overturned a PAS ban.

Used for: In my essay to show that many other governments/countries allow for this right.

Death with Dignity Around the U.S.

BACKGROUND: This article showed a map of the United States, and showed the progress of each state. For example where in the process they were regarding death with dignity bills/legislation/legality.

Used for: In essay to provide useful information about how big of an issue this is really becoming, with over 25 states now considering adopting their own bills.