Euthanasia, do you support it?

[Spif]

Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, is frowned upon in some races, religions, cultures, and countries, yet supported in others. Do you believe it should be allowed, and if so, on which terms?

Myself personally, think it should be allowed, but only for those with fatal illnesses. If someone is in insufferable pain, and would rather you pull the plug that say your goodbyes a month (or more,) later, then yes, I woud support it. However, I think that 'insufferable pain' would need to be very clearly defined, as mental conditions, or emotional conditions may be taken into account.


Anyhow, what are your opinions?

[ViciousDelicious]

There's some disease where the afflicted stays in a perpetual state of pain throughout their life time..I think that would be a valid reason for euthanasia. Also, quadriplegics, like in that Metallica song, who can no longer speak or really do anything worth-while. So basically, I agree with you, only in extreme cases. Not for someone who just thinks their life sucks and wants to burden someone else..

[devonin]

I feel that adults in possession of clear mental faculties should be allowed to do absolutely anything they want with no exceptions whatsoever. Obviously being Euthanized is including in this.

[Go_Oilers_Go]

There's a small differentiation between euthanasia and assisted suicide. Euthanasia is more of a mercy killing, whereas assisted suicide is done with the patient's consent.

Taking this into account, I don't believe that euthanasia should be legalized due to the fact that the patient may not want to die despite the fact that he/she is in extreme suffering. Assisted suicide, on the other hand, is committed at the behest of the patient.

Assuming that the patient is in a stable state of mind, I believe that we should honour his/her request to end his/her life.

In conclusion, I'm completely against euthanasia. And although I don't like the concept of assisted suicide, I don't believe there's much we can do to stop it.

[Zythus]

This thread reminiscently reminds me of "Acceptable Suicide?".

I support it because aside from technicalities, it is a person's complete and intrinsic right to decide how to live their life, and ultimately, how to end it. It seems from the start, we have already began to see the empathetical talking:

Not for someone who just thinks their life sucks and wants to burden someone else..

[OldSchoolMusic]

Yeah, I do support it. If the person can cleary say or give signs that they do not wish to live anymore, and there is no doubt what-so-ever that their mental or physical condition(s) is affecting thier decision, then we should honour that and grant his/her wish.

[darkness1477]

we should treat people like animals if thier in a great amount of phisical pain than we should jyust permanantly pout them 2 sleep

[Kilroy_x]

I agree with Devonin on this. Um, despite the phrasing. I'm pretty sure everyone knows what he meant though.

[boondocks77]

I dun like dogs.
btw Euthanasia; stupid file in this game.

[Adamaja456]

i STRONGLY support this.

I feel if you are in a vegetative state/constant pain/or YOU personally feel like the condition you are in will not improve, i strongly think you have the right to ask a doctor about assisted suicide.

[MrRubix]

I'm for it. Obviously, though, if there were no other alternatives.

[NFD]

Oh...>_<, we watched a lot of video's about Euthanasia in summer school, one was called Amos, about some old guy, and another was called Whose Life Is It Anyway? We watched one other one, but I can't place my finger on it...My dad made me watch this Robot Chicken, it was about Euthanasia.

Clip from Whose Life Is It Anyway? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WjvBHJnhbQ

"Euthanasia makes you kill your pets"

I'm for it.

[championanwar]

If there are no other options and with concent, it would seem OK.

[UserNameGoesHere]

I am going to refrain from giving a personal view of this for now.

In any case though, what I wanted to say is that whatever your view on this is should be the same as your view on suicide. If it's not, that is hypocritical. The reason being is that this is suicide but with conditions attached to it.

[Cavernio]

"I feel that adults in possession of clear mental faculties should be allowed to do absolutely anything they want with no exceptions whatsoever. "

This answer is very simple which avoids all the 'but what if's' that it brings up in regards to people who don't have 100% clear mental faculties. In fact, if you're largely physically able, and yet you want to die, some people would say that you don't have 100% clear mental faculties in the first place. This is a serious problem. I think that because of our lack of insight into a person's mental state, as well changing emotional states, and as well as our definition of mental illness being contingent of societal expectations of a person, euthanasia is not legal.

[devonin]

Originally Posted by Kilroy_x

I agree with Devonin on this. Um, despite the phrasing. I'm pretty sure everyone knows what he meant though.

What's wrong with the phrasing, I've just expanded a response about Euthanasia specifically into a statement of a general principle of mine.

Consenting adults should have the right to do absolutely anything they want, with no exceptions.

some people would say that you don't have 100% clear mental faculties in the first place.

The legal system has standards to measure mental competance, considering that one can use a lack of such competance to render themselves immune to prosecution. Pass their test, be considered mentally stable and fit to make such decisions.

[Cavernio]

So what if you don't pass their test, yet you want to die really really badly? Do you think that you should be able to be euthanised then? People compare this to putting down your pet, but your pet's not deciding whether they want to die.

[devonin]

If you aren't deemed mentally fit to make decisions for yourself, your legal next-of-kin/guardian can make such decisions for you. In such a case, it would be their call. However, presumably if you're the kind of person who would want to be euthanized, you would have made such arrangements legally beforehand when you were in fact mentally capable.

I know I've given a number of people pretty explicit directions under which I want off of life support, so my bases are as covered as they can get while these arrangements don't carry the force of law.

[welsh_girl]

I'm 100% for Euthanasia, noone should be forced to suffer a painful illness, knowing they're gunna die sooner or later.
If we're aloud to put an Animal down when it's suffering, why not a human, we suffer more mentaly and emotionally than a Dog.

And it's the worse feeling in the world watching a family member in hospital for weeks knowing they're dying and secretly suffering something which is killing them.

[Tokzic]

Euthanasia kind of implies that the person who needs to die, for whatever reason, can't kill themselves, but is able to communicate that they wish to die. So I guess this really only covers situations where whoever is in need of an end is simply physically unable to do it, which really doesn't cover much. Of course, if someone with no arms no longer wants to live and needs to be offed, I'd say it's perfectly acceptable.

I disagree entirely with devonin on the grounds that someone besides you should determine whether it's okay or not for you to die. Under no circumstances should someone else decide what's suitable for me, especially such a large decision as whether or not I should continue living.

I also would like to question "in a fit mental state to make the decision". You have to wonder exactly how stable someone is if they want to die in the first place - either clear headed enough to even look past base instincts, or jumbled enough to completely ignore base instincts. Especially when put in the position where you need someone else to kill you, you have to wonder exactly how straight you're thinking at the time.

EDIT: I kind of reiterated what Cavernio said. Serves me right for losing patience halfway through the topic.