Legalising Assisted Suicide

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And yet, people argue that modern palliative care can be incredibly effective and helps preserve the quality of life as far as possible, and that there is no need for terminally ill patients ever to be in pain. It is always wrong to give up on life, and yes the future can be terrifying but society’s role is to help them live their lives as well as they can. This can take place through counselling, and helping patients come to terms with their condition.

Many of us have heard the idea that Only God can give and take life and many religious people believe that life is Sacred so no one has the right to take a life including their own. There are many passages within the bible that talk about the idea that God has decided a time when everyone will die, and many are given the commandment ‘thou shall not kill’ and ‘thou shall not murder’

But surely it is equally a criminal act to try to preserve someone’s life when they are suffering as for ending it. If we accept the idea that only God can give and take away life, then in the cases of terminally ill patients, medicine should not be used at all. If only God has the power to give life, then surely medicines and surgeries that prolong the suffering should also be considered wrong.

It seems hypocritical to suggest that medicine can be used to prolong suffering but it cannot be used to end it. Because of this, and for many of the reasons I have already mentioned, I believe assisted suicide should be legalised. In my opinion, a law where assisted suicide is legal would not result in more people dying, but in fewer people suffering.