Assisted Suicide

Washington State has recently passed the "Death with Dignity" law which basically allows doctors to prescribe lethal medication to patients who have six months or less to live. The article, at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29454171/, mentions that this is a very controversial subject. In order to protect the rights of doctors, the law does not require anyone to participate. It is up to the doctor and/or the medical facility whether or not they allow the prescriptions to be written. After doing a little more research online, I found this website http://www.balancedpolitics.org/assisted_suicide.htm which discusses the arguments for and against the law. One of the reasons supporting the law that stuck out was that "tremendous pain and suffering of patients can be saved." While I do agree that no one should have to go through long periods of pain and suffering, I still cant support the law because of my religion, which, according to the website, is one of the main reasons for opposing the law; "Many religions prohibit suicide and the intentional killing of others." I don't think that it is fair that some people have to suffer before they die or become so ill that they are no longer themselves, but I think that as the option for lethal prescriptions becomes more popular among doctors, then it is possible that the prescription could be given out too readily and people who may have had a chance of living could die prematurely. A "six-month terminal diagnosis" isn't always accurate. I think that if there is the slightest possibility that the doctor could be wrong, then the prescription should not be given out. I guess this issue is like every other issue that is going on right now that has anything to do with religion meaning that it probably wont be resolved anytime soon.