Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Considered some of the unalienable rights of man, this phrase has had a massive impact on our country since the Declaration of Independence.
Based on John Locke’s “Life, Liberty and Property,” it’s hard to disagree that these three things are extremely important.
Yet, as with most rights of man, we often have to question how far they extend. In past years, that issue has manifested itself with the question of whether the right to die is one of our unalienable rights.
For example, why shouldn’t those suffering through the pains of a terminal illness be allowed to end their lives and stop the pain? Some patients might simply want to die while they still maintain who they are, instead of passing away as a trace of their former selves.
Some countries (and a few states) allow physicians to grant these wishes to their patients.
While both Oregon’s and Washington’s Death with Dignity acts include many requirements for physician-assisted suicide to be legal, the fact that patients at least have this choice is a step in the right direction.
Yet these acts should only be the tip of the iceberg. Instead of being limited to those with six months to live, this freedom should extend to Americans in many circumstances.
Last year, the Dutch seemed to be in pursuit of something along the lines of what I’m envisioning — an initiative known as Uit Vrije Wil.
Translated into English as “Out of Free Will,” this initiative sought to allow anyone who just simply didn’t want to live anymore and was over the age of 16 to seek medical help in ending his or her own life.
While there are obviously some issues, namely moral implications for doctors, this is the sort of policy should be enacted.
Some people simply don’t see the point of life.
Just as freedom of religion in this country can mean a lack of religion, the right to life should also mean the right to death.
I’m sure most people can envision circumstances where death would be a more desirable option than living. Why force someone to continue to live if they don’t want to?
Undoubtedly, something like this would need oversight. There are still problems with assisted suicide that need ironing out before we look forward.
Many of us should remember the Terri Schiavo case, or the South Park episode that parodied it. This case, besides being far too publicized, is a perfect example of the problems facing the right to die argument.
More recently, the case of terminally ill 13-month-old Joseph Maraachli in Canada has shown this is a heated topic here in the U.S., especially with lies about “death panels” still circulating among certain groups of Americans.
It is cases like these that highlight the problems with someone’s “right to die.” Because certain religious groups will almost always side against this right, these are undoubtedly going to continue for some time.
However, should we ever get past these hurdles, Americans may very well see their freedoms further enhanced.
While a guarantee of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a great thing, the right to escape it can be just as necessary to some.
Zachary Davis is a 20-year-old history Junior from Warsaw,
Poland. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_zdavis.
 
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Contact Zachary Davis at
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