Should doctors be allowed to assist seriously ill patients with suicide?
prevention | critical | pursue | alter | approach
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Do the Math
Do the Math
In 1997, Oregon passed the Death with Dignity Act (DWDA). This act allowed doctors to prescribe drugs that are lethal, or able to cause death, to certain seriously ill patients. Some people are glad that the law was altered, but others are critical of the change. After the DWDA was passed, dozens of patients began pursuing their right to die. Each year in Oregon, some critically ill people make the decision to die by assisted suicide. The Oregon Health Authority releases reports each year containing information on how many patients pursued this approach.
Option 1:
Option 1:
Each year in Oregon, some seriously ill people make the decision to die by assisted suicide. In 2023, about 65.5% of people who received DWDA prescriptions actually took the medication. Which decimal is equivalent to 65.5%?
A) 0.655
B) 0.00655
C) 0.0655
D) 6.55
Option 2:
Option 2:
In 2023, 367 people who received DWDA prescriptions in Oregon ended up taking the medication. If this was approximately 65.5% of the total number of people who received DWDA prescriptions in Oregon, then how many people received DWDA prescriptions in this state?
Discussion Question:
Discussion Question:
Patients give different reasons for pursuing assisted suicide. Understanding why people want to die is critical to making laws about this issue. Some patients say that assisted suicide is a good approach for patients with illnesses that cause slow and painful deaths. They say that legislation like the DWDA is a method of prevention for unnecessary suffering. What if people began using assisted suicide as a way to prevent high medical costs for their families? Would this alter your view of assisted suicide?
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