Brittany Maynard died under Oregon’s law that allows the terminally ill to end their own lives. (AP Photo/Maynard Family, File)

In this written assignment, please review Chapter 11, Section B on page 279, and Case Study #3, from Tong (page 287), on the “Death with Dignity Act.”

As written in the text, the “Death with Dignity Act” allows physicians to prescribe lethal drugs for terminally ill patients who express the desire to end their own lives. Some people think the law is too permissive; others think it is too restrictive.  In 3-5 pages, address the following questions to create your written response:

1. In your opinion, is the Oregon law morally justified? Why or why not?
2. Does physician-assisted suicide constitute a dignified death? What makes a death “dignified?”
3. Do the provisions of the Oregon law safeguard against possible abuses of it?
4. Should physician-assisted suicide be legalized throughout the United States? Why or why not?
5. Please refer to the Brittany Maynard case as you respond to the questions. Be certain to watch the video and complete the readings about this case in the Module Content Guide.

Note: Please make sure you focus on the course and the issues at hand in your essay. Connect your written work to the literature we are reading, and maintain an academic focus. Relevance, credibility and use of referenced material is always important. I expect proper grammar and spelling. This is a minimum requirement; Deviations from this will hurt your grade.

Questions adapted from Tong, R. (2007). New Perspectives in Healthcare Ethics: An Interdisciplinary and Crosscultural Approach. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Tips for Written Assignment

Your written assignments are intended to test your understanding of important concepts and discover how to sharpen your intellectual skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application. Completing assignments also provides you with opportunities to more fully describe, explain, and analyze what you are reading, discussing, etc. to deepen your learning.  The following ESC Library resources can help you complete assignments:

• Empire State College Online Library Resources Center can connect you to: Journals, a self-paced Research Skills Tutorial, online Workshops to sharpen your library skills
• Take a Video Tour the Empire State College Library
• Get online virtual help from the Ask a Librarian or call at (800)847-3000 ext. 2222

Please read the SUNY Empire State College statement on Academic Integrity before submitting any work for this course (including discussion postings). In addition, please document your sources carefully and using APA citation style for all submissions to the course, including discussion postings.