Euthanasia: Mercy or Murder?

[Seshmeister]

Thanks for your thoughtful contribution.

[chefcraig]

Sure they should. That's the law.

Life's full of hard choices.

Ever been in the situation, personally? If you had, you wouldn't be so flippant with your statements on the subject. Seeing a loved one reduced in dignity is a horrifying experience. The suffering all around is nothing short of inhumane, as the patient has lost hope and is reduced to merely existing, not living. And for the family forced to stand there with their hands tied, with absolutely no way to address the situation is cruel, thoughtless and completely unnecessary.

But it's the law, so everyone should just get over it, right?

Now that I think about it, you really must be attempting to stir people up. No one could be as callously indifferent to the plight of others if they'd experienced the passing of a loved one in such a shameful manner. I get it, you are merely taking a position, portraying a devil's advocate.

Hey, that's fine. It beats the living hell out of "When do ya think we'll be hearin' some new Van Halen?"

[BigBadBrian]

Ever been in the situation, personally?

Yes


If you had, you wouldn't be so flippant with your statements on the subject.



Yes I would/am. Been there, done that. I'm more qualified to give my opinion than most on this board.



Seeing a loved one reduced in dignity is a horrifying experience. The suffering all around is nothing short of inhumane, as the patient has lost hope and is reduced to merely existing, not living. And for the family forced to stand there with their hands tied, with absolutely no way to address the situation is cruel, thoughtless and completely unnecessary.

So what did you do about it?


But it's the law, so everyone should just get over it, right?

Yep, or have the guts to do something about it.

[chefcraig]

So what did you do about it?
But it's the law, so everyone should just get over it, right?

Yep, or have the guts to do something about it.

My family, friends and I witnessed my father die a slow withering, dignity free death. The amount of guts shown by all involved was quite impressive, particularly my dad, thank you.

[binnie]

Sure they should. That's the law.

Life's full of hard choices.

Wow.

So why did you chose not to do anything about it?

I am genuinely curious.....

[binnie]

It seems to me that the whole euthenasia issue is a result of medical science's own success - keeping people alive who in any other circumstance would have died years ago inevitably yields a law of diminishing marginal returns.

None of us would want to live in countries that do not have the medical knowledge/technology that we enjoy. But given that it is medicine that has brought us to the point where we have an increasingly ageing population, it seems to be that medical practioners should be brought into the debate - surely they would be precisely the people who are most qualified to make these decisions.