Euthanasia any views?

[Niluial]

Out of plain curiosity I was wondering what everyone’s views are on Euthanasia. For those that don’t know; Euthanasia, sometimes called mercy killing, refers to either ending the life of a suffering or terminally ill person or acting in such a way as to allow the person to die. The word "euthanasia" is derived from Greek words meaning "good death" or "happy death." Conditions that some people consider appropriate for the consideration of euthanasia include terminal illnesses, extreme pain, and irreversible comas..

I myself am pro Euthanasia. Imagine living a life, one that you can’t do anything yourself, experience anything yourself and be a burden unto your loved ones.

Ohhh and here are a few links:

Euthanasia Website

Euthanasia Facts

[GaladrielOlden]

I believe that sometimes it's just the most merciful thing to do. Only in some cases - eg, those where the person is just a vegetable and has no chance of ever being anything else.

-Menelien

[Wren]

I think either road: Euthanasia or abortion is a slippery slope taking us places where we probably don’t want to go. I feel that as long as there is life there is hope. When you choose to end your life, all hope is gone. I am against Euthanasia in general, however I’m all for personal freedom. If someone doesn’t want to live any more, while I think it is wrong for them to take their life. I’m not in their situation. I can only imagine what it is like to face a slow, painful death. In the ideal world, it would be best for each person be allowed to make their own situation.

But we don’t live in an ideal world. Once laws are passed a precedent is set. The door is open for even more such laws of a similar nature. For example right now we can kill our unborn children. We can end our life if we are sick enough. But what if we are very sick, and the situation appears hopeless, but we are too incapacitated to make this decision for ourselves? Does the doctor make this decision? The government? Our family?

And what will the next law to be passed entail. Perhaps people not useful to society out to be euthanized. People in nursing homes with no income and no family to take care of them are certaintly a drain on our society. After all, they probably aren’t very happy living in a nursing home. It would be a kindness for them to have their suffering ended. And what about handicapped persons. Those who are not famous or wealthy? Obviously these are exteme examples, but its not exactly uncommon. We have only to look back to WWII, and remember what Hitler accomplished.

[GaladrielOlden]

While I may not like the way America/other parts of world are run, I certainly wouldn't compare them to the Germany of Hitler's times. Actually, I'd say this isn't a slippery slope at all, rather a very sturdy one.

-Menelien

[Dragoneyes]

We can end our life if we are sick enough.

I don't know where you are, but in England euthanasia is against the law.

Personally, if someone I knew was going to die, I'd rather they'd die sooner rather than later so I can get over it sooner rather than later. Ultimately, it's the people who carry on living after that matter because they have to deal with the consequesnces and the dead person is dead and nothing's going to change that.

Also, the earlier a person dies, the better they look. That may seem a little shallow but really, would you like to remember someone as they'd always been or as an emaciated corpse?

[Elentari]

I'll probably be studying euthanasia in ethics soon, but we're learning about abortion first. I believe euthanasia is right in some circumstances. For instance, there's a disease that gradually stops any movement of muscles, and I personally would hate to be fully aware of my surroundings but not be able to interact with them, let alone being a burden to those who love me. It's painful for the loved ones of terminally ill patients, yet it's also painful for them if you die. And what if a few years after someone was allowed to and there was a miracle cure created for the illness they had.

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