What's wrong with putting people out of their misery if they are dying a painful death? We consider it a kindness to give a suffering pet on its last legs a fatal dose of anaesthetic, why can't the same right be available for humans if they want it?
Because, for some strange reason, people persist under the ridiculous illusion that I'm not right about everything....
What about euthanasia for those who aren't terminally ill but suffer from debilitating depression or mental illness? If they choose to end their lives why should we deprive them of a method which is painless and easy? And wouldn't the world be a better place with a few less emos?
Most people can't comprehend why someone would want to die, it hurts their head to think about it, so they simply don't. I suppose I'd say I'm for it. If they were dying and in pain, or there was no hope of them getting better. I think it's better to help people preserver and push through then just give up though. Also it would have to be really controlled, I mean, how available are we talking? If I'm really depressed one day, and in that moment, where you really want to die, can I just walk in and be killed? I generally tend to believe that people should be allowed to do what they want as long as they aren't harming anyone, but this I'm kind of on the fence about. If you're old and dying and your only alive becuase you have some machine breathing for you or something, then, yes, I suppose that's one thing, but I don't think dying should be seen as a good alternative in situations like depression, becuase that can be pushed through. And besides that, and sorry if this comes out insensitive, but if someone really wants to die, will they not just kill themselves anyway? I mean... it happens all the time. I know that with euthanasia it wouldn't be painful and what not, but I think teaching people that hey you're depressed, well you have the option of going to the hospital and having them kill you! It seems like giving up on people instead of trying to help them. I really don't know. This was kinda a pointless post. Sorry..
Someone with an already life-threatening illness that causes pain and suffering I say sure. But to take it to the step of saying someone that is depressed should be allowed to call the doc and say they want to off themselves. well, that's just wacky. they wouldn't WANT to kill themselves if they weren't depressed. but oops, no tomorrow when you feel better because today you want to take the medical alternative to driving into a brick wall.
We can't allow euthenasia because people are bad, and there will, sure as eggs, be situations where the frail are made to leave this mortal coil before there time. I understand some people will suffer unnecessarily but I don't believe we should cross the line.
I was thinking a similar thing. Some people who are not capable of talking or letting others know how they feel might be assumed to be having a bad time and the choice of living taken away by somebody who thinks they know best. That was a long sentence. But yeah, if it was to be allowed then there would have to be some sort of prior consent by the person before were too ill to know whats going on.
To safeguard against those kinds of abuses you would need a clear unequivocal impartially witnessed statement from the person concerned, backed up by medical opinion regarding their prognosis. I can't really see a a situation where we would allow other people to make those kinds of decisions for someone. But a person of sound mind making the informed decision to die with dignity rather than suffer agonising pain, backed up by the opinion of their doctor? That's surely their own decision. If the proper safeguards are in place to prevent abuse, what wrong with that?
The problem would be with "the proper safeguards". Fine in the majority of circumstances I'm sure but there will always be an opportunity for abuse of the system and that makes me uncomfortable. You would even have some people choosing to die early because they feel a burden to their offspring, or even as an opportunity to pass on their wealth to help their children before time.
Look one can kill oneself if one wants, and I do realise it's not always practical, but you just can't have it legal.
I think if euthanasia was legal to be practised by doctors only, then the boundaries would be a lot more clear cut and potential for abuse greatly diminished. The only factor that necessitates euthanasia carried out by family or friends is precisely because it is illegal and because doctors are not permitted to practice it. If doctors were allowed, with express consent from the patient, then you would eliminate outside influence entirely. I think that's the only humane way you can do it....
And what about people feeling obliged to leave so they no longer burden, nor keep assets away from their offspring, they would give express consent to be killed off. If the proposal was adopted I also feel that in not too long a time it would become almost an unwritten obligation upon the elderly to take euthenasia. Why be a burden to your family and society, "best all round if I ask the nice doctor for one of those little jabs".
