Although physician-assisted suicide may result in the realization of another's choice, be considered a compassionate means of ending suffering, or even being considered a right, I believe this is not the case. morally acceptable. In physician-assisted suicide, a patient voluntarily asks their doctor to help provide them with the means necessary to commit suicide. In most cases of physician-assisted suicide, the patients seeking this type of assistance are terminally ill and mentally competent (that is, they sufficiently understand their own situation, the purpose and consequences of any action). Those who have committed or condone physician-assisted suicide may believe they have the right to end their lives, the right to autonomy (the right or condition to govern themselves), the right to a dignified death, believing that others have a duty to minimize suffering, or believing it is an act of compassion (physician-assisted suicide), or a combination of these things . However, since this act violates the intrinsic value of human life, it is not morally acceptable. Richard Doerflinger, associate director of pro-life activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, considers various arguments regarding physician-assisted suicide in his article “Assisted Suicide: Pro- or Anti-Life Choice? Doerflinger says there is an argument for assisted suicide that its acceptance involves respect for the autonomy of others, and that same argument does not disrespect "the inherent value of human life." Furthermore, other supporters of assisted suicide have links with the notion of a certain quality of life. Doerflinger mentions attorney Robert Risley, who believes that "a life... middle of paper... thought through before resorting to the immoral act of physician-assisted suicide." Although people may resort to physician-assisted suicide in a seemingly compassionate attempt to end another person's suffering or to respect another person's autonomy or wishes, the practice is contradictory when it violates life human. Those who resort to physician-assisted suicide should instead look to others to help themselves in order to have as supportive, positive, comforting, loving and peaceful an experience at the end of life as possible. Works Cited Doerflinger, Richard. “Assisted suicide. Pro-choice or anti-life? March 28, 2012. The Hastings Center Report. Flight. 19, No. 1, 16-19. Skoble, Aeon. "Learn freedom | Positive rights versus negative rights." Learn freedom. Np, June 29, 2011. Web. April 23. 2014. .