What are your thoughts about euthanasia?
I'm a little confused fused with each reply yet I think I get the legist of it all dealing with free will if I'm correct which I agree with this yet need to do some homework on the question at hand about euthanasia since I have not heard any one use it since I was in college/ University which is way to to long ago.
What is your definition of euthanasia? If you are dealing with Death with Dignity then I am 100% for the idea. If you are speaking of abortions because of a physical or mental defect in the fetus, then no, but should be left to the parents of the unborn.
I think it's a wonderful thing. No one should be forced to live if they don't want to. I believe that a person should have the right to end their life painlessly at any age and for any reason. There are too many people on the planet. If someone doesn't want to be here, let them go.
I am tentatively in favour of it, but the administration of death is an extremely complex issue.
They shoot horses, don't they? If something is life-threatening, or there's terrible chronic pain, or the prognosis is nothing but deterioration of body & mind, them I'm in total agreement. But turning to it just because you're depressed is a slippery slope IMHO.
To answer @Diarmaede - I think it's the person themself that gets to decide, with the help of the medical community who rubber stamps it. If the person is not mentally capable, then it's okay IF they have a legal living will drawn up. Just my opinion, but I think that's the safe way to go... otherwise, like you say - leaving it to some arbitrary legal entity without those safety nets in place leads us to Soilent Green.
Great idea. Can we start in the Oval Office?
Just being a smart ass. With reasonable safeguards in place and structured to avoid misuse and abuse, I am all for it.
It is a difficult one. I fully support an individual's right to end their own life. When it comes to someone assisting in that process then this is an area which would need to be very carefully regulated with clear and unambiguous guidelines and regulations. Asking for your life to be ended to relieve intolerable pain and suffering is an obvious candidate, but how about someone suffering debilitating mental health problems? How about non-resuscitation requests?
In principal. I generally agree that assisted suicide should be legal, but with clear and unambiguous guidelines.