Student opinions differ on doctor-assisted suicide
For the first time in United States history, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco declared that the terminally ill have a constitutional right to authorize doctor-aided suicides. Do you agree or disagree with this decision?
“I disagree because they don’t have the right to kill nobody or take someone else’s life. I think people should die on their own.” —Anthony Hayes, Junior
“If the patient asks the doctor to do it and if you have no chance of getting out of bed, that’s not living, so I think they should have that right.” —Chiquita Dineyanti, Sophomore
”I agree because I am Catholic and I’ve thought about committing suicide, but my faith has saved me. So, the easiest way is to have someone do it for you sin-free, and you can still go to heaven.” —Dan Ferguson, Junior
“I disagree. I don’t believe it is right for doctors to play God and cheapen life. Society is running into a big problem. The unborn are terminated, and now the elderly will be terminated. What’s next?” —Dyane Galindo, Freshman
“If you get that old and that miserable, and are going through too much pain just to get out of bed, then I think the doctor has the right to assist in your suicide. If you can’t do it yourself then that’s who you call.” —Jeremy Gonzales, Freshman
“I kind of agree. If the patient can’t decide whether their life should be terminated, then the doctor can help out.” —Lucy Kodjoian, Sophomore
“I’m all for it. If they’re hooked to a machine that’s not life. Even if it was my own mother and there was no possible way of her healing, then I probably would still agree.” —Mario Lopez, Junior
On March 23, the University of La Verne hosted a distinguished speaker panel to discuss physician aid-in-dying and proposed California legislation modeled after the Oregon Death with Dignity Act.
