Should death be quick? (philosophy)

(Credits):

-employer: Florida South Western State College

-written by tgthewriter1

Truman 

PHI 2600

May, 21 2015

Should death be quick?

            Richard Radtke, the CEO of Sea of Dreams Foundation, considers assisted suicide to be an inefficient way of helping a patient with disabilities (Radtke 58). He believes that assistant suicide is just a method for ending a person’s life (Radtke 58). Further, assistant suicide is not a solution to make a person’s life more enjoyable (Radtke 58). Radtke agrees that a person with disabilities may want someone to end their life with the method of assisted suicide, but they should not choose that option (Radtke 58). Radtke is actually a person who once experienced the pain and frustration that comes with having a disability. Radtke was a football player and a husband, until he was diagnosed with a condition that would stop some of his bodily functions (Radtke 58). First, Radtke lost his movement in his legs. Then, his wife left him shortly because she did not want to deal with his disability (Radtke 58). Sadly, Radtke became very depressed and even had thoughts of suicide (Radtke 58). Day after day, he would have someone assist him in getting him out of the bed and in wiping his own buttocks (Radtke 58). Suddenly, Radtke felt a sense of loneliness that made his life seem like it was worthless (Radtke 58). But at the moment when he was about to consider assisted suicide, he decided that he will try to start a new life (Radtke 58). Radtke later found another wife and had a daughter (Radtke 58). He found a way to make his disability enjoyable without the help of assistant suicide.

            Radtke believes that even a person with disabilities can find happiness (Radtke 59). After he experienced the hardships and events of living with a disability, he realized that as we get older we take losses (Radtke 59). According to Radtke, losing things is a part of life and should not have the desire to want death in the event that what we really want is lost (Radtke 59). We can look to the elders for words of wisdom when we lose something important to us but it will not bring the lost items back (Radtke 59). Radtke stated, “to travel through this “phase” in life. That was over 20 years ago, and I came through this phase “stronger” than ever (Radtke 59).” Although disibillities made Radtke feel a great amount of pain, he learned something that made him stronger (Radtke 59). Assisted suicide may be the quick answer to a painfull solution, but is it the right solution. In my opinion, sometimes we try to do things so fast, but we do not understand why we do the things we do because most of us do not want to answer the question. What am I am supposed to do with my life because I’m going to die one day? Radtke knew that his legs was forever gone, but he did not let that stop him from living because his disabled legs is what made his life better than it ever was. Assisted suicide may provide a quick solution to end a patient’s life that is experiencing pain, however maybe the patient needs to experience pain in order to see what life really is. Radtke, strongly believes that assistant suicide is not the correct form of practice for ending enormous pain because pain is what creates a new life (Radtke 59).

           

Work Cited

Radtke, Richard. "A Case Against Physician-Assisted Suicide." Journal Of Disability Policy Studies 16.1 (2005): 58-60. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 May 2015. URL:  http://web.b.ebscohost.com.db07.linccweb.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=211067af-eb1c-41c5-99ca-f32d2292fe30%40sessionmgr113&vid=10&hid=110. 

Paid from florida south western college