In Portland, Ore., there is currently a young woman, aged 29, suffering from an aggressive form of brain cancer as well as a severe brain tumor. She is fighting for her right to the choice to end her life in order to avoid undergoing the tolling treatment that wouldn’t save her anyway, or the painful, slow process of letting nature run its course. This situation once again brings to the surface the issue of assisted suicide and the complications that accompany it regarding legality and morality.

The Mentor editorial board, upon discussing assisted suicide, found that the issue should be handled with caution and consideration of all moral aspects. There are many faiths and religions that consider suicide to be sinful or cause for damnation, however because of the separation of church and state must be disregarded. Many would prefer to not be forced to suffer through such aggressive illnesses that won’t be able to be cured and see no shame in dying. It’s their body and they’re the ones who should choose how long they fight or whether or not they even do. Cancer isn’t pretty and neither is the treatment. It makes you physically ill, weak, pale, tired. The treatments cause you to lose your appetite and often your hair and for what? If you are diagnosed with an incurable disease why should any person have the authority to tell you to “just hang in there” or “ride it out”?

In these unfortunate cases where death is inevitable and merely a question of when, why can they not expedite the process? There are several issues that would need addressing, such as at what point a person is far enough beyond saving that they’re allowed to decide to let go, but despite the obstacles to be faced and guidelines that would need to be established, it’s necessary that we give the right to decide what happens to one’s own body and when it happens.

You can’t force someone to suffer because them choosing to die without the pain offends you because of your morals. You and your morals have exactly zero relevance to someone else making choices regarding their body. It gets sticky when families are brought into the mix because we naturally love our family and want them to stay with us as long as possible, but similarly to life support there comes a point when you have to be OK with letting go because it’s what they need and want, even if it hurts you.
The general consensus of the editorial board was that while it’s an extremely complicated issue to make a law allowing, it has to happen. We should leave decision making to those being affected and not allow personal beliefs to dictate the lives of others any longer.