Suicide in today's society is deemed as legal, but where exactly is the thin line drawn. When does committing suicide go from just suicide and suicide with the help of others? Is there really a difference? Why is it that if a person wants to end their life they can with few strings attached? However, when the help of another person is needed it becomes wrong and grave consequences are faced for the helper who assists. Is it wrong for patients to ask their physicians for help in ending their own life, is it not their life they are talking about, or is it simply wrong for a doctor to agree.
             Physician assisted suicide is also known as euthanasia which comes from the two Greek words meaning "a good death" (Gellman and Hartman 1). Most individuals who are elderly and tired of suffering their daily pains choose to get physician assistance when it comes to committing suicide. Oregon is the only state in which there are strict guidelines allowing physician assisted suicide but the lines are extremely thin. "In 1997, Oregon passed the Death with Dignity Act, To qualify for assistance, patients must make two oral requests and one written request at least two weeks apart, be terminally ill with less than six months to live, and be judged mentally competent to make the decision by two separate physicians" (Rudden 2). One rule that is seen to be strict is that the patients have to give themselves the medication. " Court records indicate that ninety-one people mostly cancer patients have used the provision to end their lives" (Rudden 2).
             There are many methods used that are still in effect that help others in ending their lives. "In Australia, Philip Nitschke is known as Dr. Death, he likes to give patients control over how they die by running workshops for people who want to end their lives" (Spinney 1). "A type of method known as the deliverance method allows people to administer th...