Discuss physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in the United States.300 words – These are the questions here that need to be answed. The rest is just information to look atDiscuss physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in the United States.What position do you advocate? Your response should include your specific rationale, and it should be clear that you understand the difference between the two.Please read the information below for further clarification.Please feel free to respectfully agree to disagree.Historical Overview: How Americans Died in the PastIn the early 1900s the average life expectancy was 50 yearsChildhood mortality was highThose who became adults could expect to live well into their 60sFew people lived to the ages that we regard as “normal” todayUntil the development of antibiotics in the mid-20th century…People typically died quickly, often from causes such as:Infectious diseases and accidentsAs only a few remedies were available to extend life, medicine focused on caring and comfortWhile customs and traditions varied across cultures, most cared for their sick at home with support from their physician, if one was availableMedicine’s Shift in Focus: Impact on Death and DyingMany authorities have suggested that we have become a “death denying” society—Valuing….Productivity….Youth and IndependenceDevaluing…..Age….Family….Interdependent caring for one anotherAs of 2007 the U.S. life expectancy reached nearly 78 years (77.9), (CDC).Over a decade, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years from 76.5 years in 1997 to 77.9 in 2007.Physician-assisted suicide:The physician provides the necessary means or informationThe patient performs the actIn Euthanasia: The physician performs the interventionEuthanasia is defined as “the act of bringing about the death of a hopelessly ill and suffering person in a relatively quick and painless way for reasons of mercy” (Back et al)Arguments in favor of PASRespect for autonomy: Decisions about time and circumstances death are very personal. Competent person should have right to choose death.Compassion: Suffering means more than pain; there are other physical and psychological burdens. It is not always possible to relieve suffering. Thus PAS may be a compassionate response to unbearable suffering.Individual liberty vs. state interest: A complete prohibition on assisted death excessively limits personal liberty. Therefore PAS should be allowed in certain cases.Arguments against PASSanctity of life: This argument points out strong religious and secular traditions against taking human life. It is argued that assisted suicide is morally wrong because it contradicts these beliefs.Potential for abuse: Assisted death may become a cost-containment strategy. Burdened family members and health care providers may encourage option of assisted deathFallibility of the profession: The concern raised here is that physicians will make mistakes.Oregon (since l997, physician-assisted suicide only); Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act was approved by voters in 1994 but blocked for three years by critics who challenged its constitutionality in the U.S. Supreme Court.Pas came under attack by U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft, who threatened to revoke the licenses of doctors who assisted suicides. The law was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2006.The patient must have been declared terminally ill by two physiciansMust have requested lethal drugs three times, including in writing.Washington State 2008A state measure known as Initiative 1000 passed by a margin of 59% to 41%, making it legal for doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication for patients with less than six months to live.Patients must make two separate requests, or