Megan Perea

English 301

March 20, 2017

Annotated Bibliography

Working Title:

Assisted Suicide Debates

Research Question:

Is assisted suicide wrong, or right? What reasons do people have to agree or oppose assisted

suicide?

Working Thesis:

Assisted suicide is a major controversy for many reasons, it is a debate between right or wrong.

A person should have the right to choose what happens in their life, especially if their quality of

life will be minimal till the end. Assisted suicide should be made a legal medical option across

the nation.

Introduction:

Physician assisted suicide is defined as a medical professional prescribing a lethal dose of

medication (Definitions of Euthanasia, 2006). Alongside this procedure, there comes many views

that either support or oppose it. One major basis for the supporting claim is a person has the

right to choose, they should be in control of what happens to them (University, S.C. 2015). When

a person is terminally ill and given an expected amount of life left, throughout that time there is

suffering and pain. If the person wishes to end their life this choice should be respected

(University, S.C. 2015). About 53% of people do feel that assisted suicide should be left up to an

individual to make that decision (Cassel & Meier, 1990). There are people who still oppose
assisted suicide. Their claims state that taking a persons life will never be reasonable under any

circumstances (Yang & Curlin 2016). Doctors should be doing anything to give health back to

the patient, this does not include allowing an option for assisted suicide (Yang & Curlin 2016).

Morality is a major factor in this debate for both sides, the statement relieve the suffering of a

patient (Cassel & Meier, 1990) or to preserve life at all cost. Even though morality is brought

into this argument, the morality for a person to choose is a much stronger case. There is an

obligation to a terminally ill person who does not want to suffer any longer; why is it right for

any other person to choose what happens. Assisted suicide allows for patients to feel supported

because they have a say in their own life.

Annotations APA:

1. Cassel, C. K., Meier, D. E. (1990). Morals and Moralism in the Debate over Euthanasia

and Assisted Suicide. The New England Journal of Medicine, 323(11), 750-752.

a. Uses a case that involves assisted suicide, this case was used as a basis for morals

in the debate on both sides.

b. I will use this source to pull views from both sides of the argument, stating ideas

from the early 90s. I will pull ideas regarding how people feel on what physicians

should be doing it could possibly, and that it could lead to unethical deaths. It will

also be used for statistics of people who are for this procedure, it will show that

more people are for this. How a Dr. could be self-serving to try to push for life at

all costs.
2. Andre, C., & Velasquez, M. (2015, November 15). Assisted Suicide: A Right or a
Wrong? Retrieved March 11, 2017, from https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-

areas/bioethics/resources/assisted-suicide-a-right-or-a-wrong/
a. The argument is discussed with in depth opinions from both sides. It gives

supporting claims for both sides of this argument.

 b. I will use from this source the information regarding the California act humane

and dignified death act. Supporter claims will be used that talked about how

wishes should be respected. It is the patients right to choose if the quality of life

will be significantly less due to their illness. This article will bring out the

morality of the person and their life, I will use those examples to weigh the

supporting side.
3. Yang, Y., & Curlin, F. (2016). Why physicians should oppose assisted suicide. JAMA,
315(3), 247.
a. The opposition of assisted suicide by physicians is discussed in this article. It goes

in depth about why to oppose this procedure.

b. I will use the opposing claims brought up in the article to give examples of

opposition. Talking about how physicians will become providers for service

instead of helping a patient become healthier. I will also bring in their idea about

how the relationship between a physician and a patient will change. Even though

this article does not go with how I feel about the procedure, the claims do help

give deeper views to the opposing side of the topic.

4. Humphry, D. (2006, January 19). Definitions of Euthanasia. Retrieved March 11, 2017,
from http://www.assistedsuicide.org/definitions_of_euthanasia.html
a. Defines the different procedures relating to assisted suicide. It also distinguishes

assisted suicide from euthanasia and where they differ.

b. I will take the definitions talked about and explain the basis of what assisted

suicide is considered in words. I will also take the comparison and similarities of

assisted suicide and euthanasia. They are similar but it will help readers

understand what each procedure is, and will go into what is done.