Some people agree, some disagree and some are neutral to the legalization of euthanasia...

What is your opinion?

Should euthanasia be legalized?

I see it this way: Is it OK to end the life of someone that we feel is not enjoying life? If so, does that mean it's OK whether the person is 1 week old or 101 years old?
For me, the answer is no.

I think it should be legal. Why make someone suffer when all they want is to not have pain anymore.

I think it should be legal. Why make someone suffer when all they want is to not have pain anymore.

From a religious point of view: 'Who are you to play God's role'?
'Who are you to have the right to take someone's life?'


Do you think the religious bodies will accept this?
I don't think so...

Just like we euthanize dogs, and women should decide whether abortion is right for them, euthanasia should be available.

At this point, with some checks and balances. "I want to die" should not be allowed by itself. Cancer in extreme pain and wanting to die for that reason should be allowed.

Case in point: Throat cancer that matasticised and given 4 days to 4 weeks to live and in pain. Passed away in 4 days.

Coma should not be allowed yet. Too many people waking up. Only the person wanting to die and certification by a doc that recovery is not possible should it be allowed.

I don't think it should be called "assisted suicide" either. It should be called something like "self inflicted euthanasia".

I once wrote a paper called "The Happy Funeral". All of the attendies were so happy. The person that passed away had been living with parkinsons as a vegetable for 18 years. Here it would, in my opinion, be acceptable.

If you ever watched a loved one die in throes of agony from cancer eating them away,it is hard not to ask yourself ,what harm would a little extra morphine do?
On the other hand.. do we have the right to interfere with the divine?
I am so torn on this issue and always have been.
My heart says one thing and my head says another.
Do I sacrifice my religion to spare the pain of someone I love?
Your question raises more questions for me.

It is free will right? That was God's gift to us. So for one group to stop you from doing something you want to freely do isn't that group playing God by taking your free will away? If you choice euthanasia that is your choice and you can deal with god when you get to meet him/her. And the Dr has the free will to do the procedure or not again the Dr can deal with god when the Dr meets him/her.

I think it should be legal. Why make someone suffer when all they want is to not have pain anymore.

How do you know what they want? If a child has a serious illness and is suffering, why not just "euthanize" him or her?

I never claimed to know what someone wants I can only speak for myself. I can't begin to speak about a seriously ill child because I have no kids. But I know if I had cancer through out my body that was incurable and I would just suffer for the next 5 months I would want to die.

Should euthanasia be legalized?
Hello S:

It IS in my state, fortunately. We here, have a strong belief that we are the owners of our bodies, and we'll do with it what we please.

It's a very right wing notion that the government should be in control of those very, VERY personal decisions about one's body.

I'm GLAD that I have the choice to control the circumstances of my demise. I NEVER want anybody to have to change my diaper - and I never will.

Ain't this country great, or what?

excon

I never claimed to know what someone wants I can only speak for myself. I can't begin to speak about a seriously ill child because I have no kids. But I know if I had cancer through out my body that was incurable and I would just suffer for the next 5 months I would want to die.

?
You said "Why make someone suffer when all they want is to not have pain anymore?"

So the question is: How can you know what they want?

That, of course, is the issue. What we THINK a person wants may or may not be what they want.

Just make as if it was your first baby son who's suffering and doc said he has a very few chance of being saved.. What would you do?

Let say he has no chance at all. Have you ever heard of miraculous healing? Won't you believe in miracles at that particular moment?
OR would you say 'ok, kill him'?

Maybe I've misunderstand what the word means. I fully respect a person's right to SAY SO: If s/he wishes to be "euthanized" if s/he is - or appears to be - suffering but cannot indicate his wishes... but the initial question did not say so.

So Excon, is it legal in your state to "euthanize" any human being if that person's guardian or decision maker says so?

... and does this apply to anyone of any age?

Rick I was speaking in general terms. You have never seen a medical show where a person says I am in so much pain that I wish they would just kill me? The decision should be made between the Dr and the patient not someone who thinks they are doing God's work.

Are we talking about a baby that is a minute old or a baby that has been suffering for 6 months? If the baby is a minute old I would say yeah lets do what we can. If 6 months goes by and the Dr says look your son is never going to recover he is going to be in horrible pain for the last 3 months of his life then I would say end it because it is wrong to let someone suffer like that.

Good points spitvenom.. . but that is the trouble. Who is it that would decide the time?
a. 3 or 2 or 1 month before birth?
b. 1 minute or 1 day or 1 week or 1 year after birth?
c. or 90 years or 100 years or 110 years old?

So who would decide what's legal? I sure don't want some politician deciding it... and I sure don't want it to be by a majority vote either.

It should be between the patient (or the patients parent/legal guardian) and the Dr. Euthanasia should be a legal choice. I made it very clear to my wife and my parents that if for whatever reason I am only able to be kept "alive" by machines to take me off the machine's and let me die. Because lets be honest god did not make us to be kept alive by machines.

What you are describing is NOT "euthanasia" (in my opinion). If a person dictates BEFOREHAND that if s/he is in some certain circumstance (of pain and suffering, etc.) but cannot verbalize his wishes, then that is not "Euthanasia".

Clearly I've misunderstood the gist of the issue...

Euthanasia means killing a person at his own will.
If euthanasia is legalized, do you think doctors will do their best to save a life?
And for how long will euthanasia be 'killing at a person's own will'? It may later become 'killing at the doctor's will'... Not all doctors are caring and ready to see a patient lying as a living corpse on a hospital bed.. The doctor can kill the patient and say that he/she did not survive...

I understand that but I wanted to show you where I am coming from with this.

Euthanasia means killing a person at his own will.

That is very different than what most dictionaries say is the definition :)

euthanasia definition | Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=euthanasia)

Euthanasia: mercy killing to prevent a prolonged and painful death.

There are four types of euthanasia:
1 - voluntary and direct
2 - voluntary but indirect
3 - direct but involuntary
4 - indirect and involuntary

Voluntary and direct euthanasia is chosen and carried out by the patient.

Voluntary but indirect euthanasia is chosen in advance.

Direct but involuntary euthanasia is done for the patient without his or her request.

Indirect and involuntary euthanasia occurs when a hospital decides that it is time to remove life support .


A few notes on what I read.

It should be between the patient (or the patients parent/legal guardian) and the Dr. Euthanasia should be a legal choice. I made it very clear to my wife and my parents that if for whatever reason I am only able to be kept "alive" by machines to take me off the machine's and let me die. Because lets be honest god did not make us to be kept alive by machines.

This past Tuesday a California man was seconds from having his life support halted when he came out of his coma.They are calling it a medical miracle.Gives one food for thought.

There is always that risk. But I am a gambler so I always take risk.

There is always that risk. But I am a gambler so I always take risk.

I hear you.I have made it clear I am not to be kept alive either on machines.I have seen what a horrible burden that is for the loved ones and I would not wish that on anyone.

I hear you.I have made it clear I am not to be kept alive either on machines.I have seen what a horrible burden that is for the loved ones and I would not wish that on anyone.

I think that is my thing to I don't want to be a burden.

I think that if an adult with all their mental facilities choose this course it should be allowable if they have a terminal condition and don't want to prolong their life as they are in too much physical pain. This definitely should be an option for some people to be allowed to choose to end their lives with dignity rather than become a vegetable or an extreme financial burden. If someone is ready mentally, have made their peace with the world, then they should be given this option. I know that my mother would have chosen this end rather than lingering in severe pain and debility for years. Each time she had a heart attack and was hospitalized and I would visit her in the Intensive Care she would look at me and ask me why didn't I just let her go. She wanted to go, but I selfishly would not let her but kept calling the paramedics to save her and take her to the hospital.

I think it definitely should be legal, it is not the government's or church's business if someone wants to end their own life. I think it is legal in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium. In the USA, only Washington and Oregon allow it and there are many restrictions.

The patient's freedom of choice cannot be guaranteed... you can never be sure the person is not under pressure from relatives; people dying are unlikely to be free to make rational decisions...

Don't you think the legalization and practice of euthanasia may discourage research into the relief of chronic pain?

Don't you think the legalization and practice of euthanasia may discourage research into the relief of chronic pain?

No I don't think it would stop research at all. Drug companies need to make new products to make money.

No I don't think it would stop research at all. Drug companies need to make new products to make money.

The fight against pain has been very productive for the medical profession, widespread euthanasia will take the pressure off them...

Research will not stop but there may be less determination to do so..

Research will not stop but there may be less determination to do so..

I disagree Drug companies will have to do more research to create strong pain medicine's. Then they have a marketing campaign to say hey there is no need to die because of pain this new and improved medicine lets you live an active life with pain better then any other medicine before.

My brother is a budding laywer and he has got an assignment to write on mercy killing and he has to oppose the motion and for that he needs cases, esp from India, in which there be cases of mercy killings opposed with force and kindly give me material so that I could help out my bro...

If u have relevant sources or authorities, cite them

There are so many people in great pain who actually wish for death and in cases of terminal illnesses, death is already knocking on their door... from personal experience, I think it should be an option.

My brother is a budding laywer and he has got an assignment to write on mercy killing and he has to oppose the motion and for that he needs cases, esp from India, in which there be cases of mercy killings opposed with force and kindly give me material so that I could help out my bro.....


He should do his own research - someday he's going to be in Court and somebody is going to ask him a question and he should know how to find the answer.

You can't be serious?

This past Tuesday a California man was seconds from having his life support halted when he came out of his coma.They are calling it a medical miracle.Gives one food for thought.



And these are the news articles, correct or not, that make those of us who have had to make this terrible decision, have signed the papers and watched a life end, wake up in the middle of the night, sobbing and wondering if - one more day? One more hour? Was it the right decision? What if, what if, what if - ?

I don't see an easy answer here.