Did you know that approximately 57% of physicians today have received a request for physician-assisted suicide due to the suffering of a terminally ill patient. Suffering has always been a part of human existence, and these demands have arisen since the existence of medicine. Furthermore, there are two principles on which all organized medicine agrees. The first is that physicians have a responsibility to relieve the pain and suffering of the dying patients in their care. The second is that physicians must respect patients' competent decisions to refuse life-sustaining treatment. Basically, these principles state that mentally stable patients over the age of 18 have the right to choose to end their lives if they are in pain. Currently, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont have legalized physician-assisted suicide through legislation. Montana legalized it via a court ruling. The first Death with Dignity Act (DWDA) took effect in Oregon in 1997. Washington and Vermont then passed the law in 2009, and Montana passed the Dignified Death Act. terminally ill patients in 2008. One of the concerns related to physician-assisted suicide is confusion over the identity of the patient. wishes. To clear up any confusion and provide evidence in case someone becomes terminally ill, people should develop an advance care plan. The two main lethal drugs used in physician-assisted suicide are secobarbital and pentobarbital. Proper reporting is necessary when distributing these drugs and committing suicide in order to publish an analysis. Studies have found that a large number of people agree to this procedure in certain circumstances; therefore, physician-assisted suicide should be legal in the United States because terminally ill patients over the age of 18 who are...... middle of document ......e: Continuing Challenges for pharmacists. American Journal Of Health-System Pharmacy 68.9 (2011): 846-849.CINAHL Plus with full text. Internet. February 19, 2014.McHale, Jean, V. “Assisted suicide: a right to professional assistance in dying? » British JournalOf Nursing 21.4 (2012): 250-251.CINAHL Plus with full text. Internet. March 6, 2014. Orfali, Robert. Death with dignity: arguments in favor of the legalization of medical assistance in dying and euthanasia. Minneapolis, Minn: Mill City Press, 2011. Print. Reynolds, Joanne and Sue Croft. “Application of Preferred Priorities for Care Document in Practice.” Nursing Standard 25.36 (2011): 35-42. CINAHL Plus with full text. Internet. February 24. 2014. Stutsman, Eli. "Twenty Years of Living with Oregon's Death with Dignity Law." GPSolo 30.4(2013): 48-51. Academic research completed. Internet. February 24, 2014. US Food and Drug Administration. Np February 27, 2014. Web. February 27. 2014.