Are you against or pro euthanasia?

@TheGreatLeveler And again, you think that because you have an opinion it carries some weight, my position is it doesn't.

@Picklebobble2 Indeed, it has become increasingly apparent that you don't have an actual counter argument to offer. Seeing as you don't have anything substantial to add on the matter, I think we can conclude that this conversation is over.

@TheGreatLeveler who are you (the non-host) to decide the value of the “potential future” is of a fetus.

There are many outcomes and “value to society” is hard to measure in a baby let alone in a unborn fetus.

I stay out of the abortion arguments for the exact reason picklebobble said.

I just wanted to point out your logical fallacy.

@SW-User It is taboo in most religions and cultures. Not just Abrahmic. It goes right down to our survival of the species instinct. There is no science based decision in it as it is a principle and not a tangible thing. It is an emotional debate over morality. There is no science to that. What does a culture decide is more moral and which wins out in the direction one wants it to go in. Towards personal choice or societal commitment?

@MethDozer evolutionary science is not a science? Rationality is science, rationality are morals, basic morals are instinctive, instinct comes from genetic coding. Psychiatry deals with emotions! Unsure you fully understand or maybe I'm not being clear. Survival of the species depends on success, success depends solely on ability to reproduce. End of.

@SW-User Right, and success if the species is partly a survival instinct that makes suicide of any form a taboo. It requires more than ability to reproduce. Fact.
Morals are not about rationality and are not a science in any way. They are principles. There is no science or proofs to principles. Or maybe you want expand the definition of science into some namby pambyism. No, morality is subjective and actually not having a natural adversion to suicide in any form of one's own is evolutionary sound. Morality is about moving beyond such base reactions. Many of our most problematic and wicked qualities are there because of evolutionary biology.

You say it is about our success to reproduce. Well aversion to death in all form increases the chances of species success. So again, it is evolutionary sound and supported by it.

@GeistInTheMachine
I understand what you're saying but I think it will pose a genuine dilemma that gets to the heart of our ethics.

Think about this, in our rush to offer a compassionate death to those who are suffering, we might also be suggesting that they are somehow worth less than others.

Another problem, with everything around us changing at a fast pace. People will start proposing that consenting adult making an informed and conscious decision to die, regardless of illness or disability can also have the right to euthanasia.

Maybe I'm taking it too far, but it's a lingering thought.

@Random1Thoughts You so right! These things have already happened in the Netherlands. Please read this book:

[i]Forced Exit[/i]

The insurance companies are pushing hard for legal assisted suicide and euthanasia.

@greenmountaingal
Thank you, will definitely do that.

@Sif42 What was the experience and process like?

If you don't mind me asking.

@GeistInTheMachine
I'm interested too.

@rckt148
I think we should have a say, the Government play a huge role and say who is eligible to live or die. We vote these politicians into parliament.

@Random1Thoughts some have no clue what the outcome of their actions are until they have made them and you can't take it back ,
And if you had to also face the consequences of the actions you would bring on someone else ,then your choice might not be so easy to make then
a friend of mine was in a coma 15 yrs ,and one day woke up
another friend had a stoke ,,,the doctors said she would recover but she would need to be on a vent she was still not able to breath on her own
My Daughter took care of this woman night and day ,and moved in with her to be her care giver for free
And a daughter she had not seen in 8 yrs came and told them to unplug her and since we never thought we would need any directives ,she got her wish
Her Mom fought 2 days ,giving her the evil eye ,but she passed
Then the cold hearted witch tried to toss her uncle into the streets
He was on the deed and still in his right mind ,she lost that one or she would have killed him too ,,,
I see a real potential for abuse ,and a means for some family to just rid themselves of a "Burden "
Unless you are a Doctor ,and know there is no chance for quality of life
I will never say you have the right to unplug someones else or give them drugs to end their lives ,you want to kill yourself thats one thing ,people do it every day ,,,my brother and best friend did ,,,bullet to the brain

@nedkelly
I don't know where I sit with this issue, I think it needs to be properly monitored.

@nedkelly There as to be strict guidelines of course.

@SW-User
I'm a coward, if I put myself in a situation where I had to make the decision for my parents. I would not have the courage to pull the plug.

@SW-User I wish the US would do this in general.

@Salix75 Yes, I mostly agree with that.

I think every person has the right to end their lives as soon as they want to, unless they have dependant kids.

@Bleed Exactly. The logical inconsistencies surrounding this issue bother me.

I don't understand why we need to treat people worse than Animals - and I'm a cynical misanthropist.

@Bleed Most people judge these situation based on medical protocols and pain management techniques which are at least 30 years out of date. Pain management and medications are greatly improved today. Hospices know how to manage pain quite well these days. In the past, it was the policy of most doctors and hospitals to restrict pain medication to avoid addictions, even if the patient was terminal. They also would restrict pain medications if the use of them would shorten a patient's life. These old policies, no longer in place anywhere, plus older less effective pain medications, are what fuel the myth that we need to legalize assisted suicide and/or euthanasia. The insurance companies and HMOs got on that bandwagon and have funded huge campaigns to legalize assisted suicide in several states. Most people have not read the Remmenlink Report done by the government in the Netherlands indicating that their assisted suicide/euthanasia program is a horrifying failure on many levels. After the government of the Netherlands funded the study, and then were shocked by it's results, they tried to suppress it, but eventually released it. For a summary of this situation, plus a well thought out discussion of the entire subject, read this book:
[i]Forced Exit[/i]

@bijouxbroussard But...when it becomes legal, the pressure from insurance companies/HMOs will take a lot of power and choice away from the individual. The government study done in the Netherlands has shown that clearly and dramatically.

Please read this book:
[i]Forced Exit[/i]

@greenmountaingal Then [b]that[/b] is what needs to be addressed, limiting the power of HMOs and insurance companies. Not repealing death with dignity laws. No, thank you, I have no taste for conspiracy theories.

@bijouxbroussard This is certainly no conspiracy theory. Insurance companies are powerful and have contributed quite a bit of money to campaigns to legalize assisted suicide. These laws are being passed, and medical policies put into place, far faster than the reform of laws about insurance and HMOs. I don't think repealing what's been done already is a good answer. We need to rethink a lot of ideas regarding this subject.

I don't think you will believe the problem is being addressed as a "conspiracy theory" if you read this book:
[i]Forced Exit[/i]

Also, there is no conspiracy involved in what has gone wrong in the Netherlands according to their own government funded study the Remmenlink Report. It's just a situation which can easily get out of control.

I used to feel exactly as you do about it until about two years ago when I decided to do some research about it. I think if you took a little time to read up on it, you might see it differently. Or even if you still retained the same point if view, at least you would understand the exact problems that need to be addressed, one way or another.