Tag: right to die movement

The Right to Die Movement

[fblike]

The last five years have seen an extension of rights in American society, notably for homosexual Americans that wish to get married and for transgendered individuals.  However, there is another rights movement that has been very active and is now beginning to win legislative victories.  The “right to die” movement, whose advocates say that patients who have terminal illness should be able to take their life with prescription medication at a time of their choosing, recently won a victory in California.  California state legislators approved the End of Life Option Act last week, which would enable Californians to obtain life-ending prescription medication from a doctor.  Currently, only four states allow for a form of physician-assisted suicide (also referred to as “physician-assisted dying”) – Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Montana – but advocates of the “right to die” movement argue that a victory in California, which can be assured if Governor Jerry Brown signs the bill into law, could lead to other states passing similar legislation.

This topic brief will provide some basic information about the “right to die” movement, explain the reasons supporters give for why it should become a universal right, and then provide counterpoints from those who argue that “right to die” legislation constitutes a threat to basic human values.

Readers are also encouraged to use the links below and in the related R&D to bolster their files about this topic.

R&D: The Right to Die Movement

[fblike]

Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the right to die movement.

R&D from Prepd: The “Right to Die” Movement

[fblike]

l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D gives resources to extempers on the “right to die” movement in the United States.  Also referred to as “death with dignity,” “aid in dying,” and “assisted suicide,” the practice is set to become the next controversial social issue with advocates pushing for more states to legalize the practice (and as a result, extempers need to be prepared to speak on it in a domestic social or constitutional issues round).  Four U.S. states have legalized the practice and a district court decision last month in New Mexico said that doctors in that state can help terminally ill patients end their lives.  Litigation is also pending in other states. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1997 in Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill that the U.S. Constitution does not give an individual the right to assisted suicide.  However, states can allow for the practice, or ban it, if they choose to do so without federal interference.

 

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén