Honors Theses
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
BS
Department
Biomedical Sciences
Faculty Mentor
Peyton McElroy, Ph.D.
Advisor(s)
Delaney Verjinski, Ph.D., Sarah Urankar, M.S.
Abstract
During the last three decades, the issue of physician assisted suicide has captivated the interest of private citizens and state legislatures. Thinking about the matter of end-of-life concerns, particularly surrounding euthanasian (practices that hasten the deaths of suffering terminally ill people) have shifted. Views of private citizens and state-level legislation reflects a “slow shift to more permissive attitudes” (Cohen et al., 2012). Meanwhile, as recently as March 2026, state legislators in conjunction with the NY State Governor, passed a bill legalizing medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients. This thesis is intended to thoughtfully contribute to meaningful discourse on this issue. It is my argument that physician assisted suicide (PAS), in the context of voluntary active euthanasia, is morally righteous based soundly on bioethical principles. I will develop this conclusion through four chapters, allowing you to grasp these moral principles and their applications in voluntary active euthanasia.
Recommended Citation
Rougeou, Emma, "Choosing Death: The Moral Legitimacy of Voluntary Active Euthanasia" (2026). Honors Theses. 141.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_theses/141
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