Should doctors be able to help terminally ill patients end their lives? Physician-assisted suicide is a very controversial topic. In today's society, people who commit suicide are considered "crazy," while those who take prescription drugs are considered "addicts" or "criminals." However, when a doctor honors a patient's request for a lethal dose of medication (which the patient will self-inject), ending one's life peacefully is considered murderous. However, when a doctor pulls the plug on a terminally ill patient who is on life support at the patient's request, they are only doing their job. However, a person whose quality of life is non-existent and who is facing a terminal illness should have the right to decide whether to seek help from a doctor. Physician-assisted suicide is defined as the voluntary termination of one's life through the administration of a lethal substance with the assistance of a physician. direct or indirect assistance of a physician (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2011). The provision of equipment, medications, or information to a patient by a physician for the purpose of assisting the patient in ending his or her life (WebMD, 2009, p. 333). A terminal illness is an infection or illness that is considered ultimately fatal or incurable. Usually, a patient is considered to have a terminal illness if they appear likely to die despite diagnosis and treatment, although it is possible for people with a terminal illness to live for years before succumbing to this disease. A patient is considered terminally ill when a doctor tells them they have six months or less of life remaining (Smith, 2011). Should terminally ill patients have the right to choose how they want to die? There is...... middle of paper...... higher and higher. Which raises the question of who will pay the bill for the thousands of people kept in a persistent vegetative state (Newman, 1996).3. People are already doing it. This is reality! Works Cited Clarence, HBI, MD. (October 25, 2010). Medical assistance in dying. .Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2011). Physician-assisted suicide. (nd). Retrieved October 5, 2011 from www.merriam-webster.com. Naik, A. (March 7, 2011). Pros and cons of mercy killings. Newman, E. (1996). Making the final choice: Should medically assisted suicide be legalized? San Diego, CA: Truth Seeker Co., Inc. Smith, L. (2011). Mercy killing. Smith, S.E. (September 12, 2011). What is a terminal illness.WebMD. (2009). . In Webster's New World (3rd edition). Retrieved October 5, 2011 from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10296815&ppg=3452009