scigirl

As a future doctor contemplating going into geriatrics, this issue will no doubt surface in my practice. I just want to say thanks to everyone that has shared their personal stories and thoughts. I would post my views here, but honestly I dont' think I really know what I will do until I actually face the situation.

I think about this subject all the time and I keep coming back to Siv's quote here:

Although I wholeheartedly agree with this statement in theory, I have a really really tough time actually imagining myself killing someone or helping someone else kill themselves, no matter how noble the decision.

I only hope that "last resort" becomes a very very minor part of my population - maybe zero percent. A law that allows or endorses euthanasia/PAS needs to guarantee that first, the medical professionals addressed all the concerns such as pain management and mental health counseling, and also needs to ensure that better communication exists between all parties involved - the hospital staff, patient, and family.

scigirl

Edited to clarify my position on the law I would support.

[ December 16, 2002: Message edited by: scigirl ]</p>

PotatoError

A soldier who kills and maims hundreds of people for their country will be cheered by many people.

However a doctor who cures and aids hundreds of people will be accused of evil murder if they help someone to willfully die humanely.

This view mainly goes for religious people who are the main opponents of euthanasia.

Weird isn't it.

winstonjen

The anti-euthanasia/assisted suicide people don't care about the person in suffering. Why? It's very simple - 99% of their 'arguments' focus on the moral aspect, NOT the person in suffering. As far as I know, they care more about being seen as morally correct than anything else. They also want the terminally ill to stay alive - for their own happiness - not the happiness of the one in suffering. It also seems that they've never heard of the phrase, "When you love someone, set them free." Another thing that makes no sense in the law is how if you don't euthanise a pet, you get jailed for cruelty. Yet if you do the same for a human being, you get jailed. Why? Religious bigots forcing their views on everyone whether it was their business or not! The trick is to die when you want to die. It's tragic when these people become too weak to commit suicide by themselves, and they need help, but they can't get help because of the legal issues. This motivates other people in a similar situation to commit suicide before they lose the ability to do it alone, so they end up dying earlier. Anti-euthanasia right-to-life (who actually advocate a DUTY to life) bigot bastards also support slavery, because they're telling people that their life is not their own. Hmm. Didn't Abraham Lincoln abolish that foolishness centuries ago?