DK handbook page 37 - Questions for Research

Topic: Assisted Suicide
Questions of Fact
* Who decides when Assisted Suicide is moral and when a person qualifies for Assisted Suicide?
Questions of Definition
* What is Assisted Suicide?
* What is a terminal illness?
* What are the different terms for Assisted Suicide and their definitions?
Questions of Interpretation
* How does the word "suicide" affect the public's interpretation of Assisted Suicide?
Questions of Consequence
* How will Assisted Suicide affect the families/friends of the patient? Both positive and negative fashions?
* How will legalization of Assisted Suicide affect society and the public's view of the medical profession?
* How will its legalization affect the public's feelings and opinions about intentional death?
Questions of Value
* How do ethics play a role in the doctor's ability to assist patients in this way?
Questions of Policy
* What are the laws pertaining to Assisted Suicide?
* How does the Hippocratic Oath influence these laws?

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My topic for this research assignment is Assisted Suicide. I plan on exploring the different perspectives of Assisted Suicide and the support that exists for both sides of this issue. I am going to focus mainly on the aspect of pro assisted suicide, but I also plan on researching some information about the opposing viewpoint in order to better support my paper. This issue of Assisted Suicide and the controversy behind its legalization is becoming more and more prominent in today's society, so there is a lot of new information both for and against its legalization. In this research assignment, I hope to learn more about the true definition of Assisted Suicide and learn more about the different components of this issue. I am already aware that there are many factors that must be considered for Assisted Suicide and I also know that each individual case is different and that there are many individual circumstances that surround each individual patient. I hope to learn more about the cases concerning this issue that are currently being debated, as well as situations from the past that may have had some impact on the current debates over its legalization.

For this research paper, I hope to examine many different medical websites and journals that have been published concerning this issue. I am aware of different medical journals that have published opposing viewpoints on this issue, so I hope to find many of these credible resources to help support my argument. There are also many organizations that exist that are concerned with this issue, and I hope to examine the information that they have and look into the resources that they have found to support my argument. Also, I will examine past and present cases where Assisted Suicide has either been used or been discussed for various patients. I am aware of a doctor from Michigan who was sued because of his use and support for Assisted Suicide, so I will look for more information about the court case and its outcomes. I will also look into the different laws about Assisted Suicide and where it may be legal and under what circumstances because I am aware that the laws (at least in the United States) vary from state to state. I will also examine laws that may exist outside of the U.S. to take into account its uses outside of our nation.

Some issues that I may encounter when researching this topic may be that some of the resources may be very biased. I will have to work hard to make sure my resources are as free from bias as possible. Also, I will have to make sure I fully understand both positions on this issue. In order to take a stance on the issue, I will have to make sure that I am well aware of the opposing viewpoint, which may be difficult for me if I feel very strongly about my opinion. I will have to make sure that I look at all of the aspects of this issue in order to examine this topic fully.