When debating who has the right to determine a person's death, it is always a controversial issue. Euthanasia is known as the practice of intentionally ending a life in the hope of freeing an individual from an incurable illness or unbearable suffering (Nordqvist). This can be done either at the request of a dying patient or with the consent of a person's legal guardian. Although our society influences the prolonged treatment of medicine and care of all, euthanasia, with special guidelines, should be added as an additional option because it allows dying patients to avoid a painful death, reduces financial burdens and reduces family suffering. Imagine seeing a loved one or close friend suffering from a serious illness, both fatal and incurable. Would it be morally acceptable to allow the person suffering to decide whether to end their own life? Unfortunately, in the United States this choice does not exist, and if an act like this were committed by a doctor, it would be considered murder which could result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years or more ( Nordqvist). Oregon and Washington DC are currently the only two states that allow assisted suicide, while euthanasia is illegal in all states ("Where Legal in the United States"). The difference between the two comes from how they are executed. In assisted suicide, the patient administers the medicine recommended by the doctor, but euthanasia occurs when the doctor himself directs the medicine to the suffering patient, with the aim of ending his life sooner (Diaconescu 474 ). In the Supreme Court case, People of the State of Michigan v. Jack Kevorkian, a patient named Thomas Youk was killed by his doctor in the middle of an article......published in every state. Works Cited Diaconescu, Amelia Mihaela. "Euthanasia." Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice 4.2 (2012): 474-483. Academic research completed. Internet. December 3, 2013. Humphry, Derek. “Euthanasia is ethical” Euthanasia: opposing points of view. Ed. Carol Wekesser. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1995. Print. “Legal precedents – Euthanasia – ProCon.org. » ProConorg Titles. ProCon, April 13, 2009. Web. December 3, 2013.Nordqvist, Christian. “What is euthanasia (assisted suicide)? What is the definition of assisted suicide or euthanasia? Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, March 19, 2010. Web. November 30, 2013. Tamkins, Theresa. “Medical bills cause more than 60 percent of bankruptcies in the United States.” CNN. Cable News Network, June 5, 2009. Web. December 3, 2013. “Where it is legal in the United States” Assisted suicide. Wisconsin Right To Life, nd Web. December 3. 2013.