A new law in California now allows doctors to give lethal dosages of drugs to patients to end their life quickly if they are terminally ill.

“The End of Life Option Act” gives patients with a terminal disease, such as cancer and heart disease, the option to end their life and end all suffering and pain that the patient might be enduring. However, people that do not suffer from disease may also utilize assisted suicide.

Although this new bill is a radical and liberal change, it can be beneficial to those facing death and dying in a prolonged and excruciating manner. Hastening deaths of those with fatal diseases eliminates the torturous and agonizing pain one might endure. Similarly, it allows the patients to choose the type of treatment they desire.

One student said, “If someone is deemed terminally ill, they have the right to determine when and how they should die.” When pets become sick and are struggling to survive, they can be put down to terminate the pain. “We treat our pets with more humanity than we treat people.”

On the contrary, people may use “The End of Life Act” for other personal reasons such as depression or anxiety. People who experience suicidal thoughts due to mental illnesses have the right to use this procedure. Using the right-of-death option for personal terms has sparked debates and controversy considering there are therapy options and other facilities one can attend to diminish the causes of suicidal thoughts. Gabriella MacAdam (11) advocates that “we should always do our best to stay alive” and never turn to suicide.

Those that defy the right-to-die laws often question ethics, God’s plan for every individual’s death, and the credence of doctors. Similarly, Gabriella MacAdam (11) believes that “God has everything planned.” However, some believe that “if God didn’t want us to know about assisted suicide, He wouldn’t have introduced it to us, so it has to help in some way.” Daniel Molloy (12)

Many people are quick to recognize some of the disadvantages to “The End of Life Option Act.” Daniel Molloy (12) believes that “there are many instances where doctors give patients a limit on how long they will live, and the patient ends up living a lot longer than what the doctor had initially told them.” “I believe in miracles,” Gabriella MacAdam (11) says. Even if the doctor determines the date of one’s death, turning to assisted suicide should not be the solution because “you always hear those miraculous stories.” Gabriella MacAdam (11)

In addition, assisting someone with their death can be a morbid event. Physicians also believe that the right-to-death is unethical because every patient is a valuable human being.

Currently, people remain debating the new law and advocating against its liberal policies. On the other hand, those in excruciating pain and suffering from various diseases can now choose to end their life and all suffering.