In the past two decades, one topic has sparked universal debate, extreme media coverage, and court cases across North America. Euthanasia, which is most commonly referred to as doctor-assisted suicide, is defined as "the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection." In my opinion, anyone suffering from a painful terminal illness should be given the opportunity to die with dignity, grace, and pride. In this essay I will discuss the different sides of the euthanasia debate and prove why it should be legalized in North America.

People will argue that people suffering from a terminal illness are not in a completely rational state of mind; they cannot make a proper decision as to whether or not the actually wish to end their lives by way of euthanasia. On the contrary, most patients...