Most American states provide for capital punishment (Proquest n.pag.). The 36 states that allow the death penalty all offer lethal injection as a method of execution for those convicted of heinous crimes (Snell 3). Specifically, “of the 43 executions carried out in 2012, all were by lethal injection” (Snell 3). Ending the life of a criminal is entirely legal, however, ending the life of a distressed patient is only legal in several foreign countries and in “3 US states, as of March 2013” ​​(Ho n.pag. ). Criminals of crimes such as aggravated murder, police office killing, and kidnapping all die painlessly and peacefully (Snell 5); however those who have lived an innocent life and are now suffering from severe pain must suffer and die dependent on machines to live their lives for them. If a doctor advises or helps a patient to end his or her life, the patient could be convicted and punished with a penalty equal to that of first degree manslaughter (Wolfe n.pag.). It appears that the United States' priorities on equal end-of-life care are misguided and tyrannical. In order to alleviate the suffering of the dying, as well as protect their dignity and independence, physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia should be legalized in the United States as an option for terminally ill patients who meet the requirements. Legalizing assisted suicide and euthanasia would free those diagnosed with a life-threatening illness from an agonizing death. Some claim that the pain is manageable with strong narcotics, yet “Only 40-60% of the pain… is relieved…. approximately ⅓ of patients have intolerable pain, not controlled when it could be” (Wolfe n. pag.). And when pain is managed and, “the ravages of…diseases often cause incontinence, severe weight loss, dementia, nausea, and other symptoms that…middle of paper…have driven physicians to suicide, to at least 15 days apart. The patient must then submit a written request, signed in front of two witnesses. Two doctors must confirm a prognosis of less than six months to live, and the patient must be informed of alternatives, such as hospice care and pain medications. Once prescribed, the lethal dose must be self-administered (“Prescribing for Suicide” n. pag.) Since “most jurisdictions that allow assisted suicide make it available only to terminally ill patients” and not to those who suffer extreme psychological pain (“Easing Death” n.pag.) , future laws should require patients to be examined by psychologists along with “making repeated death requests in writing… and being at least 18 years old.” (Wolfe n. pag.). Every law enacted comes with restrictions, and once legalized, PAS would have more than the ordinary.