To die or not to die is NOT the question of the terminally ill. The question is how to die. The act of suicide is unpleasant and people don't like to discuss it, but suicide happens. It is considered by some, particularly by people suffering from painful incurable illnesses and who wish to put an end to their misery. The terminally ill and those with debilitating illnesses should have the choice to seek medical assistance in dying. But currently, with only three states allowing physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill, many cannot get the support they need or access a painless way to kill themselves. A terminal illness can create a burden on the family, both emotionally from seeing their loved one suffer and financially from the cost of care. If they are allowed to die, these burdens can be lightened. Finally, doctors should have the legal freedom to treat their patients to the end, even if that means helping them commit suicide. Therefore, all states should legalize physician-assisted suicide, allowing mentally competent patients who are terminally ill or suffering from incurable, unremitting pain to choose when to die, thereby ending their pain and suffering, by releasing the financial and emotional burden on them and their families, and allowing doctors to follow the Hippocratic Oath to treat their patients and commit suicide if necessary. In physician-assisted suicide, at the request of a patient, a physician prescribes a lethal dose of medication, making the means to die available but not participating in it. The patient then chooses whether or not to take the medication. But some patients may not commit suicide at all if they know that the legal option of a doctor's help will be available if the day they want...... middle of paper ...... a Diego: Greenhaven Press. Hedberg, K. and Tolle, S. (2002). Physician-assisted suicide and changes in care of the dying: The Oregon perspective. Assisted suicide (pp. 7 to 9). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Oregon Death with Dignity Annual Reports. (nd). Oregon.gov homepage. Retrieved July 25, 2010 from http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/ar-index.shtmlPalmore, E. (2001). Terminally ill people should have access to assisted suicide. Terminal illness (pp. 154-163). San Diego: Greenhaven Press. Rogatz, P. (2003). The arguments of opponents of assisted suicide are erroneous. Suicide (pp. 119-127). San Diego: Greenhaven Press. Steinbrook, R. (2008). Physician-Assisted Dying - From Oregon to Washington. The New England Journal of Medicine, 359(24), 2513-5. Retrieved July 24, 2010, from ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. (document ID: 1611103091).