Respondto at least2the discussions below by addressing the following:

• Respond to a colleague who lives in a different state and describe any differences in state law related to physician-assisted suicide.
• Offer and support your opinion about physician-assisted suicide, noting any similarities and/or differences with your colleague's opinion.
• In addition, you may also respond as follows (optional):
  • Offer and support an opinion
  • Validate an idea with your own experience
  • Make a suggestion or comment that guides or facilitates the discussion

Discussion 1:

"Physician-assisted suicide refers to the prescription of lethal medication to be voluntarily self-administered by the patient" (Goligher et al.,2017). The idea behind this is to give the patient an option to choose if they want to end their lives during severe pain or have six months to live. In the state of Texas, it is illegal. It will lead to a "Class C misdemeanor if no suicide or bodily injury results; state jail felony if suicide or attempted suicide with serious bodily injury" (ProCon). Going through a terminal illness can be very tough on patients. Giving an option to end pain might sound good to anyone in that mental or physical state. In my opinion, I do think physician-assisted suicide isn't a good idea, even though it is backed with good intent.

A patient has been given the choice to make, but I firmly believe that so much could change in a split second. Having the mental capacity to request aid in dying is extremely important. Still, I do think most people who experience unbearable pain in their final days, whether it be six months or less to live, will opt out of physician-assisted suicide. I firmly think death should run its course naturally until a patient takes their last breath, and the option to assist in death shouldn't be an option. Based on my observation in my field of work, a patient can be declining now, and in a few hours, you see a change of them fighting through to life. Encouragement, mental counseling, and giving comfort during transition is a better way to go than the option of physician-assisted suicide way before the predicted time of death. Anything can happen within twenty-four hours or less.

Based on my opinion, physician-assisted suicide might be appropriate when the patient is in severe pain in those last days of decline. Suppose the patient has zero chance of survival. In that case, the pain the patient is experiencing is unbearable and can't be controlled by any other medications when all methods to help the patient be comfortable have been exhausted. If there is no progress in providing comfort, then I do think a physician-assisted suicide authorized by the patient should be followed.

A patient has the right to determine how they want to die. "Medical interventions have shaped the dying process, giving us options that can impact when, where, and how we die" (American College of Healthcare Executives,2019). Patients have the right to accept or decline treatments based on the ethical principle of autonomy.

REFERENCES.

• American College of Healthcare Executives. (2014).Decisions near the end of lifeLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ache.org/policy/endoflif.cfm

• (2018).Physician-assisted suicide fast factsLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/us/physician-assistedsuicide-fast-facts/index.html

• FindLaw. (n.d.). 'Death with dignity' laws by stateLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.. Retrieved September 18, 2018, from https://healthcare.findlaw.com/patient-rights/deathwith-dignity-laws-by-state.html

ProCon.org. (2018, July).State-by-state guide to physician-assisted suicide links to an external site.Links to an external site..Retrieved from https://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000132

Discussion 2

According to Death with dignity By Kathleen M. Yoder "Illinois' History on Physician-Assisted Suicide Illinois does not have active Death with Dignity legislation, Illinois has not been inactive and in 1990, it became a crime in Illinois to induce a suicide. This criminal statute was later amended to specifically include assisting suicide in response to physicians helping patients take their lives. Legislatively, Illinois considered a "voluntary euthanasia" bill in 1937; however, this bill never made it to vote. Considering the issue again in 1997, House Bill 601 and Senate Bill 948 were introduced but did not pass." Even though physician assisted suicide is a t physicians can prescribe lethal drugs to their patients to be self-administered, Physician-assisted suicide was rooted in one's right to self-determine, the state's interest in the preservation of life, and the potential of undue influence and abuse, among others. But the fact is physician-assisted suicide is not a legal option in Illinois. However, there are options for Illinois who wish to self-determine their end-of-life care through the execution of advanced directives.

These next questions are personal to me because I personally experience this with losing my mother to breast cancer. In my opinion on physician assisted suicide its appropriate for terminally ill patient that has a diagnosed time frame of 6 months or less. We honor it but we label it differently for example we may call it hospice or hospice care facility where we "make the patient comfortable until it time for them to transition." It's still hard to accept because no one wants to see a loved one in pain or in a vegetative state but it's also hard to say goodbye and hold on to hope of a turnaround. Again, I feel physician assisted suicide should be honored in a time frame of knowing that the patient will not have a high percentage in healed or healing rate, also other conditions that can be fatal and also the decision should be left up to the patient and what they discussed with family or left a living will and testament. In chapter 12 in our book, I read countless of legislative court cases where either the physician refused to accept what the guardian request to end term of life or they go to court, and it looks like came to an agreement that they can remove something but keep other functions until things take it turn.

Yes, I do believe that the patient has the right to decide how they want to transition over. Longs they are in right mindset. I feel they can make the best decision to speak on the end-of-life plans. Again, I personally experience this and was sat down prior to make a will and was appointed legal guardian to make medical decisions for my mother but I asked her what she wanted to do, and she decided to do DNR. she knew she didn't want to live in pain. And I honored her wishes and brought her home to continue being comfortable at home until it was her time to go.