Imagine youu have just found out you are going to die within three months.
Recently the questions have been changed form, "What am I going to do with the rest
of my life?" to "When should I kill myself"?  With painful and crippling diseases such as
AIDS and cancer, and Alzheimers along with doctors such as Dr. Kavorkian, some 
people are choosing death over life.  Doctor assisted suicide has been a very
controversial subject in the past few years.  Some states such as Oregon have passed
laws which allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to patients who have less then six
months to live.(Henin 1)  Other state have taken the opposite side.  I believe that if 
you are able to reason and think rationally you should decide whether to live or dir.  If
not the people who know you best should make the decision.
     If you are ever in a situation where you now you wil soon die the choice
whether or not to kill youself should be your own.  I believe that doctorassisted suicide should
not be controlled by the government, but should be apersonal choice
based on the individual.  Many people could not imagine living in a hospital bed for
the remainder of their lives.  They would rather die with dignity than live out the rest of
their lives depandant on others.  The government thinks that they know what is best for the people.  
If everyone is an individuall, how can the government know what is best for
everyone.  I feel that people shold make up thir own minds about what is best for
them.  Joshua Haney worote an article on assisted suicide.  He says, "Everyday we make choices that decide
our fate and future.  We choose where we work, what we eat and drink, etc.  This is just one
more choice that we are making.  I we take away this right from people we are taking steps
towards taking away other rights.  Would it be morally right to allow that person to suffer in pain in anguish
through some terminal illness?"(Haney2)  I completely agree with him.  What rights will they take away next?
    One problem people fae when they are seriously ill is the lack of money. 
There always weems to be one more bill waiting to be paid.  They need money to buy prescription 
drugs, pay for the doctor appointments, tests, and in some cases lenghty
hospital stays.  Some insurance companies will refuse to pay for certain test, or drugs, or even
refuse treatment altogether.
     Many patients can't aford to pay for these treatments, and even if they coulld,
most of the treatments only prolong life for a short amount fof time.  There is also no
guarantee that the quality of life during these treatments woulld be wourk the time and money.  No one wants to die in debt and leave
their families with nothing but medical bills.  If you don't wish to continue living in pain, 
why should you have to pay for treatment that you don't want?
     When someone is sicsk it is hard on the whole family.  When someone is dying
they not only have to deal with their own pain and suffering, both physically and mentally
but also with the suffering that their friends and family are going through.  They might
begin to feel like a burden, and may also begin to feel guilty and depressed.  Because of this
and many other reasons some may choose to die.
     I am not saying that suicide id right for everyone, but I do think it should be an option when 
someone is suffering from aphysical disease that has notcure, or hopes of a cure in the near future.
I feel that it should be apersonal decision, based on the wishes of the individual.  The government and countless numbers
of protesters should not claim to know what is right for everyone.  They say it is inhimane for doctors to assist in si
suicide, but I have to agree with A. Wilkie Kushner, who write,s "We all di.  Death is a part
of life. Death is inevitable.  Why should each of us not have the right to choose when and how we did;
and if we are in no position to do so, why shoulld those who know us best not be allowed to help?
Why is it considered acceptable for sospital staff to indefinitely postpone death with machines and tubes and potent toxic pharmaceuticals,
and not to help people go easily when their time has come?  Wher is the humanity in all this?
(Kushner 3)



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Haney, Joshua, "RE: Assisted Suicide,"
     www.yahoo.com 4/16/96

A. Wilkie Kushner, MB-Reprinted from Letters to the Editor, Gobe & Mail
     www.yahoo.com

Hendin, Herbert, MD, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia:  Oregon Tries the Dutch Way,
     Wellness Web, The Patient's Network, www.yahoo.com