What do you think? Share your pro or con views and help us foster civil, intelligent discussion on important social issues.
If you're looking to attack, harass, demean, or impersonate others, please go elsewhere.
Read the rules on submitting comments at ProCon.org.
Please note that the pro and con comments and thumbs up/down votes reflect the views of ProCon.org readers and not necessarily of ProCon.org or society in general. Remember to enter your email address so we can notify you if your comment gets posted. Thank you!
"I work in a nursing home and often wonder what a patient thinks, some wish they could die. I had to make the choice with my father who has a massive MI [myocardial infarction or heart attack] and after days to take him off life support. As a family member to do this is still hard to fathom, but shouldn't a person have the right to choose when they are of able mind and body. I have been in the medical field for over 20 years, I have watched doctors put patients on dialysis just for the money, when you ask that person what they want often its just to say goodbye to a loved one and die. I believe we need to take a stand on PA [physician-assisted] suicide and make it legal."
"I have watched two husbands die of terminal diseases they cried right up to the end. They prayed to die. I was told they were being made comfortable then why was my husband screaming in pain for the last few months. I believe the laws in Massachusetts ned to change for terminally ill patients who will lay in bed for months with nurses trying desperately to get to everyone and give them special care, they are unpaid and usually where they work they are understaffed. I have watched the nurses cry and NA cry for people. God bless the nurses they do a job I could never do and all in hospitals and nursing homes. Both husbands suffering was an act of crulety and listening to their pleas to die is heart wrecking on the family."
"the problem with euthanasia is there is human error one innocent life is too many so this is why it must not be done in the medical field. There are other ways that a person can kill themselves peacefully on their own time not on the doctors time. Doctors are here to heal and save not kill."
"It is hard to have a love one suffer through a futile life fight. When it is known to all who have lived this senario, it is best to let our love free to pass on and to let lose their suffering. I had a Mom who battled cancer, she wished to live, but a time came when the pain grew too sever and she would have welcomed the end sooner than she had. This is the hash reality of medical futility. She could not end this painful encounter on her own terms, so the famliy stayed and prayed and cried with her to the agonizing end. We prayed for PAS, but in CA it is not "legally humane." What is wrong with the way we deal with a "Good Death" as opposed to the passive that one has to endure."
"I used to be totally against Euthanasia, but now am rethinking my position. The reason is that my 84 year old mother no longer has much quality of life. She was extremely ill 2 weeks ago and we thought she was going then, but she rallied. She has told me several times since then that she feels 'worn out' and is 'ready to go,' 'ready to go home'... Years ago, she would have been gone by now. She can no longer read, write, or enjoy her life as she used to. I have come to believe that our medical society is keeping her alive, and for what?"
"I shall pray for you Donna. I just buried my husband who was 85 and terminal he suffered for months. I also didn t believe in Euthansai but now I believe in it. Not only does the person suffer unneeedesly but the family suffers watching a loved one suffer this is cruel the laws need to be changed we put people in office, we the people , if we stand together we can change the law and also vote out people who will allow terminally ill or the elderly to suffer"
"I have never really liked euthanasia but now I hate it since my mom lost her life to this against her and her families will. It is hard to believe how illegal it is but still accepted."
"To Daniel If someone wants to die they should not have the hospital staff do it for them.The medical staff has absolutely no business taking lives. Taking lives needs to be kept out of the medical field. This should be very illigal.In the past if someone wanted to die bad enough they took it upon themselves. If that happens it is sad but at least a medical staff was not involved"
"u must believe that people that are physically changed or mentally challenged should be put down. That is what the medical field believed with my mom since she had some memory problems but was getting better from the surgery she had.They took it upon themselves to take her life from her and her family. Killers have too much power in the medical field"
"I can understand that compared to you, her quality of life is much less than. But who decides what quality of life makes life worth living. If your mother believes in Heaven and Jesus (as do I) she should remember that going home to be with the Lord is not something God wants us to make happen in our time. He decides when we should come home. Praying for you during this time."
"I am pro-euthanasia. I have two children who were born healthy, but at age 9 & 7 were diagnosed with a fatal degenerative neurological disease. My daughter suffered seizures, loss of function, vomiting, racing heart, uncontrolled temperature, and migraines for years. At the end she was blind, mute, psychotic, incontinent, and unable to move her torso. Medication was ineffective, and no cure. Medical protocol would have been to put in a feeding tube, breathing vent, and let her continue to become a vegetable until her heart gave out or the seizures became unresponsive to the medications given through the tube. After an extremely rough year when she was hospitalized for a month and then so miserable, we opted to refuse these medical interventions, so when she could no longer be forced to take her seizure meds by mouth, the seizures ended her life at 19. It took 4 days and was so hard to watch. Her neurologist would not sedate her and Hospice drugs were ineffective. Since then our state has passed assisted-suicide legislation and we have found a compassionate Palliative Care group. I hope it will be better for our son."
"I am so sorry for her pain and the pain of your family. I am also pro on this topic. I also find it very interesting that the people on the con side have nothing to go against your story. This is why it should be legal. Again I am sorry for your family's pain and I pray your son gets the help he DESERVES."
"If you noticed the CON side has not completly educated themselves on what euthanasia is, what the laws are for the doctors preforming euthanasia, or what state a person must be in to have euthanasia perform on them! I had to write a research paper on euthanasia and looked at every side of the subject and what the PROS and CONS were, plus had to debate people on the other side of of the fence than myself. I have to say to the "Christian" naysayers that reguardless of you beliefs there are many other beliefs/customs around the world...Church and Goverment should be seperate. Just because it is legal does not mean drs are killing off the old and disabled unless it is an incomeptent which is a different subject NOT an euthanasia problem. The Terri Schiavo case has nothing to do with euthanasia...it is a rigorous/long battle to even be approved and the patient ONLY can do this after seeing numerous people. Don't just throw up a bias opinion...RESEARCH IT!!! I have been a CNA for hospice for 15yrs, I spend the worst and most painful times with people dying...try my job for awhile before you get back to me with any of your bias comments. Just because it is legal does not mean you have to condone it but let people choose for themselves!!!"
"100% agree Stacey, the con side seems to think that if they show up at a hospital they may randomly be selected to be euthanised. There seems to be an apparently wide gap in the understanding between the two sides."
"I also work as a Cna and i agree with you one hundred percent!. no one realizes what the death and dying are going through and how much they suffer. also for the christian side that say euthanasia is playing god, what about medication, surgery, and therapy, that is all playing god and changing his course for you. people need to rethink their sides."
"you think the laws are abided by in the medical field Your research did not include the families of victims that were euthanized.That would have been more helpful to you. There are books written about this. There are many ways of doing euthanasia where a family may not even realize that their loved one died from euthanasia.Yet other times they do realize. These laws are easily broken since the ones that r supposed to protect don't always protect.They accept instead. I was in the real world I saw these laws broken and accepted. So until you have actually seen it with your own eyes or have researched families that lost ones to illegal euthanasia, then you have not fully educated yourself.Some books are very good for learning the basics, but do not teach you about the real world.You did not learn how drs get around the rules and how they twist situations to their own liking and how it is just accepted. You need not be so naive as I was until I saw what really happened behind the scenes.Just like not every girl is going to grow up to marry a prince and not every criminal gets caught. I want to see any medical staff who participates in euthanasia to get prison for life. That is the law that we need to pass."
"Try watching your relative fight for her life while the medical staff takes it by forcing her to take deadly drugs against her will and puts her into many drug comas and then says that she has no quality of life because she is drugged into a coma. The last one she did not come out of.They would not give her that chance So they refused to treat her treatable infection because she had no quality of life from being overdosed by deadly narcotics. Maybe if you loved one was taken from you right in front of your eyes you may think twice about euthanasia all killings need to be illegal."
"I have been an LVN for 20 years almost retiring from it and I retired from the Corps for almost 22 years and let me tell you, no matter how much people are suffering, Doctors or other medical personnel should never take a man/woman's life no matter what quality they have. Take it from me, who took nearly hundreds of men, women and children's lives. The feeling never fades and the faces will always be remembered. If we, medical personnel, are legal to killing these less quality life people, we might as well be Adolf Hitler killing everybody else. We have to understand that suffering is a part of life, without suffering, when will we, my fellow brothers and sisters, learn to love each other. My mother is suffering from stage 4 breast cancer, she's suffering from immense pain, but she said she wants to live. I have stayed with her for 2 months out of the 3 she's expected to live, and it seems to get worse. I remember her saying the other day, this physical pain hurts, but what would hurt more is not seeing her beautiful family by her side anymore... My mother made me believe that there is a God, and i pray for him to take her in his arms or heal her from this..."
"i am a pro becuase i really dont enjoy watching people suffer i watched the pain my grandmother went through and i wish no one else that pain that is why i am pro on this topic"
"I don't agree with Toms response. Everyone has a time to die, if they are only living obecause of the machines the are on and the are still suffering then why would they want to live? "If there is a chance to survive?" If you could get out of the coma and walk away sure stay alive but staying alive in a coma is no live to live, believe me I work at a retirement home, everyday residents asks to be put a sleep, the suffering is to much for them."
"How about when the medical staff takes a life try watching that. When the patient is fighting to live but because of the patients age and because the patient has been drugged too many times the staff thinks it is ok to kill. Medical staff should not have the right to murder"
"i think what you are saying is because of your timidness what if there is a chance to survive ? just you need to search in the history and then you will find out how many people were rescued but if they have cared about euthanasia none of them would survive!!!"
"I'm pro because I right now am working in the medical field and I see many people die painful deaths and in the rights of the patients it says that they have the right to be free of pain. Yes, it may include their life but people who are having this done to them usually have terminal diseases and either which way they're going to die. They at least deserve the right to die without suffering. Also, if the government is willing to allow abortions legal than how can they sit here and complain about this."
"Well, I do not think the medical staff has a right to take a life.They also do not have a right to influence and persuade someone who is ill, or the family of someone who is ill to euthanize.Even though doctors do not know when a patient is going to die that sure wont stop them from suggesting euthanasia.This will happen if euthanasia is in the medical field. If doctors r perfect and r GOD then that would be different. Otherwise we can depend on them to kill and who knows what kind of patient they would choose. I noticed that you and many of the other pro euthanasia say USUALLY these patients are terminal. So other wards not everyone is terminal but its ok to euthanize even if they are not terminal since they will die anyway. HMMMMM just as everyone else is going to die someday also right????.Lives will be cut short for sure,if it were legal with medical staff involved.The pro eutho are saying leave it up to the patient, but yet the doctor is the one patient and family will listen to for advise. I would say u do not have any respect for life along with other people in the medical field. I would sure like to know where u work so I can stay far away as well as my family and friends."
"what about people that don't have the fatal diseases what is the excuse for killing them?????? killing of anykind weather it be babies elders disabled anykind of killing should be illegal."
"Yes, especially since it is a person's life, and if they choose to end it, then it should be done. It doesn't matter if a person is going to commit suicide or not, if a person wants to die, you can't stop them. They made up their mind. If they allowed it, then the school shootings such as Columbine, Virginia Tech, and the ones in Finland and University of Illinois wouldn't have happened. His diaries said Dylan wanted to die, it wouldn't have done any good to let him live, same as with Dimebag Abbot's killer. If a person wants to do that, they're going to do it regardless. If a person feels they don't want to go on, shouldn't they have the right to leave this earth with dignity, instead of hardship? It might save a lot of lives, if this were legalized. I mean, it is a person's life, and they want to take their own life, shouldn't they be allowed to? It isn't right to keep them alive if they don't want to be alive. Their lives, their choice. Maybe if they allowed this, there wouldn't be mass shootings, since the only person they would want to kill would be themselves. I say, legalize it, since the only ones who would die, would be the ones who want to, not the ones who don't. Would be a better place if we had choices, right?"
"@Pam, number one, the thing you call "god" doesn't exist. It is a frivolous thing that lazy people use for a crutch. Number 2, they made the decision. The idea of someone saying it was god's choice, as you put it is almost laughable, and believe me, I am laughing. Who is man to dictate it, as you ask? Well, they make the decision, and them alone.
"I am pro for Euthanasia because if I were terminally ill & suffering i would want to have the option. Some see it as morally wrong but as a wise man once said "i will choose by ship before sailing out to see, i will chose the house i will take residence in & i will choose my death.""
"God is in charge of your life, he has a plan for you. And suicide is not the plan he has for you or any of us. If a medical physician suggests euthanasia he/she is basically stating that they cant help you and that you just need to die. Why would you want somebody you trust to suggest that to you? I believe that it is murder and it is wrong!"
"This message is coming from a female who has suffered from a 'seizure disorder' for the past 23 years. Over this time the condition has only worsened. And, yes, I have sought treatment at some of the most well-known facilities, such as John Hopkins and even Harvard. And yet, I have absolutely no quality of life, the condition remains uncontrolled after countless therapies. If there were a Dr. Kevorkian available to me, I would gladly place myself in his hands and end this torture. I also do not have any substance abuse or psychiatric disorder. How could any doctor sleep at night knowing the torture I am subject to. Euthanasia laws should not be a crime, but an end to torture."
"@ tsue... that's the problem here... people like you have NO compassion. You say you'll sit there and pray for this person. You pray and you feel better and then you get to go about your busy little life. But Carole has endured 23 years of pure HELL b/c of this and you have the audacity to say that it has been give as a blessing!?!?"
"although I know not your suffering, I do pray you can find something in life that makes you happy. I pray you can sit in peace, but most of all I pray you can see your life has been given to you as a blessing find someway to help others find some way to enjoy this precious small amount of time we are given here on this earth."
"We would not dream of making (or watching) our dear pets suffer through an uncurable illness, so why would we do less for human beings? It's a humane way to end suffering! And one should be able to make the choice for oneself, or have the choice made by loving family members. I have a definition of "life" that does NOT include unbearable pain or terminal mental or physical suffering. Yes, euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide should be an option."
"For Sarah and what about the person who goes in for a simple surgery and comes out with a curable skin infection that is never treated and given enough narcotics to kill them and then when a pic line is put in because they are in a drug overdose and the infection then goes sepsis from no treatment,then treated but the treatment not finished instead since she is in a drug coma she does not have a quality of life, therefore her life is taken with meds that would be given a person in her condition only if you want them dead. Now correct me if I'm wrong I always thought of hospitals as a place to receive medical care why are they now becoming a place where murder takes place????????????"
"While the opponents of assisted suicide have an agenda, they do not provide solutions or alternatives; but instead place further financial and psychological burdens on ill and dying individuals, their families, and the communities."
"People should absolutely have the right to DEATH WITH DIGNITY. All these "con" people seem to have forgotten, that the reason we are debating this subject so that we may have the right to die with dignity. swallowing a bunch of pills, and having your body slowly and painfully shut down does not represent dignity, nor does hanging, cutting, or shooting yourself. We argue, because euthanasia is a kind, peaceful way to go. They also seem to forget that "God" was a person as well. So what gives him the right to tortuer people and keep them alive, if they wish to die?"
"Why only if they are about to die? Why force those of us with chronic, but not immediatly terminal, illness to suffer and force us burden to ourselves? I think you're on the wrong side. It's either our right or not. Do I get to determine for you when your pain is unendurable?"
"Im in a tough situation I have to decide if my Grandpa lives or dies I don't know what to do? Im so scared I don't want to make him suffering But I don't want him to die on my watch.I'm sorry I'm rambling I just found out the news yesterday. In my history class I researched Euthanasia. But I didn't do so well. Im so scared he's 85 and well i just not ready to lose him if you can help it would be great its just so hard to lose a loved one. If people were allowed to use Euthanasia just imagine it yeah life's would be lost but they want to die. What about the people that are dyeing but don't want to die. They could be saved by the people that want to die by. the people that die could donate their origins to the people that are dyeing it could save as many people as it it kills."
"You make a good point. It's as simple as asking his wishes if you can. Letting a loved one pass is sad but if they want to go it's the kind, unselfish thing to do. You make a good point about organ donation."
"It is unfortunate that you have to be left to make that decision for your grandpa... I would just say to make sure you know what you are doing and that you are comfortable with your decision. For the rest of your life you will wrestle with yourself if you are not confident you did the right thing. I would say, err on the side of caution."
"Of course it should be legalized. I mean, there are people out there who are suffering from debilitating diseases, or severe depression, or grief that don't want to live, and will probably stop at nothing to die. Assisted suicides help people who don't want to live anymore go with dignity, since they only want to leave this earth, and should ave the right to do so. Now, in the case of the columbine gunmen, Dylan wanted to die so bad. If assisted suicide was allowed, then the shooting at Columbine wouldn't have happened, since the only person who would've died, was Dylan. Now, as far as other cases, if a person wants to die, shouldn't they have that right? You would have alot less problems if it were legalized, since the only victims are the people who wanted to die, instead of the shootings in the mall, or concerts, such as with the case of Dimebag Abbot. I say, allow the person who wants to leave this earth the right to do so. It is more humane for them, especially since it wouldn't matter. The choice was made and they want to leave. Shouldn't they be allowed to do so? If it were leagalized, then there would be alot less problems in society. A person who wants to die only cares about one thing, and nothing more. Why keep them?"
"Hey, you can disagree, but for those who are gone, whether it would be by a doctor's hand, or their own, hey, I don't feel sorry for them, especially since they never were fans of mine, or did anything for me, so I say two words, GOOD RIDDANCE! It's that simple. I don't feel sorry for them, but you are entitled to your opinion, as I am entitled to mine.
"These people had a choice to just kill themselves only or themselves with others. They made the choice to kill themselves and others.So a doctor killing them would have not helped this situation in the slightest. If anyone wants to die weather they have a terminal illness or not they can find a means to kill themselves and even peacefully but it should not have anything to do with a dr or medical field. doctors are supposed to be there to heal and save never to take lives. Taking lives is up to the person who wants to take their life if they must. I do not agree but it is not up to me."
"I agree with you durfee, but you are talking about common animals, but the most common animal that we put to sleep, are our lovely pet, and if your pet is suffering what would you do? Think about it."
"Animals are not people. When a chicken dies, it's lunch. When a person dies, it's a tragedy. If human life is on the same level as animal life, then why don't we line people up in slaughterhouses and eat them."
"The 'con' people say that it is murder. Murder is defined as 'to kill inhumanely and barbarously' at www.dictionary.com. When a patient is terminally ill and will die anyway, and they are in so much pain that their life isnt worth living, they should be allowed ask a doctor to kill them. The doctor will then provide an injection with drugs that will stop the heart, and the patient suffers no more. The most important thing to remember is that the patient asked the doctor. It is not murder."
"The problem is that doctors are already doing this. They will take it upon themselves to decide that the patient has no quality of life and then discuss it and kill the patient.This is very wrong and illegal but it is accepted. This is what we must put an end to instead of being concerned about a patient asking the doctor for help in killing themselves. Patients can kill themselves if they want to bad enough. Since euthanasia is already being done then think how much easier it will be for doctors to kill. Much too easy. Stopping doctors from euthanizing is what needs to be done not getting help from drs to kill."
"ya but R durfee it isnt guilt if they wanted you to do it and it isnt a natruel death its an unfair death and nobody should have to die a slow and painfull death"
"I'm sorry but I don't base my understanding on what murder is on what websters dictionary says. If a murderer was on trial for killing someone "humanely" , they would still be guilty of murder. Murder is taking someones life. If you ask me, if an individual really wants to end their life, there are ways that don't require a cooperative effort. No one should have blood on their hands and feel guilty for a lifetime because an individual couldn't wait for death to come naturally"
"I believe euthanasia should be legalized... throw in safeguards to avoid the parade of concerns trotted out by opponents - some of them are well taken. But wholesale laws prohibiting assisted-deaths are ultimately nothing more than government-sponsored religious-based dogma and should be repealed and replaced with sensible, compassionate laws...
[E]ven the Oregonian law doesn't go far enough. That law only honors a right to die if an individual is terminally ill and is expected to die within 6 months and asks the physician to end their suffering early. People with Alzheimer's who no longer know who they are, who are bedridden and who cannot clothe or feed themselves can live for years and years and so will not fit that criteria. Folks in the early stage of Alzheimer's, when they can still demonstrate the ability to reason, should be able to dictate the benchmarks for when they would like to die with dignity."
"The medical community is using us with disease to collect data, study and create medicine they can profit from. There Is no other reason no to honor our requests to pass on."
"Right so wanting people the right to be able to choose death to spare themselves of the horrors of life is bad? The only thing that could possibly be wrong about this is if we help in their choice, other than that all it really is ,is that they want to run away from life and really... I can't blame them I only have a mental disorder that barely effected me and I can't stand it in this world if I didn't have people depending on me I wouldn't want to live either."
"Maybe people with Alzheimer can go on living and are ok with their life. U seem to be encouraging these people that they should not want to live. That is their choice and their choice only. Just like people with disabilities also go on. So maybe people with disabilities should also take their life what about the elderly also who cares if they are healthy and what about people who do not have blue eyes and blonde hair what about those people too maybe they would also would not want to live."
"many people with this disease have either been misdiagnosed or want to continue their life whatever it may be. I must say that Ur way of thinking is absolutely disgusting. How uncaring can you be wow is all I have to say to that comment.U must be one of these trouble makers on the internet"
"people im not against god i do believe in him, but when u try to justify your argument with religion, you all come off as ignorant, sure euthanasia can be treated irresponsibly, but i dont understand why ending someones live because they request it, because of their pain and suffering, and how they want there family to view them as what they were not as they are now is wrong, i want to be a doctor, and if u look it up euthansia is terminology going back to ancient greece, and euthanasia is used by doctors because it is there job"
"If euthanasia can be treated irresponsibly why r u acting like that is nothing. ur saying oh well they take an extra life or 2 but oh well it was just a life, no big deal. That is happening now and one of the most precious lives they took life happened to take was my mom's life. I have seen one mistake 2 many and have heard of many more. So obviously it is being used irresponsibly and instead of wanting it legal it needs to become illegal and since we are not back in the cave man day, any medical staff who contributes in euthanasia should be in prison for life that is what laws need to change."
"i work @ a hospital as a cna and i see how patients go "downhill" rather quickly. the family makes the ending decision wich is very difficult. my grandmother died from a terminal illness also. it hurt all of us grandchildren to see her in the pain, and confusion. some days she just did want to die, this was of course after every attempt to fully get rid of the cancer. i think that as long as the patient is in his/her right of mind they should be able to make the decision as to weather or not be assisted in passing. i wouldn't want to sit ther and pretty much waste away to nothing and stress out my family in the process. in the end the patient passes away anyway."
"It is worse stress on a family when your loved one's life is stolen from her by the medical staff because they get your loved one into a drug coma and decide that she has no quality of life and it is time to kill her. That is even worse since her or our family did not ask to have her life taken.If euthanasia was legal it would make it that much easier for doctors to take lives instead of save lives like it is in the netherlands. There are many reports of family being killed in the hospitals in netherlands. It is just more convenient for the staff."
"I think all those against should be forced to care for all those unable to continue to care for themselves. They won't, yet they sit in judgement of the one in pain. God help you when your time comes."
"i am pro because not only is life of not very good quality at the point where you want to end your own life, but you are taking away treatments, blood and a hospital bed from someone else who has a chance at quality life still. if your peace is said to your family and friends then your next peace should be in heaven."
"The big problem with that is doctors are already too eager to free up hospital beds etc and the evil drs would encourage euthanasia weather the person was dying from a incurable disease or not. Euthanasia is not only deadly for a incurable patients, but for curable patients as well, since some doctors are all for what is best for the doctor."
"This is coming from a professor of philosophy the purpose of Euthanasia is] to relieve them of their intolerable and unending suffering. The patient's wish -- see, that's not my wish. And that's what [...] Hippocrates says. He says you are the servant of the patient. The servant. But doctors today consider themselves, you know, the overlord of the patient. They've got that twisted backwards. So I've got to do what the patient requires. So I always felt that their wish comes first, no matter what."
"The problem is it becomes more acceptable like it is now. When the doctors decide that the person no longer has a quality of life they can kill them in very sneaky ways.If the doctors feel like the patient is old, disabled whatever and they do not have a quality of life they can end the life of the patient (commit murder) At least in southern calif this is acceptable.Not legal but acceptable. The person may just be temporarily disabled or permanently from the overdose of drugs that the doctors put them in. What happens if this is legal then it will make it that much easier for doctors to kill. They already have covered up their mistakes by blaming patients deaths on whatever the patient had rather on the mistakes or overdose of drugs that they gave them. Why make it easier for medical staff to kill they already have it too easy."
"It is interesting that the CON comments are in majority by MD's, the rest being people with strong religious beliefs. I would not argue with the later ones. It is their privilege to believe in whatever they think is right. The doctors though don't have the right to comment. The terminally ill patients are their milking cow in America, where the medical care is not only not free, but about twice as expensive than in the rest of the developed countries. Do I want to spend in my last years of life all my hard saved money on doctors Mercs? Sure not. Fortunately we have guns in this country and they can right the wrong legalized by the doctors. Swallowing a bullet is the "self-euthanasia" I can do, if necessary, and no doctor or their lawyers can prevent me."
"I applaud your bravery. As a woman, I have found myself unable to do that, but do neg for permission to take the merciful prescription available in Europe where they are less interested in profit off humans than care of them."
"there r drugs that are non prescription that can be used. It should not be done by a doctor. Since they do not always make accurate diagnosis. Who wants to count on a person's decisions about weather you live or die.doctors should not have that choice"
"I skimmed the pro and con arguments, and was a bit surprised to see you using this quote, as it's simply false:
'Yet the September 1991 official government Remmelink Report on euthanasia in the Netherlands revealed that at least 1,040 people die every year from involuntary euthanasia. Their physicians were so consumed with compassion that they decided not to disturb the patients by asking their opinion on the matter.'
If you read the Remmelink report, it makes clear that almost all of these patients were within hours of death and no longer competent. So 'decided not to disturb them' is utterly misleading."
"There are a lot of false statements created from fear. I only hope those against are put in the situation I find myself in. Experiencing is Knowing and not just believing from afar."
"well where I live in america euthanasia is used against the families and patients will. It is even used if the patient can be treated with the proper meds and recover. If the hospital wants to economize by not using meds that are required to treat an infection then the staff can say the patient has no quality of life and make up medical problems that the patient does not have and take the patients life. This is in america and a state where euthanasia of any kind is illegal and wrong. I unfortunately have had to deal with this since this happened to our family. There are many families who do not realize that their relative was euthanized.We just happened to realize what was happening. Making euthanasia legal would be so terrible to so many families and lives."
"Oh I see what you are saying These patients were going to die soon because the dr decided that they did not have long to live. Hope the dr knows what they r talking about, cause im sure doctors never make mistakes. these patients were already not competent. so the drs decided to take it upon themselves to kill them. Oh ok but according to all u pro people didn't u say that it was the choice of the patient not the dr??? if the patients are incompetent (meaning that they are not capable of being able to decide if they want to die) then how can they decide????? u have made the point that drs do take lives even if it is not wanted by patient. case closed."
""I work in a nursing home and often wonder what a patient thinks, some wish they could die. I had to make the choice with my father who has a massive MI [myocardial infarction or heart attack] and after days to take him off life support. As a family member to do this is still hard to fathom, but shouldn't a person have the right to choose when they are of able mind and body. I have been in the medical field for over 20 years, I have watched doctors put patients on dialysis just for the money, when you ask that person what they want often its just to say goodbye to a loved one and die. I believe we need to take a stand on PA [physician-assisted] suicide and make it legal.""
"Not in the medical field. If a person wants to kill themselves bad enough that has happen, but if someone wants to take their life that is another. It should be banned from the medial field. Not allowed"
"every one on the CON side suicide is a strong word but its not like there a hanging themselfs they are in a hospital room with people who love them and when the are ready they press a button that will sedate them so it is there will to do it then after a few minutes the inject a lethal substance in the body that will releave the person from there sufforing now is that so bad every one on the CON side need to learn about it before the give a stupid ass comment"
"ANYONE ON THE CON SIDE ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT IF YOU HAD A TERMINALLY ILL FAMILY MEMBER THAT SUFFERED EVERY SINGLE DAY , FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE THAT YOU WISH THAT YOU COULD LIFT THAT PAIN AWAY FOR THEM ?
YOU KNOW HOW ? EUTHANASIA
ONLY IGNORANT PEOPLE WILL THINK THAT IF EUTHANASIA IS LEGAL THEN IT WILL BE ABUSED LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF NETHERLANDS AND SWITZERLAND , THEIR CRIME RATE IS VERY LOW!!!"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm pro for euthanasia, but America's crime rate is very high, bringing in two other countries crime rates is an invalid argument because euthanasia has nothing to do with affecting crime rate. It's still not murder, because its assisted SUICIDE. It's the own person's choice, and it is very humane and normally quick."
"Compassion & Choices does not support euthanasia, but does support physician aid in dying.
The difference is that with euthanasia control is in the hands of a third party, most often a medical professional who administers a lethal dose of medication by injection, whereas in the latter a physician writes a prescription for a lethal dose of medication that the terminally ill person can then take when, and if, he or she so chooses. Thus, control remains with the patient at all times. We have found that about 45% of the patients who receive the medication never take it, but want to have it available as an 'insurance policy' should all else fail."
"I am Pro but isn't it unsafe to have that kind of injection in an uncontrolled environment? I agree that the patient should be the one injecting themselves if that's the way they choose to do it, but shouldn't it be in a controlled environment such as a hospital or clinic or brought to their home by a Dr and supervised so someone other than the patient doesn't take that lethal dose?"
"what is wrong with continuing on the way that it has always been. If a person wants to take their own life then they will if they want to bad enough. I personally do not agree but the patient will do what he/she wants anyway. No reason for medical staff to be involved.Its not up to them and not their job and should never be their job.The patient and only the patient should be involved. We could spare a lot of heartache if this law was followed strictly. drs have no right to contribute in taking a life, weather it be an unborn child or an elder or anyone in between.They need to do their best to make a person comfortable if the patient and only the patient wants these meds.There is more than enough modern medicines for that. The dr needs to explain to the patient about all of the side effects since some of these medicines can be very powerful.drs should always do their best to save patients with modern medicine as well. This has been going on for many years and has always worked out fine since there are ways to end a life peacefully without the prescription from a medical staff. KEEP OUT MEDICAL STAFF"
"Where there are occasions for both, I am actively seeking physician aid in dying. I differ from all you talkers in that I am personally vested in this debate and not just spouting second hand opinions. I am a Christian woman who knows God gives man the choice to be compassionate or cruel and to determine for himself how much pain they can bear."
"I am pro for euthanasia because of personal experience. When i had cancer, i was being treated in a room next to a terminally ill 18-yr old boy. at night he would scream and in the daytime all he would do was moan in agony. he could not move and was incontinent, blind and largely mute. his parents wanted his life to end quickly and painlessly rather than the excruciating pain he went through before his heart finally stopped. I know i would want the same as his parents. What person wouldn't?"
"No one should have to live in a "vegetable" state. Life is about being your own person, being able to depend on yourself. When you have to depend on everyone except yourself, that's when you know your life is not worth living anymore"
"If the doctors put you in a vegetative state with drugs then tell Ur family that It is best to euthanize. That would be very sad.That does happen that is one of the many reasons euthanizing should not be done."
"Our society allows and promotes quality care/health/safety for our animals We care for the safty and health of our dogs which are a part of a family. It is considered humane to have an animal put down for health reasons, or what is best for the animal, it is a decision that is not made lightly. We do so, as we care deeply for our pets and dont want them to suffer We in doing so, suffer just as much for the loss. This is considered humane. However, when it comes to the standard of care for humans, our loved ones it is consider a crime to assist in euthanasia I believe society in general does not like to have a relative/spouse/sister/brother/parent to suffer for any reason. If there is no cure, a person should be given the right to end their life with dignity, & as little pain & suffering as possible, they should have the option to end their life or suffer. Keep in mind that those close to them are suffering as well. No one wants to suffer and yet it is a crime to assist in "their" choice as to how they end their life. Regardless of religion or race we (the individual) should have a say in every aspect of our life & possibly how it ends. I believe in euthanasia, its only humane. I love my pets & my Humane family."
"How can you compare human treatment to animals.There is not as much technology for animals as there are for humans.When there is enough technology to be able to treat a person then euthanizing is not the answer unless a person cannot stand living anymore then they may take their own life if they want to, No one but no one should take a life away from another person. Especially medical staff. Medical staff are there to heal and save not to kill. I also wish that vets had as much technology as humans do but that has and may never happen although they have come a long way.I was asked one time if I would like to euthanize my animal I said no and instead gave her pain meds to make her comfortable and she passed on her own."
"In your definitions of euthanasia you never include that the death should be at the continuing request of an intractably ill patient. In the Right-to-Die movement it is always assumed that Voluntary precedes the word Euthanasia. That distinguishes the act from Mercy Killing where the act is merciful but the person is unable to make the request."
"euthanasia is not always voluntary and at the patients request. There is also involuntary where the medical staff decides and often their decisions are made for convenience for themselves. I imagine that the right to die should be changed to the right to kill by medical staff. These sencless murders need to stop"
"Among the 'certain inalienable rights' identified by our founders, the right to die as we choose was not listed among them. This omission has left a trail of suffering and family trauma in its wake ever since. What possible form of logic or religion would entomb a person in a suffering, worthless body who no longer wants to occupy it? Are not the terms of your final exit the most precious of all personal freedoms?... Family members may need to face up to this reality and let them go with dignity when that is THEIR CHOICE."
"when that is their choice and can we say when that is not their choice as well. The medical staff already has the right to kill. To make it legal will just give the medical staff the right to murder. We need to just simply say no to murder."
"Euthanasia is not the doctor choosing to kill someone who is sick. It's the patient choosing to die in a peaceful, nonpainful way. I'm not saying anyone should be able to. Not anyone who's an infant, in a coma, senile, has severe mental retardation, brain-damaged, depressed, or has has certifiable "issues". Only terminally ill patients who are in so much pain, they can't bear to live through another day. It's not a spur-of-the-moment decision, either. You can't just wake up one day, and, "Oh! My joints hurt so bad today, I'll euthanaze myself!" NO. It's a very serious decision made over a long period of time. And not everyone wants it, need I remind you. I have a severe case of a disease called fibromyalgia. Every day for me is like a stroll through Hell, but I stay strong. I've been dealing with it since I was twelve. I'm sixteen now, and I know that when I'm not strong enough to go on anymore sometime in the (hopefully) distant future, I shouldn't have to. There is no known cause, no cure, no medication for it alone. I'm immune to pain medicine, and sleeping pills never help, so I just have to deal with it. It's life. But don't tell me you can sit there and watch me suffer everyday without the decency to put me out of my misery."
"It's a personal decision also. I have suffered for decades and at 55 think I should have the right to admit. I am not strong enough to take the pain anymore. Even fighters choose to stay down when they have had enough of a beating."
"Euthanasia needs to be kept out of the medical field because already doctors are using this to kill people who THEY feel have an unacceptable life. Some of the people you have mentioned in your comment are being euthanized. Can you imagine if this is legal in the medical field how easy it would be for doctors to kill. Doctors need to only think about saving people not killing them that is their job. Killing a person should NEVER EVER CROSS A DOCTORS MIND. Personally you may already know by what I have said that I am totally against euthanasia in any form. However if a person is so eager to kill themselves there are ways that they can do this if they want it so bad. It is called suicide. Just keep it out of the medical field, because as I said killing a person should NEVER EVER UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BE THE JOB OF A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. That is simply not their job to do. There should be heavy consequences for anytime a medical staff is involved with euthanasia of any kind."
"people should be able to do what they want, and if someone decides that they want to be put out of their pain they should have the choice to be euthanized (sorry we cant spell) BTW we are students at a middle school and have a project to fight for euthanasia and want to thank all of you for your ideas and support."
"People have been known to kill themselves for pain and because they may or may not be dying. This has been going on since the beginning of time.That is one thing but when they bring these killings into medical field that is when it is very wrong.It is not the right for the doctor to be able to kill someone. That is not their job. Their job is saving lives not taking lives. Medical staff that are involved with killings should get prison time and never ever be able to practice medicine again ever."
"If euthanasia was medically available when I sat and watched loved ones slowly die...their eyes begging for mercy from the pain, indignity, doctors withholding adequate pain relief in fear of addicting my loved one, yes, my loved ones would have chosen euthanasia! No one should suffer the end of life on this earth. No one should judge their choice, for those that judge will someday come to the same impass, death. As technology advances in health science, it is unfortunate the advances are prolonging life, that impedes nature's course of death. I have the right to choose, even without a doctor's assistance, the path to a peaceful death is provided."
"Anyone who wants to end their life has always had options available to them. It just now those who want to kill themselves want everyone to approve their choice, and to give them a tidy way to do it. I would always give anything I could and care for the terminally ill in any way they needed. I would never say, it's ok for you to kill yourself, it's your choice. That is just evil"
"But either way if the person's literally dying in the nursing home/hospital and they don't know anyone of their family, it's also the family's decison to either pull the plug or let them suffer through it, they only pull the plug becuase they don't wan't them so suffer anylong."
"I believe that the choice belongs to the beholder; it does not mean I agree with it, however being Christian I believe God gave us choice, which is our greatest gift. It is good that there is a concern for life on the CON side and caring intents on the PRO side however there is no definite moral answer, the choice has to come from themselves. Everyone dies in the end but how they are viewed upon death ultimately falls on society, for example in the Feudal Ages of Japan, Roman Age and the times Ancient Greece taking your own life was viewed with either indifference or respect in contrast with today's society. To sum up what i am rambling on about is that the majority view may change how the person is a viewed by society however the choice dwells within the person who contemplates suicide and since with have free will i believe we should utilize that choice."
"I am PRO euthanasia. Familiarize yourself with the late Dr. Kevorkian. The intention is to ease the suffering and pain of people who are terminally ill, not assist someone who is depressed or just doesn't want to live anymore. I think people are intitled to the freedom of choice. If I become terminally ill one day and my quality of life is non existant, I pray that I have the choice to end my suffering."
"I am pro because someone shuldnt have to suffer. I watched my grandfather suffer for 3 years after he had Carbon Monoxide poisening. He was always in pain and he had to learn how to do pretty much everything that he learned growing up. People shouldnt have to go through that."
"Working as a CNA, its so hard to see some of the people who are there are in so much pain and just want to die because they are unhappy. What if it was your mother or your father who was suffering and would rather die than stay alive one more day in the pain that they are. I would rather make the final decision on assisted suicide or suffereing. Would you want to be paralyzed and suffereing for year after year living in an assisted living home and trying to survive? Or would you rather make the decision to to with euthanasia and have it done humanly and with the respect and dignity that you deserve?"
"Our relative was killed against her will. That is not what I call dying with dignity and in a humane way or with respect.On the contrary. She and her family and friends suffered because she did not want her life to be stolen from her.It makes it too easy for the medical staff to just throw people away like they are nothing. So we are extremely against euthanasia and no we do not believe in it at all in any way. It is extremely wrong and very dangerous. If someone wants to kill themselves they should do it on their own time without the help of the medical staff."
"Okay, so I see a lot of religious reasons why people are con. And I respect that, but there are a lot of ignorant people out there. Euthanasia is not just giving someone a dose of poison because they want to die. It's not ending the lives of thousands of innocent or potential people. We should legalize it, but not just for anyone. Only those out there who are terminally ill. A lot of people don't know what it's like to lie awake the whole night, writhing in pain, which is keeping them from falling asleep. Or what it's like to not be able to walk, sit, stand, work, or do any activities because the pain is too much to handle. Pain medications can't help them as much as you think. Some of us are even immune to it and all other efforts. To suffer daily is NOT a fun thing to experience, and the least that could be done is to be put to death in an honorary way, and not self-suicide. I speak from experience: there is usually no hope or will to live in patients considering euthanasia. And to family members, it can be a relief to see their loved ones no longer suffering."
"Dude, you totally didn't even read that, did you? Euthanasia is voluntary. PAS is voluntary. Doctor's choice is not; it should be illegal. I'm not saying your mom should have died; in fact, I'm sorry for your loss. Only long-term suffering and incurable patients should have the right to end their own lives."
"I'm glad you can empathize with some I pain but their are others in pain beyond their endurance who are chronic but not terminal. Why be callous to their suffering?"
"Ur saying that it is up to family to decide about patient being killed? You are wrong about innocent people not dying. Euthanasia is being used by doctors. They decided this for my mom who was in a drug coma that she was put in by drs.Since she is in this state it would be a good idea to euthanize her. They did not show her the slightest bit of mercy to let her recover from drug overdose. Euthanasia makes it easier for doctors to cover themselves when they do not feel like working. Evil and lazy doctors have euthanized disabled and elders and other people that they do not feel have a good quality of life.They like to take the easy way out and taking a life is much easier than saving it because saving a life does require effort on the doctors part. I do not know how they can live with themselves with this kind of attitude but they do. That is why we need to take away the power from these lazy evil doctors and not allow this. If a doctor and medical staff cannot handle the work of saving lives then they need to be fired and not allowed to work in the medical field. Making euthanasia legal would be a terrible deadly mistake.It needs to be stopped instead and prison time should be the result of any medical staff that euthanizes."
"doctors are here to save lives, but as a doctor they must also accept the fact of death, and learn to appreciate it. Maybe it sounds rash or stupid, but there is honor in death, and our medical advances are taking that away. People have the right to die if they want to, and not prolong it if they feel that they want to be done. Being depressed and suicidal and getting physician assisted suicide is not ok, thats why I believe there should be extensive psychological studies for each person contemplating that decision, but the decision should be available. We are in charge of our lives, not the doctors, not religion, not our family. We should have the right to finish our own lives in a way that is not dangerous or not controlled.
also, if you don't believe in it, don't do it to yourself, you have no right to control another persons choice. Its all the same, abortion, gay marriage...all these choices should be legal. If you do not believe in abortion, don't abort your baby, if you don't believe in gay marriage, dont marry someone of the same sex. But stay out of other peoples choices."
"I agree that only the person who is terminal should be responsible for his own life and yes everyone else should not be involved with this person's decision including and especially the medical staff, because it is not their decision nor is it their right to take a life. That is not in their job description. They are here to heal and save lives and not to take them."
"It can go both ways in this matter but I think if you are in some much pain that it herts you to live or if you are in a state were you are not able to live to your fullest then I think that you should be able to be euthanized."
"to the person who just commented: I can easily say that i disagree with you and tell you how your obviously not educated on euthanasia...or anything in the medical field. First of all, it would never be the doctors choice if the person is to sedated of not. It would always be a family members, so they would be charged guilty, or sued from the family or both. Second of all, do you know how many people it would actually take to get the right medication to the doctor. Eventually down the line someone would notice that its euthanasia not just to put them into coma. They're not careless heartless people. Your comment made no sense whats so ever."
"So when a doctor drugs someone into a coma and to nearly death then it is a good idea to finish them off by euthanizing them. Think how easy that is for drs to not have to be responsible for thier mistakes. Just cover them the dr can just say that this person can now not live his life to the fullest because he/ she is in a drug induced coma or they can make something up that relates to why the patient is being treated.They can instead tell the family that the patient is deteriorating which would be the truth but at the fault of the dr then the dr gets away with his crime, especially if euthanasia is legal.So easy for doctors to not even pay attention to the drugs that they give since they can just tell family that the patient does not have a good quality of life, euthanize them. This is too handy for drs. Euthanizing needs to STOP NOW!"
"my grandfather suffered a long painful battle with canser and his only wish was just to let him go and pull the plug. the docters said no and he suffered for two more months in a hospital bed until he finnally passed."
"I think euthanasia should be legalized. I know the people against this are saying that "it's wrong to take human lives" or "doctors should be helping people, not killing them" and such, but seriously? If you were the one the was suffering and in pain all the time, I bet that you'd be telling people that you want to die too. And don't say stuff like "that'll never happen to me" because we all know that that's not true. Everyone and everything gets old or suffers illnesses. There will eventually come a time when YOU are the one on your deathbed. Also, hospitals are really expensive. Do you really want to burden those you care about by leaving debts and bill they can't pay after your dead? Just get it over with unless there actually is a possible chance for survival."
"When there is a huge chance for survival people are still euthanized and it needs to stop. We should be worried more how we can stop these horrible doctors from killing patients, not how to make it easy for them."
"My vote is yes, I am for assisted euthanasia and I'm glad to see there may be a choice. I've belived in assisted euthanasia since the age of 12 when the movie Soylent Green was shown 1973; Roth elected himself to "go home". I am now 50, female, the last in my family line. I have no children with whom to burden with my personal needs or choices in hospital or nursing care. I do not relish the idea of asking a cousin to make those choices for me. I've been an independent thinker all my life. The final choice is mine alone, or my husbands, if he's still alive at that time. I don't agree with the word "suicide"; I'm not a suicidal type person. I would not be committing suicide, as society sees it today. I see the act as "assisted self expiration (or euthanasia)" or my "ACE". My choice would be for medical reasons only - if I could no longer care for myself and needed someone else for daily personal hygiene or if I had a terminal illness where machines kept me alive. I don't wish to waste away, like an abandoned house. Yes, I believe in God and Yes, I would gladly pass from this life to go Home."
"I thought that soylent green was about the medical staff killing off the elders and sick weather they wanted it or not. Now that is not right at all.That would be murder."
"Man, half the arguments against euthanization are stupid and quite frankly crack me up royally.
Number one, as far as euthanization, there are alot of people who want to leave this earth, and if they can't have euthanization, they will do it in other ways, such as go into an area where there's alot of gunfire, or suicide by police officer, or whatever. If it was legal, it would be done with dignity and peace, and who cares about the mental illness argument. If a person wants to die, they want to die regardless. It is a known fact that with alot of school shooters, such as the case with Columbine that Dylan WANTED to die, if you saw the special on him, it said numerous times in his diary that he wanted to leave this earth. If Euthanization was allowed, he would've been able to do so, instead of going nuts and killing people. It is ridiculous to deny a person a chance to leave this earth if that's what they want to do. I mean, for the antis, can you come up with an argument that actually makes sense, instead of the religious, or mentali illness? I am so embarassed for those arguments. If someone wants to die, they want to do it. Shouldn't they have the right to do so with dignity? end of story"
"I am all about God, and he says accept everyone, so if someone chooses that they want to die because they are suffering, than that is what they want."
"Sure that is not what I believe but if the person is desperate to kill themselves then it needs to be suicide. They should NEVER involve a medical staff. There should be heavy consequences for any medical professional who gets involved with euthanasia of a person. That is where the law needs to change."
"We had to tell our mother that we couldn't grant her wish to die peacefully, instead all we, her family could do was to caress her until her last life gasp. She had a good and full life even with heart problems, but when doctors could do no more for her due to leukemia that is when she wanted to end the pain. But she had to go through the agony and loss of dignity. If her wish to die peacefully could have been granted, her smile would have reflected the love we shared, instead we saw tears of pain, not the way such a lovely lady had to die."
"Of course euthanasia should be legalized! First, it is quite cost effective. Might sound mean, but it actually is. It is better than trying to save someone with no hope at all and using up the family's whole savings. Second, it will end suffer. It can end physical and mental suffer for the patient. Euthanasia should be used mainly for patients who have progressing diseases such as the Alzheimer's, and spinocellular bellular degeneration disease."
"I am pro because my father's professor one time helped on a patient's suicide because he felt sad for the suffering patient that was hopeless and his family told him to do it because they didn't want him to have a hard time anymore. But one of the nurses told on him and he got arrested. When the police asked the patient's family for any imformation, they acted like they never said anything about the physician assisted suicide. I hope this turns to be legal because it is not fair for the doctor who thought about the patient and it's family."
"It is very cruel to keep a person alive when they have to suffer all his short life. Euthanasia or Physician Assisted Suicide should be allowed because it wouldn't be a murder if you get a permission from the congress. Also, it is the patient's decision of thinking if they want to live or not, but would be unfair if the family doesn't get money for that because that person is going to die later anyways because of the health problem they had."
""I am pro for Euthanasia because if I were terminally ill & suffering i would want to have the option. Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, stated the following during a Mar. 23, 2008 interview with Gary Nelson published in the Mail Tribune, "He Favors Long-Term Timber-Payments Solution," available at www.mailtribune.com:
"I am in favor of palliative medicine in circumstances where someone is terminally ill... I'm mindful of the legitimate interests of states to prevent a slide from palliative treatments into euthanasia. On the other hand, I think that the people of Oregon did a service for the country in recognizing that as the population gets older we've got to think about issues of end-of-life care..."
"I don't see a problem with helping a person who has a terminal illnese with dying. they would eventually die anyways but it would be slow and painful, this way is alot more resonable and less painfull for them. Besides we put are pets to sleep when they are sick and dying and we put people to death who have commited severe murders. So why not help a very terminally ill person have a peacefull and pain free death."
"Imagine this.... Let's say that woman is suffering a brain tumor attributed to her AIDS. She suffers excruciating pain everyday. Her head throbs every time she lifts her neck, and she feels the growth inside her skull throb. She knows she hasn't got much time at least enough to ward off her pain. She wishes to die, but the doctor cannot give her the help in order to help herself. This isn't a story off of the Internet.... She died 6 months later, after the tumor got more aggressive and took a large part of her brain. Far too large to try to remove (lest vegetate her).
How would it have been different if Euthanesia were around to end it swiftly for her? How would she feel to be able to end it before she slowly felt herself being taken over eaten? How would she feel to end the pain of knowing you cannot live for anything?
"yes it shold be legal because if the person is in pain and doesnt want to go through the pain anymore they should have the right to get out of pain. also the people that say but i want .... to live and be happy, your getting your wish for him to be live but ...isnt happy. if you trully loved them and wanted them to be happy you would put them out of pain. i am not sayiny you can go up to someone and ask them if they are depressed or hurting and if they yes you take out a gun and shoot them. if they are in a fatal state and dont want to go through the pain its understandable"
"After spending hours researching what eurhanasia is, I've come to the conclusion that there isn't one bad thing about it. Euthanasia is not for the weak, but for the ones that long to die with dignity. Endless pain does more than impact the person that's suffering. Family and friends have to sit by while someone that they love fades away, or becomes a vegetable. How cruel and unusual is that? Extremely. This has nothing to do with religion; it's decency."
"I am pro, After seeing my mom suffer. She was not going to get any better. COPD took her life She just could not quit smoking. I took her off life support. It took 6 long hrs before she passed. They knew she would die there was no getting around that. She had 10% of her lungs left. I would have made the decession of Euthanasia.But it would me making the choice not the Dr. When you euthanasie an animal its you that makes the discission not the Vet. I know Vets wont put a healthy animal to sleep just cause owners do not want them anymore. But when it comes time in the life of an animal it's the owners say when it comes to Euthanasia. Thats how it should be with people. People say its not right its a religious thing. It makes wonder why its ok to do an animal. Is it right gods eyes? has anybody ever thought that."
"euthanasia is basically a mercy kill to those who are already becoming deceased or in agony with injury or illness. this also creates room in hospitals for those who can still be saved."
"Euthanasia should be legal, no one ever wants on to let's say a war veteran with no limbs of any kind just sitting and having to be helped with everything that they do. Even though some may want to continue going on with their life, in all honesty they can't really do much. Their presence might still very much wanted, but in reality they will just be taking up space and eating food and drinking water. Their duty in life has been completed"
"Without a doubt in my mind, euthanasia should be completely legal, at least for the terminally ill. It is almost unfair to the ill to have them continue to suffer when instead the have a way out, an option, almost hope. Sometimes it is more courageous to choose death rather than suffering from the illness. On the subject of euthanasia, "I am certainly not ascribing to the defenders of euthanasia, but rather the desire to spare unnecessary suffering." (Williams Rowan.)"
"It should be legal because think about it: you are in great pain, but you can't move... you wouldn't want to die painfully would you? You are in so much pain you would want to die and get it over with."
"I am pro-euthanasia because I believe that everyone should have the right to end their life if they are suffering from a terminal illness in some way, but not if they are only depressed/suicidal.
I also believe that this should apply to people who are in a "vegetative state", because who would want to live that quality of life? Like a DNR, you should have the right to say that you would like to be euthanized if you are stuck in a state like this and there is basically no hope for recovery."
"I say its okay ONLY if there are restrictions on it so that depression or bad doctors cant make the dicision it has to be a patients chose unless the patient is un able to make the chose (a vegtable) and there should be lots of stuff to go threw before saying yes"
"Euthanasia should be legalized for terminally ill patients. When your exposed to a family member that had been terminally ill and seen them slowly die. I she had been given that option and I watched her starve for a month before dying."
"I completely understand disability advocates' opposition to the idea of euthanasia. The key issue is - Who Decides. If I know that my terminal cancer will continue with pain and distress for not only me but my family and friends, then I would like to be able to make that decision within the law with skilled and compassionate assistance knowing that nobody will be at risk of prosecution afterwards. Without that autonomy and agency, however, I don't think outside individuals (or the state) should be able to make those decisions. Carefully worded laws should eliminate the possibility of hurrying up grandma's demise to get the inheritance or deciding that someone's life isn't worth living just because they don't have advance directives and can't respond to your questions. Yeah, it's a sticky question - but I recommend viewing the film "How to Die in Oregon" to get a perspective."
"When you think of this, put your self in the shoes of the terminally ill when your in so much pain that you can't stand it, and you don't have death as an option. All you can do is suffer through it. Right now you might be saying "so what I've been in pain past the limit" but, you havent these people have felt more pain then I ever had, and I've been burned, hit, injured by my parents, and put into foster care recently. All of this is nothing compared to the pain that the terminally ill and the suffering feel each and every day. So before you por or con my comment, just consider what I wrote."
"I am old, have no children and have a disabling illness. My life if is a drudgery, a series of routines designed only to sustain my weak and failing body. My cousin who has been helping to care for me mentions putting me into a nursing home every day now. What type of life is this? How is this dignified or noble? I should have a right to end this misery, quietly, peacefully and with dignity. Society's view of this is going to be different in a hundred years, but for now people like me are left to suffer because it pleases someone else's moral sensibilities. That in itself is immoral."
"My father died in excruciating pain due to terminal cancer. No amount of morphine gave him comfort. Thirteen years later, I had to put down my 17 year old cat due to health issues. My cat helped me cope through many traumatic experiences over its life, including the death of my father. Euthanizing my cat was the most humane thing I've ever done. Watching my father wither away in pain was the opposite. It is patently inhumane to be legislated away the freedom to leave this world in such an inhumane manner."
"Primarily, it should NEVER fall upon the attending physician to qualify for end of life decisions. The inherent threat of a corruption within the system will undoubtably exist due to human politics, nature psychology and so on. Our most precious asset as a humanity are the qualities that define us as such. And compassion certainly merits the generous consideration regarding any accounts in the matter."
"I'm PRO euthanasia because I think it is someones CHOICE to take THEIR own life. Who are you people to decide what they believe is moral, and what isn't? I happen to be atheist, and I don't believe the doctor would be "Playing god" on me because I don't believe it! Religion shouldn't decide what ends someone's life, that's just messed up. No doctor who's sane would purposely kill a patient who didn't want it because he wouldnt get away with it! So CON side, think before you say its immoral, and it'd be playing god. Some of us aren't religious."
"My mother has renal failure, from my point of view the dialisys is just probiding one more day to her already decaying life. However, after her initial shock and she accepted her condition, he decided to received care and take it one day at a time. I think as long as the patient is willing to fight for his life then ok. However, if my mother were to have a change of heart and deciced that is too much to endure and she just wants to rest, I will support her decision. I think it is no one else bussisness what an individual decides on their own life, specially when all they are waiting for is death. I personally will chose to die rather than been attached to a machine that will only prolong my pain and suffering."
"I am not terminally ill, but in constant states of pain. I believe In physician aid in passing because I believe in God, love, compassion, kindness and our responsibility for our own self care. My life has lost all quality and I should not be bullied to continue when I determine the burden on myself & others is Impossible.. While this continues to debate and uncaring people profit, I and others suffer. people profit,"
"i believe in the right to assisted suicide b/c i believe a person owns his own life so has the right to chose what to do with it. i do not believe the gov owns your life or people who hold different religious beliefs own your life. i think if an adult of sound mind chooses death over life for whatever their reasons [illness, pain, prolonged depression] and wishes to have a peaceful exit, then it is their right to make the decision to die b/c that life belongs to them. so, as far as a RIGHT, i believe it belongs to the individual whose life it is. but a RIGHT is somewhat different than a subjective MORAL decision. if a person with DEPENDENTS chooses death, it is still their right, but it becomes morally less supportable b/c it would be harming others who depend on you-not just yourself. I think some mandated counselling is in order since it is imperative to insure that the person choosing death has been informed of alternatives and makes the choice entirely of their own free will. if a person chooses death, they should have the option of a peaceful death, not just a violent, painful end or one that runs the risk of harming others [ie death by hibachi or carbon monoxide]"
"Yesterday was my brothers funeral. He was 55 years old. Rick lived for almost three years after a stage four cancer diagnosis. He was the strongest, most determined person you could ever meet. He LIVED with cancer and concentrated on feeling good and making it through each day. On Monday, June 25th, as Rick was in bed writhing in pain, he asked me to speak to the nurse and tell her that anything she could do to make it "go faster", he was "on board" for and he was ready. I passed that message along, knowing that legally there was nothing he nurse could do. An hour later the covering physician came in and said he would not increase the amount of morphine my brother was being given because of side effects. I asked what side effects and he said that Rick would become less lucid and more drowsy and unable to communicate with my sister and me. Then his respirations would slow down until he was no longer breathing. My brother raised his head from the bed, raised his arm and said "That's the one I want".I had to explain to him that it wasn't being offered as an option. It took another 30 hours for Rick to die.I challenge anyone AGAINST euthanasia to watch a loved one suffer all the way to death and see if they don't change their minds."
"This is such a crock. People who have NEVER suffered such horrible pain are allowed to to decide weather or not we have the right to die?? It is insane, and cruel beyond anything imaginable! I have cancer that is going to kill me regardless what they do for me. What they are doing is keeping me alive so that I can suffer longer and harder and it is not fair!! We treat our dogs and cats with more dignity than we do humans? What is up with that? All I ask is to die with peace and dignity....not screaming in pain and begging for help, as I have been. Can someone please tell me there is a place for people like me to go and get help?"
"to anonymous I know that not all doctors are criminals but the ones who euthanize are criminals which cause extreme danger to innocent patients.This is a very good reason to keep it out of the medical field .Since there are doctors who are criminals, the only way to protect patients would be to enforce the laws when it comes to ending euthanasia. Then we can also get rid of bad doctors and set examples for other bad ones. If someone wants to take a life there are ways for a person to do it themselves in a peaceful way without the medical staff being involved. I firmly believe that we need to be more concerned about keeping euthanasia out of the medical field instead of making killing ok by medical staff. Medical staff that do euthanasia should be in prison. It is murder and it is even worse when a medical staff who patients trust, does this.That is too bad that you don't like all the facts that I have presented here. The difference is between you and me is that I accept the facts and dangers of euthanasia and you just ignore it. pros have morals????????? knowing how it endangers all patients lives wow that makes a lot of sense. NOT."
"I understand that the means to end one's life does not have to be aided by a doctor. I am not sure if this is available in the USA but it consist of a concoction that can be taken by the person who wants to end life rather than suffer the indignity of a painful death. Does anyone know of such a mixture ? I read that it takes only an hour to accomplish this with little or no pain. I think a person should be able to access this in the format of a living will. I also think dementia is a solid reason to obtain such a means of ending life. Religion should have no say. They should not be interfering with a personal choice."
"I think we should be all in charge of our bodies and future. When we are not able to control our bodies and minds I think we should be put out of our pain and suffering. As a Parkinsons patient I do not want to be stuck in a wheelchair and not in control of my body."
"If someone is going to die and they are in pain, let them go peacefully and with as little pain as possible. When someone is kept alive on tubes and machines, it's not so the person can be happy, but so their family can be satisfied knowing that their loved one is still on the earth with them sometimes, if you really love them, you have to let them go."
"I am PRO EUTHANASIA: the day somebody must feed me with one hand and then wipe my arse with other then the time has come becuase i then do not have any quality of life left."
"When a person is put on "comfort care", "end of life care" who in the medical community has the authority/right/ or knowledge to decide the dying patient(s) is comfortable. My father passed on a hospice unit two years ago and my mother is actively passing while I write this. I put my mom on Hospice care 1 week ago, and while I know the nurses are doing everything they can given their knowledge to make her as comfortable as possible, however; how do we know she is? She does not look comfortable but she can not communicate one way or the other. Her advance medical directive states "cease all medical treatments when any of them are deamed by two physicians as only prolonging the moment of my death". What is the difference in stating that vs. "end my life through said humane process"....at the same point in time. Women have the right to abortion which many beleive is the killing of an innocent unborn human life who can not defend it's rights, yet a moral human of sound mind can only choose to be "made comfortable" (hopefully). I feel I should have that right given I make that decision without durress withing a reasonable about of time away from it's implementation, approved by the medical community."
"If your in a serious pain like lugeric, and you want to die, but people say you should live and it is a god's choice, you would like to die, or say god? Then you could say, you should live and became light. It means pro need people's think and make life their choice. So, I choose pro."
"Sure euthanasia is a great idea. U can save money on pain meds and other treatment since patients will not need them if they r euthanized. Ya this will save not only the hospitals/nursing homes money but also the insurance companies money as well by getting rid of patients. Hey that is not a bad idea. The doctors can earn quite a bit from the drug companies paying them to try out all the new narcotics on the patients.Then if a patient is in pain from these drugs, the doctors can just simply label the patient as terminal and just convince the patient or family to euthanize if the narcotics don't do it first.Wow I never thought of it like that. U can get rid of a lot of people that way even if they are not really sick leave alone terminal.The doctors can decide who they want to get rid of. So cool!!!!I,warning I love sarcasm just uncase anyone thought that this really is a good idea, hopefully not unless ur psychopath. This situation really can happen though since there r psychopath doctors and staff out there.Not all medical staff are good."
""the distinction between killing and allowing to die is the difference between physical causality and moral culpability." Daniel Callahan, PhD, Director of International Programs at the Hastings Center."
"doctors need to mind their own business and not be involved with ending a person's life by any means. They do not need to get involved with a person's decision to end a life. Its not the doctors concern. They need to concentrate on healing and life not with patients who want to end their life. doctors have important things that must be done and it does not include ending lives. People who have wanted to end their lives has gone on since the beginning of time and it will continue on but it should have nothing to do with a doctor and never ever should."
"Patient that are not on machines are still living on there own and some are very much alive. Maybe all they need to have done is to get some treatment.Some doctors believe that when a person reaches a certain age they are terminal.Then why isn't everyone terminal since we do not know when people will die all we know is they do die and they certainly do not need to rushed into it by evil doctors or ones who do not know the answer of when they will die. This would include all medical staff because they do not know when a person will die and need to stop playing god. Since that will never happen we need to just say no to euthanasia."
"yes it should be legal because really if you are gooing through a tought time like sickness or depression and can not have anyway to get out or get help than why would you wanna live. Implus all this stuff about doctors have a sworn oath that they cannot put people out of there misery is true but for real its not up to them"
"I think self euthanasia should be legal. If I am , as many would say, a vegetable or have dementia or Alzheimer's I should have available a drug cocktail I can use myself such as Seconal or Nembutal. I think a person should be entitled, by use of a living will, in advance of these conditions to purchase the above mention drugs. Life defined with these type conditions is not a quality life. Religion nor the state should be the entities making the decision. As an atheist I have no fear of any god's punishment for taking my own life. One great example of which I speak is Terry Shivago in my state of Florida. A person who is mentally competent when making a living will should not have his wishes interfered with. Economics speaks to this issue. Millions of dollars are spent on keeping patient alive that are not aware who they are. They have lost there identity or are physically incapable of leading a useful life. Should it not be a person's decision in this matter. We euthanize animals out of compassion. Should we not do the same for our human species."
"that is what's bad about living wills that are not written well enough or even if they are. Evil drs will twist the wording around until it works for them.Then they go in for the kill instead of doing their job.They say the patient did not want to live as a vegetable. However, patient did not want to be put into a drug coma against their will and then called a vegetable either.It makes it easy for lazy drs who do not want to do their job.If a dnr is in place it is even easier since they can try to get the patient into a state where they will need CPR such as a drug over dose given to patient or other ways. Then when the patient needs CPR from the drug overdose they will definitely not get it because of the dnr.These are tricks of the trade for evil drs.drs with no conscience, no morals at all. Lets say psychopath and murderers. These r a few good reasons why euthanasia needs to stay out of the medical field always and life in prison to medical staff who participate.At least if the dr is afraid of prison, maybe they will think not before euthanizing these helpless victims and maybe we can weed the evil ones out.Then life can be the subject not how to kill."
"I have document with my Primery Care Doctor which specifies no intrusive procedures to lengthen my life. I hope that my family members are not alowed to over ride it."
"Those are the ones who you sould talk to first, especially since the doctors would consult them before it happens. It would be best if you tell them upfront, and let them know of your decision. Maybe even consult an attorney to be sure there are no loopholes that the opposition can use against the person, especially if they say it was murder, when the person clearly wanted to leave this earth. It isn't the famiy's decision, it is the person's, no one should interfere with the decision of said person, but families will do that normally. Bue I like the way you think."
"lets hope that the doctors will want to treat you with the proper treatment if you have something that is treatable.Some doctors would take that as meaning no treatment or even speed up the illness. I would take medical classes and learn as much as you can about everything. If you have a problem that is not getting treated or is getting worse I would try to go way out of the area for treatment. Just study as much as you can sometimes an ombudsmen or department of public health can help you if you r not being treated properly. Maybe even the police.Be aware since dnrs no drastic measures etc can be very catastrophic to patients"
"i think that euthanasia should be legal . Yes I'm sure we all know that its hard to watch a person you love die or even just knowing that they are dead makes you sad. i don't know about you guys but id rather let my loved ones die than have them live in pain and suffering. and I believe that it is 100% that persons choice whether or not they want to die. if its what they want i think that the doctor has the right to euthanize them. they wouldn't have any guilt because they know that with the permission of the patient they have put someone out of their pain and suffering."
"IT should be illegal for a medical staff to euthanize a person. There is always good old fashioned suicide which people or patients who wanted to kill themselves do. Just do not involve a medical professional. If so there needs to be heavy consequences for any medical professional who is involved in euthanasia. That is what needs to be enforced."
"I personally am pro. who is to tell anyone whether or not they should live or die and how to live. i have seen suffering and i dont want to see suffering in our world any more"
"People should have the right to chose to die not a politician! Do you choose how i die? Does my mailman? Does the Congress!? Absolutely not..people who are terminally ill are in pain day in and day out. They would be happy if they got to die instead of living with an incurable disease. Nobody should stop them, especially Congress."
"Just keep it out of the medical field.Terminally ill people have been using suicide on their own since the beginning of time and that is how it should remain if they choose to end their life. The medical field has no business getting involved with a killing of a person since that is not their job. Their job is to heal and save not to take lives."
"I've read all the con comments and I understand why people say what they are saying. I guess my bottom line position is my life, my choice. I am only pro when it comes to the incurable, terminally ill and it needs to be the patient's choice."
""no kill zone" please stop typing you have no morals except your own in your own little weird world not all doctors are criminals... get a life and really just get off this sight"
"and keep it out of the medical field. Doctors need to be taught how to save lives not how to get out of working by taking lives. If euthanasia is in the medical field and a patient is in a lot of pain but what they have is curable, I would not want to depend on a doctor who does not want to work to say that the disease is fatal so dr can encourage the patient in pain to take a fatal injection to end the patients life instead of doing his job and taking time and effort to treat the patient.As it stands today their are doctors who do not want to work and do their jobs they will find the easy way out which would be euthanasia. I do not know how the doctor can live with themselves if they have any kind of conscience but they seem to get by after doing these kind of horrible things.THIS NEEDS TO STAY OUT OF THE MEDICAL FEILD, SAY NO TO EUTHANASIA."
"ok everyone on the con side its NOT suiside or murder or anything like that if they chooose to die or for the docter to do it and the docter takes an oath to help people not put them in pain therfore you are not in pain due to the euthnasia"
"euthanasia should not involve a medical professional. If someone wants to kill themselves there is suicide that has been the choice of some terminal patients.They need to do it on their own and not involve a medical professional to do it for them. That is what needs to change. Any medical staff that is involved with euthanasia should have heavy consequences and never be allowed to work in the medical field again plus prison time that is what needs to change."
"I don't have a sad story but i do have and opinion. Im pro all the way. How can people say this is wrong when they have never gone through something like this? Is it really up to someone else wheather people want to die with dignity or not? How would you feel if you had a loved one who was sitting in a hospital bed, suffering everyday they stay alive? Wouldn't you want to help them as much as you can? wouldn't you want them to stop hurting?"
"It is extremely dangerous to let medical staff encourage you to euthanize your loved one. Have you ever thought that doctors lie and make terrible decisions when they do not feel like working. It is easier to kill someone then it is to save them.This is something that you really need to think about.How would you like it if you relative was killed by doctors who just thought that it was necessary because they just did not want to make the effort to treat them that happened to our family. We are now suffering from this tragic murder. Euthanasia is going on now in very sneaky ways and it needs to be stopped now, not made legal."
"I believe that Euthanasia should definitely be legalized because I mean I would never want to lay in a bed suffering from a terminal illness and know the entire time that there is nothing that can change it. I think that it should be the same understanding as when a person who is dying from cancer stops accepting the treatments, it's not right to make someone suffer. Torture is illegal so why isn't Euthanaisa legal? I am PRO for this specific topic."
"I belive it should be legal because people deserved the right of choice. Whether they want to live through the pain or die to get away is their decision, and other people have no say against it."
"If they want to take their own life then it is up to them and not the medical staff. No medical staff should ever take part in euthanasia, because that is not their job and should never be their job."
"This is an issue where the privacy of the patient outweighs any kind of compelling state interest. The elements of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act ensure that the patient is of sound mind and body before he/she can receive lethal medication and that his/her diagnosis and prognosis are verified. The DWDA mitigates suffering and allows the patient control over the end of his/her life. If they choose to have a peaceful exit, it is likely because the alternative (and the memory of their passing) will be rife with excruciating pain. The irony is that this pain is unnecessary and avoidable; yet political agendas, often steeped in moral ambiguity and religious fervor are driving a wedge into an issue, a wedge tantamount to legislating the private affairs of the citizen."
"It makes me sad to think that we treat our pets more humane that we do our family members. If my father no longer wanted to live and was suffering with no means of getting better, I would want him to be able to end his life. It is his right."
"Pets get euthanized when they are overcrowded as well as when they are suffering. So that must mean if we treat people just as we do our pets we need to euthanize when we get to overcrowded. That does happen in hospitals already why would you want to encourage this horrible sick behavior of killing, it is bad enough that pets are euthanized. U euthanizers seem to have no respect for life itself."
"Most people are against murder and if someone is in a coma maybe they got that way since doctors give sedatives like it is candy so no that is not a good idea to klll if they are in a coma. Also there have been people who have been hooked up to machines and later get off of them so NO NO NO NO NO NO"
"everyone has the right to choose whether or not they want to die to stop their suffering whether it is physically, mentally, and emotionally due to hospitalizatio. If I want to die because I was tired of the suffering let me die willingly with the help of my doctor."
"I hope they legalize it, mainly because if I were dying of some painful uncurable disease, and I were to ask the doctor to perform euthanasia and he said it wasn't legal and I had to suffer, that would REALLY suck."
"I'm pro because... why not? If someone doesn't want to die a painful death, and they're like, "hey can you kill me please?" I'd say "yeah." because I would ask for the same thing. I would rather die peacefully than live in pain. (personal opinion)"
"People complain that it's wrong to end a life because "god" rules against it. So wouldn't prolonging a life also be against "god's" rules as well? If your body is giving out and you're taking as many medicines as possible to stay alive then aren't you going against god too? Also, people used to die of things that can be easily cured- like fevers, so if you're really hardcore religious - dont take any medicines and if you die from a fever then that's probably what god would have wanted."
"I am pro Phsician Assisted Suicide. I feel it should be the choice of the patient and their family to end a life consumed by a terminal illness. It is much to hard on the patient to see the pain their family is experiencing because of their illness. People don't think twice when choosing what is best for the family pet, so how is it they can't give the same compassion to their loved ones?"
"Try having your relative get killed by euthanation (murder) simply because doctors do not want to make the effort to give proper meds and the medical field already drugged her into a coma. They did not want to cure her from this curable infection, maybe worried about brain damage and being held responsible. It is much easier to euthanize. Not legal but accepted. Talk about a real life nightmare and a shattered ruined life for relatives. Needs to stay out of the medical field. There should be heavy consequences for anyone in the medical field who does euthanize or kill a patient."
"PRO Its the person who decides whether he want to live........Rather than seeing him suffering everyday,mercy killing is a better option.If there is no hope for his cure thus enthanesia is the best option for him and his family"
"We lost our loved one to Euthanasia. That is something we will never get over. I just hope with enough therapy we will learn to be able to live with it and survive. You do not know the kind of pain it is to have a life taken by anyone leave alone by medical staff who are supposed to be there to help you and your loved ones. So unless you walk in our shoes you will never know the kind of horrendous pain euthanasia causes the person who lost their life and the family and friends of the person. We would love to have her back and she would have loved to keep her life and be with her family today. Unfortunatly all that was taken away form us by doctors who had to kill. It is easier for doctors to kill .Especially ones who are cruel bad doctors. That is why they need to be stopped from killing people. It should not be made easy for these psychopath doctors."
"I personally believe people have the right to die if its what they desire. before they do this though i'd encourage them to try alternative treatments and therapies if its depression in an attempt to improve there quality of life first.since I had it and also contemplated sucide a while but changed my mind when I got help with therapy and medication.if nothing works though don't force them to stay alive if its more then the depression causing them to want them to die.if its something terminal like pancreatic cancer a rare cancer my aunt had that has no cure.(she died last year and she requested a dnr before she died because she did not want to live in a state of pain.)then please respect there right to die at least in cases of terminal illnesses. so my stance is mostly pro except under some cases of depression most people who have it can be treated with a combination of therapy and medication. also people who have recovered from sucide who finally got the help they needed for the most part were happier to be alive.(again Im talking about cases of people commiting sucide because of depression not terminal illness these are separate issues.)ps. I wish there was a it depends option on this site.since not all answers are just yes/no"
"I Believe.. That Physician assisted suicide should be legal because the individual initiates the process, so people wouldn't be purposely killed. Also, the world is currently facing trouble with overpopulation, currently the world is filled with 8 billion and growing rapidly, so it would be a win-win situation. Another thing is that choosing to die would allow the individual to die with whatever dignity they have left, they wouldn't have to spend too much money for services and medication. The money would be deplenished and leave little for the remaining family to fight over and it may even leave a burden of a big dept upon loved ones."
"Euthanisation is a hard subject to talk about but if you really get into the subject you realize that we as a human being make our own decisions so if we are terminally ill why should we have to suffer when we know our time is coming. It is that simple fact that if we should leave this earth tomorrow we should have the right to choose if we leave now or later."
"i think that doctors should be able to help out their patients and that they should legalize it everywhere cause who would want to die a long suffering painful death i know i wouldnt if a person wants to die because they have a incurable disease they should be able to sure there friends and family will miss them but they should have been prepared for that persons death if they new that they had an incurable disese so i say LET IT BE LLEGALIZED!"
"I have been a Hospice nurse for over 10 years. It's time that we give the patient the choice. Just like abortion a patient who have the right to choose how they die. Personally I would not like to lie in a bed for days or weeks without being able to eat or drink and just waste away. Many of my hospice patient's die this way."
"our government are ruled by religious ethics ,as an adult i have rights to the way i want to rule my life in the decision of living or not do to many factors,"
"If you believe that anyone on this side is trying to murder "useless humans", think of the following. Mentally ill patients cannot receive euthanasia under the laws. Seriously, the CON side needs to read up on this subject. Two doctors (two opinions) and a psychiatrist (to test sanity) are required to receive a lethal injection in Oregon."
"Hello "get in reality" i would like you to imagine the worst pain you have ever felt 10-20 times worse. And you knew you were gonna die and there was no cure for your condition on the horizon or ever. Would you want to have to live with that for about 6 months? Also have you ever been to a hospital because really? You do know that doctors have to write everything down they do and sign it and with 2 doctors and a psychiatrist that would be really hard to fake. Just Saying..."
"Don't mean to burst your little bubble but In reality it does not work this way.The fact is medical thugs do get away with euthanasia. I have seen it myself.It is against the law but it is acceptable. There are ways to kill a patient without the family knowing. Why make it easier for these kind of thugs who don't care about life itself. Instead people should start worrying about how to STOP EUTHANASIA and make it harder for medical staff to kill. Instead work on how to get these thugs out of the medical field and drs need to do their job by saving lives instead of taking lives.Caring people need to become doctors."
"LEGALIZE EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE. I am so scared to have another stroke. Suicide is only an option for me because I won't have the option of euthanasia later.
2 grandparents I watched waste away in nursing homes while being drugged and tortured.....
Now I have had 3 strokes as well as a brain injury leaving me with permanent brain damage and severe pain.
This already extremely difficult time can only be worsened by worries of prison time for doing the right thing."
"I am a 63 year old man who was born with spinabifida myelomaningocel and partial anencephalitis. After living all of these years in a society that clkearly does not want me, dispite alot of retorec to the contrary, I wish to become active in organizations that advocate euthanasia for fetusecs and infants having debilitating deformities. I have a IQ of 130-135, but have learning disorders."
"I salute you for wanting to be an advocate for such a thing, especially in these hard times, alot of people are doing this, and I think it is great you want to advocate for something like that, especially for prevention of problems such as the aforementioned.
As far as that not wanting you goes, I sympathize with you, as far as that goes, but I am sure those organizations will need all the help they can get. So, I hope you get the chance. Who knows, it might work out for you. Rock on, and blessed be."
"I think it should be legal. If someone has a really horrible disease and they're in excruciating pain, they'd probably want someone to put themselves out of their misery."
"Is someone else deciding for this person who cannot decide for themselves or is the person themselves deciding. No one has the right to decide for another person about their life.What would happen if the person who was in the pain decided to be killed and then was later able to be cured.If euthanzation is accepted then doctor would not want to put effort into saving a life because it does require an effort to save a life.It would be easier for dr to recommend euthanizing, since no effort would be involved to kill a person. It is so much easier to kill a person than to save a person. If the person decides ahead of time to be killed just keep it out of the medical field and hospitals and hospice, doctors should not learn the wrong ways of life.They need to learn only about saving lives not taking them. It is good to have no euthanasia at all."
"im not completely for it but i am for it more than i am against it. i think that if a person is truely suffering then they should have the chance to end their life easily but if they are just suicidal then it should not be used so before a doctor agrees they should check their patients record first"
"I am pro because I believe that everyone has their chance to decide their death. Everyone lives in the world as an individual, needs to make important decisions themselves. If someone chooses to end his/her own life, he/she must have his/her strong reasons. As we know, human beings are almost all afraid of death. Only if someone was suffering in the end of his life would he/she choose death with the means. An old person who has a serious disease and has been diagnosed couldn't live for a long time. He lives with moral and physical torments. Because of helplessness, he loses his desire for life. Now, the way to alleviate his suffering is to offer assisted suicide. By using equipment or taking drugs, he can end painful life as soon as possible. Dying happily is better than live painfully."
"i think the person has a right to choose if they want to ens their life or in they want to continue living . if you knew somebody who wanted to end their life EARLY because Cancer was hurting them who you want them to go through the pain or let them end there life."
"we have the freedom to make choices, so what is so wrong with having the choice to not live, if i was old age and wasnt cappable of doind anything, what would be the point of living"
"Having read all the arguments pro and con, I ask myself: "What do I want when I find myself terminally ill, leading a life that is no longer worth living to me or anyone else?" The answer is clear to me: "I should have a legal choice to continue living, or to end it in a humane manner." PS: Too often in propositions and arguments the word 'voluntary' is left out. A dog may be euthanised. A human being should never be treated this way. Please, adjust you text to read 'voluntary euthanasia' where it applies to human beings."
"Why is this honestly such a big deal? You don't have to support it, but seriously? Just because YOU don't like it doesn't mean that you get to decide for everybody else. You should at least give people the choice to do what they want. It's their life, not yours. You can choose tolive and die how you want, but you don't have a say in how others live or die. I am 13 and I believe that we were given and we have the right to choose. When I grow old and if I am suffering, I want the right to choose how I die. Ihave had to witness 3 of my family members last year,dying of suffering and it was terrible. I wish they could've had an easy death and I could remember them differently. Instead of their loving self, I have to picture them all pale and sickly, coughing and wheezing, unble to communicare with the world. It's not fair to put them through what they went through. It's not your life so people shouldn't get to decide for others. It's sickening to know that people can be so heartless..."
"What is wrong with you? How can you say that this is not a big deal? It's someone's life. It's a HUGE deal. How can you say that other people are heartless when you are willing to MURDER them? I get that they are suffering, and I'm sorry that you had to go through that, but every person has a reason for being here. If they weren't meant to be alive, God would have already taken them."
"I THINK PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY DIE IF THEY ARE GOING TO DIE FROM A TERMINAL DISEASE. I WOULD DIE A CALM DEATH THAN SUFFER THROUGH ALL THE PAIN AND STRESS."
"pure an simple i think is should be legal. it is your right as a person to decide whether you die or not. i think if you are in pain and suffering you should have the right to die on your own terms."
"Virtually everyone has the "right to die" pretty much whenever they want to. Why should we deny it to those who aren't able to carry it out on their own?
Global over-population is our #1 problem, associated with all others. Yet we insist that everyone should fight death to the end."
"Human beings should have the right to do as they please with their body. However, if in doing so harms others it should not be done. Physician-assisted suicide should be legal because a person who is suffering in life should not have to suffer and it is no harm to anyone else. People shouldnt worry about what others care to do with their body. It's like gay marriage. You are not that person so why should you have a say in who he/she marrys?? It's morally wrong? Well so what, they didn't ask you. People should learn to worry about his/her own self and not worry what others plan to do with their life. So yes I think euthanasia should be legal."
"The only problem is that it does affect others when euthanasia is done by medical staff it makes it too easy for them to talk families and patients into being euthanized. euthanasia is already accepted in the medical field if it was legal then it would be disastrous. Therefore if people want to kill themselves bad enough they really need to keep it out of medical facilities."
"I am Pro because I watched my nana suffer until she took her last breath. She was begging for her life to end. She was very sick and there was nothing the doctors could do, and to help ease pain, they doped her up so much that when family came to say goodbye she was hardly respondent. It was an aweful thing to witness. That's why I believe that physician-assisted suicide should be legal. No one should have to go through that. My last memories of her are not good ones. She had gotten so sick that I had to leave. I couldn't see her like that. So I leaned over and kissed her goodbye and left. i never went back into that room. That night she passed away. She suffocated, her lungs were filled with fluid and she started choking and then stopped breathing. Now you tell me, is that any way for a person to die? What would have been wrong with her first choice? She could have had a peaceful and painless death. Instead she suffered until the very end. My nana was a very strong person and she was a fighter. I know she fought as hard as she could, but when someone is tired of fighting it's time for them to rest."
"I have grown up in a family where medical practice have been a big part of my everyday life. This being because my mother has obtained her doctorates in nursing, and teaches nursing at a college. Due to this fact I often ask her, her opinion on debating topics in the medical world, and I can recall euthanasia coming up in these debates more than once. Thus due to this we have both stated our opinions on the matter, and have both agreed that euthanasia should be an available option for terminally ill patients. With the main reason always being, "Why should us as human beings all another human being to suffer." Having had two of my grandparents pass away in my lifetime of cancer, I have witnessed suffering at one of its highest level, and both times watching their health slowly diminish has killed me internally. I have seen them too weak to move by themselves, or even to talk. Because of this I ponder to myself why can't we just allow a choice to terminally ill patients if they want to be put out of their pain by their physician. It should be solely up to the patient what they want to do, and should be discussed with the family so the right choice be made. Because undoubtedly how the law is today needs revision."
"euthanasia is not as easy as 123.When doctors and staff are involved then it becomes very complicated, very risky and dangerous. Patients can find their own drugs to kill themselves peacefully.This may not be legal but is better than getting the medical staff involved. The decision must be that of the patients only.The doctor can convince the family that the patient needs to be euthanized because they are too sick to go on.The patient can appear this way. The reality can be that excessive sedative use or sedative use on the wrong patient can and does cause painful dying patients. Other reasons for the staff wanting to euthanize could be it is more cost effective to euthanize rather than to treat a curable disease, beds may be needed or drug company is paying dr for sedative use, cover up mistakes,lazy doctors, organs needed, the list goes on. The family will trust the dr when it comes time to euthanize which can be and often very deadly for drs patients (victims). doctors should never be given the upper hand on who lives or dies. It is not their job to decide this. There are just 2 many reasons why euthanasia should not only be illegal but also anyone in the medial field who does euthanize should get prison for life."
"Place yourself in their shoes. If your body was could not function anymore, and to top it off, excruciating pain was always with you, and the burden of family's sadness on you shoulders....wouldn't you want an easy way out as well?"
"If someone with a terminal disease wants to go through with physician-assisted suicide, why not? It doesn't affect me. And if someone doesn't want to do it, by all means, don't do it! but if someone wants to, it's none of my business."
"Should not be done by medical staff. They have no right in choosing who lives or dies. Medical thugs have been known to put patients in comas, give them infections and not treat them and were able to kill these people who otherwise would not want to die. The patients certainly did not want to be put in a drug coma then labeled as a vegetable since they were in a drug coma.Then killed because the medical staff decided that they have no quality of life since they were in a drug coma. There are medical staff that have no morals or conscience, therefore euthanasia needs to have heavy consequences for any medical staff who chooses to do this. They should have plenty of prison time and they should never ever be able to practice medicine."
"I believe that every individual is different and we all face things that others haven't. People say you are murdering an innocent soul by allowing them to pass without pain. I've seen numerous times where Cancer or Alzheimer's has created such an uncontrollable pain inside a patient that they screamed at the top of their lungs just hoping to ease the pain even a little. Unless you have experienced this pain and suffering you will never understand their plea for that "Peaceful passing without pain" that everyone hopes for. Living day to day with your body growing weaker, and the pain getting stronger is something I hope to never experience."
"Medical staff can lie they consider any elder as terminal along with other patients. Medical staff should have no right to be able to decide who should live or die. It is up to the patient and the patient ONLY. If the patient wants to commit suicide it should be up to them and they can do it on their own as they have been doing for many years.We should work harder on getting any medical staff who dares to assist in euthanasia plenty of prison time and they should never ever be able to practice in the medical field again. That is what the issue is here."
"I dont get it what you are saying. When a person chooses to kill themselves then it is said that they commited suicide.They would not kill themselves if they did not choose to. If someone does it for them that is just murder weather they ask for it or not either way it is murder. murder is murder."
"yes you should be able to help people. If its was a cat or dog suffering they would put it to sleep But we as humans have to suffer because of other peoples views. why should we have to suffer for people that dont even know us or who are not suffering themselfs with a illness who do they think they are to say we have to suffer . would they sit there and watch there dog suffer and let it die in pain or take it to the vets So who do they think they are saying we have to suffer and not go in peace"
"I would not even let my mouse be euthanized let alone a human.There are ways of alleviating the pain without taking a life.There are drs who like to play god, It is already being used here in America.Why make a drs life easier to murder. The doctor could call it euthanasia when in fact it is murder.It is extremely dangerous to let drs play god. They can tell the patient that the illness is terminal when it is not.Who wants to trust a doctor of when a persons time is to go.Even if the dr is very educated, experienced and trustworthy they still do not know what only god knows. Very unwise to leave it up to a dr they are not god contrary to what some people believe including themselves.A doctors job is to do everthing in their power to save lives not take them."
"I am a paramedic who transports patients that have zero quality of life, back and forth to the ER. This drives up medical cost and has no benifit to the patient. The only cons I have seen posted here all refference God. People, look around at the suffering in the world. God left a long time ago. It is up to us to end suffering and allow people to make that choice if they are so able"
"and if a patient is not able to make that choice lets let the dr make it for them since the drs know best. They should have the almighty power to euthanize. They already do and that is why innocent people who do not want to be killed are euhanized because some doctors that do not feel like working or needs to cover his behind because he drugged his patient into a coma or what ever will steal these innocent lives. My concern is not god my concern is drs playing god already and taking innocent people because they don't feel like working or whatever the reason. Have you ever thought that some of those people that you transport maybe having serious complications from being drugged in the past or lack of care and neglect?? Euthanasia needs to get out of the medical field not because of god because it does not belong in the medical field. A person who wants to take their life bad enough will do it.drs do not need to be encouraged to take only heal and save."
"ultimately legalizing euthanasia would be the doctors decision to decide, if the person has the right to live and the family decides based on the doctors opinon.If the doctor made a mistake or is a murderer he would make the wrong choice and therefore the patient is murdered.The doctor can put the patient in a drug coma where the patient cannot talk for themselves and explain to the family that the patient is dying and needs to be euthanized.There are ways of ending a patients life now, sometimes without the family knowing even. I am all against murder in the medical field since it happened to our dear loved one. It happens even though it is not legal and is accepted too often. Sometimes you just need to think out of the box and explore the diffent scenarios."
"If a person is going to die anyways, I think that they should be allowed to end their suffering sooner. I just don't think that they should be allowed to if they aren't going to die from their illness, unless they're already medically dead and could survive, but are in a vegetable state."
"The thing is that doctors can get a person in a vegetative state with a lot of drugs. It is good for the doctors because the doctors can tell family that their loved one has taken a turn for the worse and suggest euthanasia.Then doctors are able to use as many drugs as the drug companies want them to use and apparently the doctors can be happy with their big fat salaries that they get for killing people.Isnt euthanasia grand?"
"To those that think its ok to let their love one suffer I feel sorry for the person or persons thats suffering. I look at the topic as if I was the person that is in need. And personally I would not want to suffer or die an aweful death. If that means that I am sort-of killing myself than so be it."
"Someone who is comfortable with the thought of death at the last moments should be legaly aloud to end their suffering at the moment they choose, they chose the way they lived, so they should be able to choose the way they go when giving the chance."
"Legalizing euthanasia would help alleviate suffering of terminally ill patients. It would be inhuman and unfair to make them endure the unbearable pain. In case of individuals suffering from incurable diseases or in conditions where effective treatment wouldn't affect their quality of life; they should be given the liberty to choose induced death. In an attempt to provide medical and emotional care to the patient, a doctor does and should prescribe medicines that will relieve his suffering even if the medications cause gross side effects. This means that dealing with agony and distress should be the priority even if it affects the life expectancy. Euthanasia follows the same theory of dealing with torment in a way to help one die peacefully out of the compromising situation. Euthanasia should be a natural extension of patient's rights allowing him to decide the value of life and death for him. Maintaining life support systems against the patient's wish is considered unethical by law as well as medical philosophy. If the patient has the right to discontinue treatment, why would he not have the right to shorten his lifetime to escape the intolerable anguish? Isn't the pain of waiting for death frightening and traumatic?"
"hey no kill zone wouldn't it cause more pain to the family if they had to watch their loved one die a slow and painful death? and not all doctors are thugs they went into the field to help people not hurt them."
"then why not let the person kill themselves. That has been going on for many years and works out fine. If a terminally ill person decides that they do not want to live then they use suicide. It should be their choice and their choice ONLY. If a medical staff is involved with a killing then they should.GET PRISON TIME AND NEVER BE ABLE TO PRACTICE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD EVER AGAIN THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. There is already too many medical thugs who choose the easy way out by stealing human lives since it is more convenient then taking the effort to save them. Elders are also considered terminal along with many others in a medical staffs eyes.So if doctor says that grandma is terminal that translates as she is elder. Therefore medical staff should not be able to take it upon themselves to decide or encourage who gets to live, but they do. It is illegal but accepted. People have to put their trust into the doctors who are supposed be helping, but instead steal the life of their loved one That is what causes pain for family."
"I too used to be against Euthanasia and PAS however, I have learned a lot things since I took that stand. First my best friend who suffered from ALS, used PAS in Oregon and I was very mad her for a long time for it. Becuase of this I was very against PAS because it took my friend.But I also since learned how horrible her death would have been if she had continue to live. But last year my mother lost her battle with MS. It took her four days to pass away she fought for every breathe she took for those entire four days her whole body shuttered with every breath. My family and myself never left her side for those four days. She woke up once and the pain and agony that she was in was very apparent. I know how terrible it was for myself and my family to watch her suffer like that what I don't even want to imagine is how horrible it was for my mother to endure. If I were to ever get to that state please, please someone help me end it."
"My mother has alzheimers...as it progresses....all she wants to do it die. She obsesses about having to go to a nursing home. If she had the peace of mind to know that she could take a pill when she's ready to go, then she would have more peace in her remaining days. I worry about my only son having to take care of me when I'm old. If I get alzheimers or a terminal disease, I want the right to choose my own destiny and die with dignity. Every person deserves that choice. I really hope we legalize physician-assisted suicide. If we vote on it, I will defintely vote YES."
"there are doctors who already take lives without permission so if we give them permission, there will be more innocent lives that will be taken. unfortunately not all doctors are good and not all will do what is best for the patient. That is why this would be a fatal mistake.So if we do not give permission to euthanize and instead lock doctors up who take lives we will be able to weed out the bad doctors which would be nice."
"As we can decide what to do with our lives, we can decide if we want to life or not. but previously we need to make a strong decition, because is something that has not turn over""
"I am pro for 2 basic reasons. I think everyone has the right to die, not to suffer and to make that choice. The second reason is pure economics, we cannot gurantee our society the right to live, we have mortgaged our kids, grandkids and beyond and the simple numbers do not allow us to sustain life for as long as we have. The last 6 months of our life in a lot of cases are more expensive then the rest of our lives put together in health care costs. I hate to think we are going to have to make those decisions but we simply will have to make the hardest of choices with a limited amount of resources."
"who has the right to tell someone how long they have to live????drs do.To bad they don't know these answers but they sure think they do, therefore they believe that they need to finish a patient's life with euthanasia. It is already done and I would like to see it stopped and any medical team involved with euthanasia put in prison for life."
"We should be able to die a dignified death, not attached to tubes and hoses just to make Dr's and hospitals richer. My feelings are that Dr's have the need to remove pain and suffering, the routinely out patients in induced comas for just that reason.Why does this country treat an animal with greater respect than a human when it comes time to end pain and suffering."
"I'm pro because the individual has the right to live, therefore I think that he also has the right to die. It doesn't worth to live by machines and make all your family suffer your pain. In my opinion, euthanasia should be legalized."
"It is essential to die with dignity.After seeing my parents suffering &dying ,i feel that in order to end the suffering of own& also the patients agony,it should be legalised after the consent of the spouse,children& self"
"why sit and suffer when you can end the pain, who is any one but a hypocrite to say if given the chance to end the most intense pain or live and die from it would not make the same decision???"
"I am currently researching a project on euthanasia in ethics class, But i am still very far from understanding why it is illegal. Euthanasia is only a positive thing, If you choose to use it this means you have been happy with your life and are ready to now die peacefully. My only brother was recently killed , & i have been thinking alot about my life. As soon as i am happy with my life and am ready to go peacefully i will request euthanization. After all this world is only a very small piece of your being. This process has more moral's than watching a loved one suffer. No government cares about moral's, only money. So why do they waste(I use this word very lightly) tax dollars on health care for the terminally ill.?. There are no correct ways to die. Euthanasia = positive ending."
""So why do they waste(I use this word very lightly) tax dollars on health care for the terminally ill.?. "
I hope and pray that someday when you need medical care for a terminal illness that you are not told it would be more cost effective for you to kill yourself than for money to be "wasted" on your treatment. (That idea was a big hit with the Nazis)"
"im for it because my grandmother just died a few weeks ago and she didnt want to be put on life support but the doctors did anyway. she layed there and kept trying to beg me to take it of. then after 8days she finally went on with the lord but it wasnt peaceful."
"ITS EASING THE PAIN NOT MAKING IT WORSE IF U LOVE THEM U NEED TO LEARN TO LET GO AND IF U THINK THAT ITS SUICIDE.YOUR JUST LETTING THEM GET HURT MORE. THE ORGANS CAN ALSO BE USED FOR PEOPLE THAT COULD BE HEALED."
"That is why for so many years when a terminally ill person did not want to live anymore they took their own life and no medical staff was ever involved. It was their choice and their choice only. It needs to continue on that way. Medical staff have no business taking a life they need to learn to save lives only. That is their job not to take lives. If they are involved with euthanasia there should be PRISON TIME and they should NEVER EVER be allowed to work in the medical field again. That is what needs to change."
"Medical staff should not be involved. They have no business or right to kill a person that is not their job. If a person wants to kill themselves suicide is what terminal patients have used over the years.They do it on their own terms, but medical staff should NEVER EVER UNDER NO CIRCUMTANCES BE INVOLVED WITH TAKING A LIFE. Their job is to heal only, killing does not involve healing.There needs to be heavy consequences for ANY medical professional who is involved with killing."
"I can see where this would be okay, I am EDUCATED on it. And Originally Pro but a question to ask is what if doctor's start believing that they can govern whether a person's life is worth it or not?"
"Is a rapist's life worth saving? Is a catatonic victim's life worth saving? (be honest) Is an 80-year-old Alzheimers patient's life worth saving? (again, be honest)"
"That would be illegal according to the legislation that we are debating here and then the doctor would go to prison if they decided to do what you're suggesting. Basically your statement is off-topic."
"There's paperwork that has to be done, a written statement from the patient needs to be added to that paperwork, but other than that in Oregon they take some lethal medication after verified that htye only have six months to live and are of the mental capability to descide."
"There are doctors that I would call thugs.Thugs steal and there are doctors who steal people's lives with euthanasia. Both of these kind of people are both what I would consider and call thugs. doctors who do euthanasia are worse because people put trust into them to help us and not kill us. They betray us and cause endless amounts of pain by their actions.With a thug we expect bad things from them but it is shocking when done be a doctor or medical staff who we are supposed to be able to trust to heal and save."
"The only bad thing is that if it was a public drug (which most likely it wouldn't be) people could murder other people or if they are depressed they could take it without getting help first."
"As an LDS I believe that everyone must endure to the end. We live our lives and then die. All of us must go through hard trials and some of us don't make it. If we just keep strong then we have a great chance. Maybe the illness and pain will go away and we would have killed ourselves for nothing. That's why I'm against euthanasia."
"I love the LDS, but not ALL of us can keep strong through decades of chronic illness that doesn't go away..ever. No man can judge another & I hope you never have such pain your only hope for love is through physician aided suicide."
"It's not the idea that you are giving up, it is the idea that you move on, break your shell and find a new one. I'm not at all versed in the teachings of LDS but I know you believe in a heaven. I personally am not sure what we can expect but to most it is enough to say goodbye to this life. Why live and subject yourself to hell when you can be free and possibly move on to a better life? In all religions it makes sense. Whether you believe in reincarnation, an endless eutopia, or like me are not even sure what to expect it is better that to sit and suffer. In fact choosing to stay alive promotes the belief you seem to be against which is to just be a useless nothing with no aim or goal."
"Not sure where I completely stand however that being said my biggest concern is where do you draw the line between euthanasia and murder. If you allow it then thugs could claim they were aiding people in suicide just like doctors..."
"It would be different because thugs wouldn't have the same drug the doctors carry. Doctors would be permitted to assist with a certain drug available to them. Thugs kill with other things available to them: guns, hammers, cro bars, knives etc."
"The line is already drawn in the proposed legislation and in the current definition of those two words. Murder is killing a person against their will. Euthanasia is giving a person the means to end their life. There would probably need to be video evidence or something along those lines of the person actually pressing the button to release the lethal drugs into their body. If you're worried about the doctors forging false paperwork in your name or something like that then that could already happen now. All they'd have to do is say you died of such and such a cause when they really murdered you. There are drugs that can't be detected in an autopsy. Are you seriously afraid of a doctor murdering you just because they don't want to treat you?"
"That is no where near the same thing. But if you want to use that as a comparison lets start with Thugs and drug dealers would not have a job if people did not want those drugs. Unfortunately the majority of people who us drugs do so because they want to. Then they become addicted. It is supply and demand. If people stopped using drugs then we wouldn't have thugs trying to sell them. Just like drugs though we would not be having this discussion if there was not a demand for it. We live in a country where our rights are supposed to be protected, well if it is our life and our right why can we not do what we want to do with it? Doctors treat those who seek them out and if a patient is terminally ill and is only being kept alive by medical technology. Then who are you are anybody else to tell a person what they should have to live and suffer through? I do think the rights should be reserved with those with terminal illnesses not just anybody who is having a bad day and wants to kill themselves. Think about yourself suffering and knowing you are only alive because of technology and wouldn't you want the choice. I would much rather go when my time comes then linger and it should be my choice not yours or anyone else."
"NO this should not be legal. It is not legal in califorina but yet it is still used and the california department of health accepts it. Our loved one was drugged into a coma and then the doctors had a discussion that her life was not of quality because she was drugged and they refused to not only not treat her for a treatable infection and the drug overdose, but they also gave her meds that would kill her with the infection she had. NO ONE should ever have the right to kill another human being. Killing of any kind should be completely illegal."
"From what you wrote, this sounds like a case of criminal negligence on the part of the doctors, not euthanasia. If legalized, NOBODY would be euthanized against their will. I am undecided on this topic but I strongly believe that everyone should be educated about it before making up their minds about where to put their vote."
"A wise man once said 'We die ourselves every time we kill in someone something that had to live' Whatever happened to the sacrosanctity of life? If we do not have hope, then on what pillar should the world be based?"
""something that had to live" is no longer an accurate statement nor it is an option for the terminally ill and already dying. The dying did not chose to not have "something that had to live " for - but they can choose less pain and suffer.. and should not ask anyone for permission to do anything in life or in death, and in special when their action hurts no one."
"Aren't you killing me by not giving me a job, food or safe, secure place to leve? I'm a 56 year old ininsured, unemployed female getting $160 in disability $ $16 in food stamps a month! That's sacrosanctity of life? When you are there tell me what hope you have."
"Sanctity of life? Please keep your religion out of my government. Quality of life can only be decided by one person; the one living their life. I can no longer work, have friends, enjoy any of the activities I used to enjoy due to chronic pain, anxiety, and fatigue. It's not for you to decide what value my life has."
"Understandably there are some patients who are suffering and dying. With out euthanasia these people would not have a reason or a true way to give up their life. They could continue their fight to surviving. Doctors who kill patients without their consent is completely against all human rights. Also killing those who are born with a disability or those who can not be taught is wrong. Everyone has a right at life, which is why we are put here on Earth. It makes sense with people who are terminally ill, have a killing diseases or any thing that could relate to their death. But physicians who talk and attempt the killing of people with disorders is wrong, plus it goes against the sanctity of life. I am Con-Euthanasia but I am also Pro-Euthanasia. I am 16 years old and I am writing my term paper on this topic. I have read many stories that broke my heart, and many that made me tear up in joy. Some lives are saved and put to rest, to end their suffering. Others are "sentenced" to their death without their consent, and that should not last any longer. Thank you for reading and I hope you feel the same as I do."
""Others are "sentenced" to their death without their consent"- Do you have sources to back up this statement? I highly doubt there are a significant number of cases where doctors choose to kill a patient without the patient's consent. And even if there were then it still has nothing to do with the legislation we are debating here, because the legislation won't allow murder; it'll only allow assisted suicide. Your argument is barely related to this topic."
"I had an extremely sick grandmother who died, while she was fully conscious, by murder. My mother had removed my grandmother's oxygen and my grandmother died of oxygen deprivation."
"If doctors swear no harm when they take the Hippocratic oath they shouldn't do any harm. Care for people with serious illnesses doesn't include euthanasia."
""...If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty..." - The Hippocratic Oath"
"I have a decade of experience with doctors who have done me great HARM. In their practice to cure me. Care does in- deed include acceptance of death as relief and you are foolish not to understand this."
"Fifteen national disability rights groups oppose assisted suicide as unnecessary and dangerous for elders and people with disabilities and terminal illness. Assisted suicide is unnecessary because each person already has the right to refuse treatment, food and water, and to have palliative care, even to the point of sedation. It is dangerous because financial pressures and cost-cutting incentives can lead to inadequate health care and ancillary services, and thus a poor quality of life. The "safeguards" in assisted suicide laws are ineffective. The diagnosis of terminal illness ("likely to die within six months") is often wrong, or simply ignored. No mental health screening is required to detect conditions that can cause suicidality. Nor do these laws include monitoring or enforcement to prevent abuse by relatives or doctors. Finally, such laws single out certain groups (such as old, ill and disabled people) for discrimination. When non-disabled people are suicidal, they are treated for depression and even detained to prevent their suicides. Yet when people with disabilities or terminal illness show such feelings, they get help to kill themselves, thus assuring a successful suicide where most others fail."
"Would you like to be in so much pain that you cannot move a muscle? So much pain that you cannot speak? Would you like to live a life where you cannot enjoy the company of your loved ones because you are unable to think of anything other than the excruciating pain you are feeling? A life where you cannot breathe normally, therefore you are unable to do basic daily activities such as getting out of bed, eating, talking, laughing, getting to a bathroom or kitchen? How about a life where you cannot find the strength or energy to go to a loved ones special event such as a wedding, baby shower, birthday or birth of a child? People with terminal illnesses always end up with a life like that eventually. Before it gets that bad, they would like to have the option of being remembered as they lived normally, not as a vegetable or someone their loved ones cannot even recognize emotionally or physically."
"I think not because everyone is made in the image of God. Regardless of so called "quality of life" people can not deny the twinkle in the eyes of a mentally retarded person who receives proper love and attention. It is not about how much they can do. It is about how we insure their having a good life"
"no one has any right to play God or Grim reaper a life is a life you have no right to decide nor do they if they or a loved one should die technically its murder"
"I am just playing the Devil's Advocate here so please do respond with violence because I'm not siding with anybody but wouldn't prolonging someone's suffering be a sin and saving someone who doesn't want to live be like playing God/Grim Reaper."
"I don't view death as grim, but a God given relief for the callous treatment I, as a disabled person in pain, have suffered. With PAS I have the right to end my pain and responsibility to manage the burden. You won't & can't, so no murder here."
"I am personally against Euthanasia as I believe death is never an answer. It is argued that choosing to die is far more dignified than dying in pain. I however disagree, As a Christian I believe God allows everybody to die with dignity. I also believe that God answers our prayers, prayers for healing and answers. God has the power to heal any disease but he also has the power to end our lives. I think that God would honestly not let us die in unbearable pain, however if we asked him to take the pain away, he will call us home if the time is right. If not he will give us an answer other than death."
"Does God allow everyone to live in dignity also? What are you doing to help ease someone's pain aside from sitting in judgement? How many suffering lives and bad deaths have you been an active part of? Must be nice to live in your insulated world. I am a Christian and physician aided dying is compassionate."
"I respect that not everyone holds the same beliefs as me however this is my personal belief. I do beleive god eases pain and allows you to do die with dignity. I am not saying I want to cause people pain or will stand by as someone suffers however i believe god may be an alternative."
"No it should not just because it is stated in the constitution you should want to live. You can go to the Kingdom of God when your time is up, you should not kill yourself its not good. Dont just think about yourself think about the people you are hurting by doing this, think about you friends or your mom or your dad. Think about the other people in your life."
"Yes, there will be people that will get hurt, but people die all the time. How are you going to prevent them from hurting? Plus, families would feel more hurt seeing someone in pain. Have you ever heard of ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease)? People can live for years slowly and painfully losing their life and feeling. Not only is there stess on the family emotionally, but financially as well. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent by families to keep people alive who will eventually die even more slowly and more painfully. If someone wants to die a dignified death and remove that burden from their family, what's the problem with that?"
"Whaaaa? WHERE does it state that in the constitution? And not everyone has the same religious belief as you. Why should a Buddhist adhere to your religion? Ok, so you're saying that a person should suffer in complete and utter agony so that they can "think about your friends, mom or dad?" Either you have never seen someone go through immense pain wanting to die and wish that the assisted suicide was available, or you are just plain ignorant."
"What about a decade of NOT wanting to live, yet being forced against our will. All people in my life are considered. I have the responsibility to relieve this painful burden myself and it is the most LOVING thing I can do for ALL concerned. God and I have been partners all my life and will be in my passing."
"If I am still alive, it means God has decided that my time is not up. God should decide when I die. Not to mention that this is ASSISTED SUICIDE, which is ILLEGAL. Why should laws be different if it's done by a doctor?"
"If life has any meaning at all, does this not mean that the suffering that is at the end of most of our lives life has some meaning as well? We will all die in some way, but to enable someone else to kill us to end our own suffering is pure selfishness on our part. And those who wish to end the suffering of a family member will only make the family member feel like they are a burden to those around them."
"Stinkin thinking. My decade of suffering has only spread poverty, fear and isolation for me. Is that the wonderful meaning of it? How selfish of you to bully me to continue In agony."
"Although you present a valid argument, it if very one sided.I've known and worked with many with a terminal illness and although some agree with you, not all do. Is it not selfish to keep someone alive against their wishes when they are in immense pain and suffering? Should it not be left to the patient, much like a DNR, to make this decision?"
"I don't think that euthanasia should be legal for many good reasons. First off I don't think anyone at all has the right to end someone's life unless that person who is intended of being killed using euthanasia asks the doctor and provides good reasons to why they want to die. I especially don't think that euthanasia should be used on teenagers. If a teenager asks the doctor to help kill him/ herself it might be because the teen is having emotional issues or are just mad at something that they will eventually get over. Basically only a mature parent/guardian should speak to a doctor and ask if they could use euthinasia on their child. Even then they would have to provide sufficient and specific evidence to why the child should be put down for reasons like suffering. These are just my thoughts on euthanasia, and I hope most people agree with me."
"You're missing the entire point of euthanasia. It isn't for healthy teenagers who are depressed and dealing with emotional issues. It's for patients who have zero quality of life, and will sit and die, probably excruciatingly slowly, in complete and utter pain, for days, weeks, months. In many cases, they do ask to be killed. They don't want to live with the pain anymore because it's unbearable. Perhaps you should do a little research on the people in these situations."
"I am against physician-assisted suicide because it is morally wrong and what gives doctors the right to "play God" and make the decision that that patient needs to die...what they should do is allow the patient time to rethink their decision and try to make them reconsider because no one knows tommorrow...one day you might have stage 4 cancer and the next minute it could...vanish as if it was never there...Who said there were no such things as miracles?"
"Ok so assisting someone to die, who is obviously suffering, and ultimatly all that the individual is doing is waiting for death, is considered playing "God." However, do you not think that when an individual is kept alive with machines, is this not playing "god", by going against nature and trying to keep the person alive beyond reason? We had extended life, we have people in machines and gone beyong to keep people alive that otherwise nature would had already claim, is this not playing God?"
"There are indeed miracles and compassionate doctors would indeed be one. They grow cold with greedy indifference. They make life & death decisions selfishly everyday. They are the gatekeepers and I hope you have a merciful one when the time comes. This is reserved for the rich mostly."
"I am fully against this. I mean yes the people have the right to live or die but that just is not right. The doctor is obligated to make it easier on the patient by making it more comforting for them or giving them something to ease the pain they are in. I had an uncle who died 4 years ago from als (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and wanted my mother to suffocate him. She thought he deserved to live to the fullest till the day he passed which was a year after that and yes it is very hard to decide whether or whether not to do it and yes it is their choice but it isnt right. You shouldnt die unless you just... die. But I think that this isn't right and yes im dumb and must not know much about this... But the patient should live until they die on their own. So im against and you should be too."
"would it be a smart thing to come home and say: "hey today i killed 6 patients at the office.. it was a great day!" no, it wouldnt. we shouldnthave the right to take a life away just because they want to. the person can do it himself as long as someone else doent do it to them. it would be the same as homocide/murder and nobody wats to comitt that."
"PAS is the patient voluntarily ending their suffering in a kind, loving manner instead of being forced to botch a violent, lonely attempt because nobody is compassionate enough to care. By NOT addressing this, doctors are forced to do more harm for fear. How about those hospice workers who come home and were able to provide "good, peaceful death" to those who suffer. That is a great day for one who cares. You come across as mean and indifferent to humans."
"It's not the same thing. as far as "the person can do it himself" goes, sometimes the person is too sick and in too much pain to do anything. They are trapped in their own bodies. Although medican is advancing, sometimes the medication does not help. It's not like these people are opting for suidcide when they have other options. These poeple are terminally ill and have no other options. They are sufforing and their dying moments are filled with a lot of pain, when it should be a time for goodbyes."
"There is a fine line to determine how much pain a patient is actually in. When a person tells you to determine pain on a scale from 1-10 each persons tolerance for pain is different. Therefore, how does one determine whether a critical ill patient should be allowed to die. Should God not be the only determinant for when it is someones time to die. I believe that God puts us through so many tests in our lives and doesn't put on you more than you can handle. When it is your time to go, it should be God to determine that you time on earth has expired. This is 2012 and enough medicine has been invented to keep a patient "comfortable" with their pain, so enough medicine to keep a patient comfortable until God takes them home, should be the determining factor."
"No medicines for chronic emotional pain that don't cause worse side effects for me. The only solution is to be zoned out and that's a walking, unproductive, horrible living death. I had your same beliefs before I became ill. Judge not..."
"do not give DNR blindly, I had a situation with my mother, health professionals loved to have dnr asap so they can relax. Also it does not look bad on them if the patient dies. We withhold dnr and she year and half longer."
"This is true dnr( do not resituate) no CPR for heart attacks is pretty much a licence to kill and they should be banned. People sign up because they think that they can pass in a natural way, but that is not true.The medical staff does not have to take care of people with dnrs.The patients can be completely ignored. Staff can even do subtle little things to kill patients with dnrs and get away with it. Medical field is a perfect place for staff to commit murder.That is why there should be life in prison if a medical staff does not do their job and kills a patient.Autopies should be required in all deaths in medical facilities.It should not be made easier for the lazy medical staff who does not believe in work and kills patients instead of saving them. Not sure how a person can live with themselves after killing someone but they seem to manage.That is why anyone who is involved with euthanasia of any kind should serve life in prison with no possibility of parole."
"The thing is you want to die...but you never know...if you do live God may do one of his miracles and heal you when you think there is no hope. If you are in pain put your self in Gods hands and if you are a christian it will be worth it because in heaven there's NO pain No suffering!! Revalation 21:4 reads: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.""
"Well then that means those of us who are not religious will die either way. If I were terminally ill, with no hope, I would want the comfort of knowing, that if i so chose, I could be eased out of my misery. Prisoners get euthanized because they comitted crimes. I comitted no crime, but became deathly ill. Why then do i not deserve to be peacefully laid to rest?"
"I am con, because I (being a Christian and proud of it) beleive that God put one person on the Earth because he wanted them to stay there, rather than become depressed, fatigued, [Insert other problem here] and then decide to kill themselves just because of that.
There is a certain reason for living for everyone, and I believe that one can help another find that reason and hope to go on. I'm not saying that they should just 'suck it up and go on with it, you jackwagon'. No. Not at all. There's a reason they're here, and a reason to keep going.
The elderly too have their 'own time' to go. Not by the hands of doctors. God has his own schedule for everyone, like a doctor has time to see his patients.
Also, another good point I have thought up. What other being besides people receive euthanasia?
If you said animals like dogs and cats, you are correct. If we're able to die like our pets, maybe we should just live like animals as well.
I don't mean to sound over voiced or a loud ignorant person, but I dare say, it sounds like murder to me."
"What about cancer patients that are in constant pain, does God want them to stay that way right until they die, does God want them to suffer.. If they want a lethal dose of morphine. give it to them as long as they give the consent."
"Not everyone believes in Christianity for one. #2) Why should YOUR morals have any say for someone else concerning THEIR life? How is it murder? It's called suicide."
"I think doctor assisted suicide should be legalized because if they are mentally stable and completely sure than that is there choice and I'm not a religious person by any means, but I believe that everything happens for a reason and if god is really up there the that is what he planned for that person. Also not everybody shares your views on life. What if the person is in so much pain that they can't handle it anymore. My great aunt whom i was very close to had to go through this and i wish she hadn't have had to but she did and his was the path she was lead on. If she had wanted doctor assisted suicide then we as a family would have supported her, but she was one of those people who fought until the end.Others are not all this way though. So in conclusion it's their decision not yours."
"Murder is killing one against their will not aiding their request. I'm glad to hear that you are willing to help me find my purpose in this pain. When are you coming over?"
"did you know that in the netherlands where euthanasia is legal almost all old people get it? ok yes people can avoid sufering but are all old people in the netherlands that sick? doctors swear in their oath that they won't give a deadky drug to anyone or even make a suggestion to that effect. do you want them to have to break their oath or change it because it suits some people? what if doctors in the future dont ask for your ok they just kill you cause you're in pain or terminal when you wanted to fight to the end? we have plenty of suicides every year without doctors helping people do it!"
"Did you know that people of the netherlands were judged in a survey several years ago as being the world's happiest? If you had to experience the emotional trauma of having BOTH parents simultaneously as being terminally ill at 91 (a more than ripe old age), you might change your take on it! My sweet mother especially has been in alot of physical and emotional pain for years! Why is it we can "put our beloved pets down" but not human loved ones? It is YOU con people who are the merciless ones!"
"The only ones who get it are those who have completed medical directives they want it. Fight...it's our right. Accept relief from the pain...it should be our right as well. Suicide is sad, tragic, & violent because we have no compassionate choice such as PAS. THIS is Heartless and Cruel.."
"The problem with physician-assisted suicide comes in, when a person is psychiatrically suicidal. When you are physically or mentally disabled, you might come to a point in your life when you don't think it will ever get better. Suicide is a way out, a way away from the pain. I'm against it because I've tried to commit suicide before-when I thought my life wouldn't get any better- and afterwards, I regretted it."
"I am Pro-Euthanasia, but I don't think that euthanasia should apply to people who are just depressed/etc, I believe it should be for those who are suffering from a terminal illness and what-not that have no chance for survival."
"Unlike you. I have benn unsuccessful with 3 attempts and regretting THAT. How is your ego so huge you have no understanding of the lonely violent end we are forced to resort to when there is no civilized option? I would never force you to die against your will...why force me to live?"
"I do believe in places where it is practiced if the patient is severely depressed they will not do it.. When the person makes that decision they have to be of sound mind.(as sound as it can be for someone in that situation)"
"I am con primarily because I believe that our live is sacred until our life is taken from us. It is centred around the belief that God made us in His image, He has appointed our last day, He has commanded us not to kill, and there are consequences for disregarding value of life. I am directly opposed to active euthanasia, but believe there may be times for passive to let die naturally with the assistance of medication for the purpose of pain relief, and not the intention to kill. I would be afraid of our country allowing these laws to dictate my death and be treated as an animal who was put down. Just because I may not have quality of life or display 'personhood', does not mean my life is no longer of value to society or even to me. I am also concerned that there would be a Kevorkian attitude that would be free to hand medication to people under the guise of euthanasia that would promote death in our society for those not even ill. Because of my belief in God, I defer my finite knowledge of the value of life to the One who created it, while keeping my autonomy. Just like you defer your knowledge of your health to the doctor, or your car to your mechanic, and don't believe you know better."
"Have you never had a mechanic mess up your car or a doctor make you worse? I have. They are fallible humans. Everyone is ill or soon will be. Nobody is going to allow you to be put down against your will, but I am being forced to live against mine."
"I agree with you .In reality , person should live till the end of his life that god gave them. If an severe ill person is alive it is luck of him and his family members". Anyway Human must hope to recover ."
"to li If someone is suffering too much and they want to take their life this has happened before. I knew someone who did take their own life after suffering from a terminal disease and did it in a very peaceful way. What is upsetting and wrong is doing it in medical facilities.This is just encouraging bad doctors and medical staff who do not want to do their job to take lives freely. There would never be enough patient security and protection to prevent innocent lives from being taken. It is already acceptable and it is already used. Do some research and you will see.That is why we should not encourage it. We need to instead discourage it to save innocent patients from being killed."
"doctors are here to SAVE lives NOT TAKE lives! it's just wrong yeah here's your death drug sorry live wasn't good to you and that I'm not a good doctor that wants to help you! it's not suicide its MURDER! aren't you supposed to get help if you know someone wants to commit suicide? i mean really people? really? suicide is horrible and people who want to commit suicide or help someone commit suicide need HELP!!!!!!!! life should be treasured not ended because your down or depressed! GET HELP! GET THROUGH IT! suicide is really just a way for cowards to not have to face their problems! you will regret throwing your life away if you can do things like regret stuff when you're dead! think it through people! your life is not trash that should be thrown away! we all have some reason to live so find your reason and enjoy life! :)"
"This is Terrible to say, the people who make this decision cannot not just "get through it" or "get help". there is nothing they can do. every second of there lives is suffering and pain. and death is around the corner for them. terrminially ill people have bassically no promise, and nothing to look forward to but more days of suffering. they are not cowards. and you should be ashamed. Doctors are there to help, you are correct, but there is nothing that they can do for these people. they are rotting away, and this gives them a chance to savor there last moments with loved ones, before peacefully ending their misery"
"What if you are born with adis? What happens when you know you can't bear children without worrying about spreading it? What if you contract canc, and because your immune system is too weak it cannot fight it off? What happens when you feel he pain slowly eating and eating at you everyday? That is enough to make me want to jump out the window"
"really? to be honest you canet through alot of things! like terminal cancer! its painful and slowly but horribly kills you! being in the medical field iv seen all to much to be against it! there are certain things a doctor cant cure or save! doctors are only imperfect a nd can do so much! they dont have the power to cure everything! they try but its ot that easy! and they dont take you life just cause theres always a very valid reason if assisted suicide is to be put in place!"
"I do agree that doctors are here to heal and save lives that is their job. Taking lives is not part of a doctors job description and not a requirement. Do all you pro euthers believe that all doctors should have a licence to kill or should there be only one assigned killer. How bout none.It is acceptable now for medical monsters to euthanize as they walk free to continue. We really need to make stronger laws to prevent euthanasia instead. Sending these euthanzers to prison can set examples for other bad doctors to think before they kill."
"I have no reason and find no joy. There's no getting THROUGH chronic pain. It's relentless and wears you out. I've exhausted ALL resources after a decade and you are the coward for being unwilling to HELP!"
"God's spirit is in us with the free will he gave to determine our lives with help from professionals. Kindness & Love are all that matter, and when that is gone from your world your already dead."
"to victor yes people should not even think about it being in the medical field since like you said euthanasia can be used in the wrong way and because of this it should stay out of the medical field. I do not understand how the pros in here can have such disregard for life, it is just unbelivable.They think it is ok to take chances with innocent peoples' lives. How can that be????They will say that yes sometimes a oops will happen but euthanasia must be done anyway. What is wrong with u pro people????????? we r talking about innocent lives taken by euthanasia when it is abused.This is something very bad and it should = to anyone in the medical field who dares 2 take a life by euthanasia gets life in prison themselves instead. Thats what we need to make stronger laws for."
"But what about for those who want it, such as terminally ill patients, or someone who is depressed who wants to leave this world. Would you want the person to suffer. It isn't what you believe it is. Do more research, and you will realize that this is for those who want to leave this earth. Key word: WANT TO. Besides, if a person wants to leave this earth and die, there isn't anything you can do about it. Sure, some people who encourage it may have an impure motive, but that is rarely the exception, not the rule. You have to let people be who they are, and also, if the roles were reversed, and you wanted to leave this earth, wouldn't you want to do it peacefully?
"My reason for being against Euthanasia is i had a sick grandmother who was on her death bed body was over powered by cancer. The doctors offered her a many fifferent treatments, but she told them on faith it was her time and refused all treatment, so some might said the doctor are getting money only if you allow them to.Stage 4 cancer what can they do nothing. You know when the battle is not yours any more it the Lord, so give it to him on faith. She complained and begged for relieve for a while, but God heard her cry.We prayed and ask God to relieve her of the hurt, and to give us the stregnth to except it, and God answered. Alot of us loss the faith thinking what if that was you in that bed sick i believe that you would want someone to end your pain. NO not me I am a frim believe that God doesnt make mistake and that their a plan for each and everyone of us. So even in death i will fight a battle, because i know i'll never be alone. God will walk with each of us to the end. I can say i have researched Euthanasia and i know what its offering. To die is not up to us! We all have a set time and when he are she is ready for us to come home believe he will come young are old."
"You say your against euthanasia but that was your grandmothers choice. Even if euthanasia gets legalized doesn't mean that doctors will get the ablility to euthanize any patient they want, it's more giving the patient the opinion if they want it, no matter what religion. Is it wrong that some people want to die to stop the suffering ?"
"It's just hard to draw the line on when a patient is really incurable or not. I've read that in some countries where it got legalized there ended up being a lot of people who were killed when they actually wanted to keep living. Besides if the person really wants to kill themself they can jump out the window or something, but I don't think we should be a part of it. We only should kill people who deserve the death penalty like murderers and rapists and maybe some other people."
"WOW! You believe everything you read and feel a disabled person in chronic pain should just jump out a window and possibly hurt someone below. SO...we should KILL bad people who don't want it, but not allow a suffering person to have a compassionate end. Makes sense."
"This would be something that a person would choose to do and it would include not only one, but several doctors to determine the illness terminal. It wouldn't be a simple process that would pertain to just any patient. As far as killing people with the death penalty, I'm sure there have been many people put to death that were truely inocent, so what makes that right, and helping those who chose to die due to a terminal illness wrong??"
"I am going to be a doctor and if i had to kill somone every day i couldnt deal with my self so what about the people in the world want to heal not to kill? What do they do for a living? And what if your pastiont is mentaly ill and you have no idea that they are and then after you kill them you find out how would you feel nowing that, that person didnt actually want to die?"
".to bth euthanasia was what took our innocent loved ones life. So how can u say that the death penalty is the only place where innocent lives r taken As it stands today it takes a group of drs to decide if a patient does not have a quality of life then that person will die even if that person does not want to die or the person's family does not want them to die.What can lead to euthanasia is the doctor may overdose a patient into a severe coma with deadly narcotics or other problems that happen like that. Instead of waiting for the patient to come out of the coma they may have to euthanize them if they need the hospital room that the patient is in, It is way to easy 4 these horrible creatures to take a life. Now I am not sure how it is in all counties in the us but where we live euthanasia is supposed to be illegal yet still used. Hopefully this is not happening everywhere but if it can happen where we live, it can happen anywhere. drs do not need to be encouraged to kill they need to be encouraged not to kill and put in prison if they do kill.death penalty should also not be used since taking lives is not what is right and all the human errors that happen and will continue to happen which take innocent lives."
"obviously you have knowledge about euthanasia or anything in the medical field because when euthanasia is performed its on account of the decision of a family member and if a doctor just killed them without contracts or the consent of the family then they would either be sued or sent to jail. Just saying if you dont know that..low chances of you becoming a good doctor"
"Euthanasia should not be legal because a person could be pressured by family members eager to collect a large inheritance. Some may wonder how can someone be pressured to kill themselves. With their illness using so much of their energy to fight it might be easier to than you think. Also why would people look for expensive cures for diseases like cancer when its cheaper and less painful for a person to commit suicide. It just seems wrong"
"That's very true, and it probably happend somewhat inthe case of Sam Walton, when he was near death, since the family royally screwed up the company that he so tried to give people who lived on a budget. Sometimes, the motive behind that kind of a situation is less than savy, but in that case, you have to have someone who you can trust who has nothing to gain by a person's demise. Oh, sure sometimes personal feelings can play in something like that, but you have to look at the person, as far as wishing that on someone who has the most to gain by it. Usually, it is the most likely that they either had lots of money, or a very successful business, and someone wants to get their hands on it, but usually the one who wants something like that either isn't responsible enough, or someone who will most likely screw up the place, or is a gold digger. That is why people should be very careful who they leave their lives in the hands of, or someone who might want to inherit their finances. Food for thought."
"Why would one possible instance exclude all others? People choose treatment or not everyday. Life & death are painful and each individual must decide their limits."
"In the Netherlands, where Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide is legal, the number of patients deciding to take a dose of lethal medicine is going up to the point where almost 9% of deaths in the Netherlands are because of Physician Assisted Suicide of Euthanasia, and funding for life-saving treatments is going down. We don't want this to begin to happen in the US. Also, it is very easy for doctors to abuse this right for patients, and often times, patients will live longer than predicted. Instead of resorting to Euthanasia or Physician Assisted Suicide, terminally ill patients should be given the option of hospice or pallative care, where they can live surrounded by love and comfort until the day the peacefully and naturally die. The idea of Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide is wrong and immoral, and should not be made legal."
"True, but what about those who WANT to leave, be it because of illness, or deep depression? Like those who don't want to leave, they have that choice, for the ones who want to leave, shouldn't they have the right to leave this earth with dignity, or peace?
Sure doctors can abuse it, but guess what, ANYONE who has power can abuse it. As far as people who want to leave this world, it is their decision. I would believe it would be much for assisted suicide than having someone who wants to leave this world, and kill people until they get what they want, or until the cops or whoever shoots them. Would you want that on your concience? I wouldn't. It is best if a person who wants to leave the earth do so with peace. Also, about termany ill people, they are suffering, and they don't to suffer. Would you want someone to suffer? They often ask to be taken peacefully. Why deny them the right? If a loved one wants to lave, you should think of their feelings. Sure, it is sad, but they aren't suffering anymore. And in the end, you relieved them of their suffering."
"@Pam. I might ask you the same question. You should speak for yourself as well. I say I want it. What fairy tale do YOU live in, where there are non existance of suffering, and people want to live even though they are in pain? Glad you claim to be a speaker for society, especially with a laughable point of view such as what YOU have, PAM. Good luck should YOU wind up on the suffering side, and then you will be BEGGING for Euthanization. Hope to see you on the other side."
"Look at the facts. . . in Oregon the number of patients who received assistance from physician's did not follow through with the event. This just goes to show how important it is to allow people the freedom to choose. If a medical professional does not offer all the choices they can be held liable for not meeting the standard of informed consent. I agree with the policy statement the American Public Health Association made to "change wording to patient-directed suicide or patient-aided suicide" because truly that is what happens here. Doctors are not making this choice for their patient's and law forbids it. Professionals who are held accountable if they do. If you believe in the U.S. Constitution the 14th Amendment states that all people have a right to privacy. This is a private matter folks. . . we each should decide for ourselves."
"It's up because there is a need for it. Speak for yourself when you say WE don't want! What fairy tale do you live in where everyone is surrounded by comfort, love & peace? Glad you have money to insulate you from the rest of us humans who don't rate your regard for our pain. Good luck should you ever end up on this side!"
"Euthanasia is not right. It is the same as going and killing someone! So all you pros out there are basically saying that you would march into someones house and kill them! Cause thats the same thing as Euthanasia!"
"That is not true at all... euthanasia is when someone who is suffering with a terminal illness asks to die. That is totally different then going around and killing people."
"Your statement does not do justice for the word stupid. No one is going house to house to kill anyone. Euthanasia should be voluntary. Your only justification for your stance is your medieval religious beliefs."
"Murder is intentionally removing a person's ability to live. This proposed Euthinasia is simply removal of the medical procedures that are keeping them living a life without quality. Saying that murder is Euthinasia is like saying that declining to participate in trade is theft."
"they should legalize it cause what if they do, theres going to be more murders then ever cause what if someone is a killer and kills a person and says that the person wanted them to do it to put them out of there depression or what ever. im only 15 years old and im working on this assiment about euthanasia and this subject gets to me in a way that i dont want to do it. the whole thing worrys me cause if they do legalize it im worried about the people that are going to be dieing for no reason. but if they legalize it and a doctor does to a pateints but you still have to think what aboutt he family the people that care and love that person , your not just killing on person your putting another person in that position like i mean that there going to want to die or whatever.. but they shouldnt do it cause what woul happen if they legalize euthanasia? you have to think to youself what would happen. think to yourself and when you come back please reply i wanna know how you think and your oppinion!. p.s. sorry about my spelling im only 15.."
"Having a disability doesn't prevent you from proofreading and using spell check, and I would know, considering I've got a couple myself. That said, if a person is sick and wants to die, where do you get off telling them they can't? It's their decision, and theirs alone. Family and friends, if they really love the person, will care enough not to want to keep them alive against their will. Really, it's that simple. No one is going to run around going on killing sprees and claiming that the person wanted them to do it - even if it's legal, euthanasia is not a thing that anyone will take lightly. Seriously. Nobody is going to wake up and think "Oh hey, euthanasia is legal now, let me just grab my syringe, I've got suicides to assist!" and run around ending lives willy nilly. What would happen as a result of legalized euthanasia is this: individuals would have some degree of control over when their life should end. Believe it or not, that's it."
"First of all, euthanasia isn't people dying for no reason. The first part of your argument makes no sense whatsoever. What's your basis to be saying that ? You said, "they should legalize it cause what if they do, theres going to be more murders then ever cause what if someone is a killer and kills a person and says that the person wanted them to do it to put them out of there depression or what ever" . Euthanasia is PHYSICIAN assisted suicide.This doesn't mean that random people are going to go around killing people! Seriously it makes no sense what you're trying to get at here. This is for TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS. Not just random people. p.s. you say your lack of spelling abilities is in part because you're 15 and honey that is is just sad. I'm 15 as well and i spell pretty well. I'm sorry I'm being harsh. Just laying down the truth."
"Ummm . . . the thing that would stop them for doing it on purpose is something called restrictions. with every law they have basic requirements. If they were to make it legal, they would add a lot of restrictions."
"Most 15 year olds can spell or at least have spell check? I am 55, disabled, in chronic pain and actively seek physician aid in dying. I have written out my desires not to prolong my life and have desired to pass for over a decade. My life is a walking death which any compassionate doctor would help if they were able by law."
"yeah your i5 and can spell i 15 teen that has trouble spelling so sorry if i can do it i have a disabilty that i can help..!! and if its assisted but what if a doctor does it and does it on perpes then what what ae they going to say then!! and sorry if my first sence doesnt make sence okay its not my fault okay!!! im 15 with a disablity do you have??"
"Im an American and for me I disagree with it. I am a bibical and I believe we all suffer in some ways,some more than others. I have taken care of very ill patients in my field. Some just want tilt the bottle over and call it a day and others want life. To my patients who suffer from bone cancer to being competely dependent on aonther to care for them. I give them the upmost care with love and do my best to find them peace while they are still here on earth. Do not forsake those who are old and unable. Another question is What about their souls? How do you know God wants this?"
"Not to be disrespectful... but heres a thought. PA does not "Forsake" anyone. Although i agree euthanasia should be seprate from the actual doctor (i.e have a specail branch) I do NOT believe its wrong. How do you know god wants this? To ask that is to ASSUME everyone believes the same as you. MY soul and MY body are mine to do as I please. Terminally ill.... So why make them suffer? Its selfish"
"Mercy killing is morally incorrect and should be forbidden by law. It's a homicide and murdering another human cannot be rationalized under any circumstances. Human life deserves exceptional security and protection. Advanced medical technology has made it possible to enhance human life span and quality of life. Palliative care and rehabilitation centers are better alternatives to help disabled or patients approaching death live a pain-free and better life. Family members influencing the patient's decision into euthanasia for personal gains like wealth inheritance is another issue. There is no way you can be really sure if the decision towards assisted suicide is voluntary or forced by others.Even doctors cannot predict firmly about period of death and whether there is a possibility of remission or recovery with other advanced treatments. So, implementing euthanasia would mean many unlawful deaths that could have well survived later. Legalizing euthanasia would be like empowering law abusers and increasing distrust of patients towards doctors. Mercy killing would cause decline in medical care and cause victimization of the most vulnerable society. Would mercy killing transform itself from the "right to die" to "right to kill"?"
"If I sign a document on the conditions of my being euthanized before I get to that time I should have that right. Giving someone permission to assist you in that is not murder, it is called compassion. By the way you are not the judge of anyone's morality. Use your morality in your life, not mine."
"It is obvious you have never worked a day in your life in health care. Palliative care does not mean you are guranteed a pain-free life. There are terminally ill people who will never be pain free no matter how much pain medication you give them, unless they are put in a medically induced coma, or their spinal cord is medically severed. Should a person be forced to suffer because there is no other way out? Should families keep their loved ones alive for their own selfish reasons of not wanting to let them go and cope with the loss? It should be a humans right to make the choice of whether to end their life or not. It would not be a simple process like you make it sound. There would be more than one physician involved as well as the family, and a psychological evaluation would be performed. It would not be as easy as some people make it sound."
"I SO AGGREE WITH U. mercy killings are accepted even if the patient is not dying or can be saved. This is what is so scary. It is already 2 easy for doctors to do mercy killings. A group of drs get together and decide that the patient must be terminated. They can make things up as well. Being illegal has nothing to do with the fact that it is accepted.drs choice, the pro murder people who claim that they work in the medical field should really open their eyes as what really happens in the medical field. We need to worry more about getting medical staff that kill in prison for life not on how to make it easy for evil medical staff to kill so they do not have to do their jobs."
"What planet gives human life exceptional security & protection. Not mine. A decade of disability has brought a more painful and much worse quality of life so get real. PAS would provide me with a much desired dignified end to a horrendous existence. Stop denying me that little."
I'm curious if you can provide specific examples of doctors getting together to conspire to commit murder, and instances where law enforcement turns a blind eye to such events. Murder is what you speak of, not euthanasia. Lying and deceit are not parts of the credible and regulated euthanasia people like myself are in support of. Euthanasia is not something where doctors just say "hey, your life stinks, go die now". It is a self-process in which a TERMINALLY ILL individual makes the decision (after counseling and psychological assessment) to ask for help ending their suffering. People on the con side really seem to skew the definition of euthanasia to fit their opinions."
"Ok euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide shouldn't be legalized. A reason for this is it leaves families sad and heartbroken. What we have to say is that let the doctor help we have people in the world trying to help, trying to make a difference. From 7th grade Cedarbrook School. ;)"
"Regardless of whether or not the patient is given assisted suicide the family would suffer by seeing their family member slowly fade away as well as be in continous pain. I think that the family member would want to see their family member leave in peace instead of in pain. Look at it this way at least you would be able to ease their suffering instead of just standing by and watching them, that is just cruel."
"The pain from the family is inevitable. It doesnt matter if the person was hit by a bus, or if they died in their sleep, or if they chose their death. The end result is the same, and no matter what the cause, the pain of loss will be equal.
Yes, doctors are trying to help, but if the patient wants nothing more than to be put out of misery, why hinder them from being able to do so? Its their body, their rights, and their choice."
"Okay, no. Whe it all comes down to it, people die anyway, leaving families heartbroken. You've obviously never been in a situation where this has been an option. If the person is suffering enough, the family will be "sad and heartbroken" anyway."
"Terminally ill patients are in serious pain everyday and a family member would only crumble under the fact that their member is in horrific pain. I know a mother who got cancer and the tumor in her nick increased to her voice box and it made her life horrible. It hurt to swallow, yawn, and eventually breathe. She wanted to go. Her daughter accepted that."
"who can measure the pleasure of life ? a small window just to breath and see sunlight and lots of pain and a little hope is better than end of every thing sick people need little bit hope not mercy killing!"
"nick you are right that if a person wants to kill themselves bad enough they will find a way of doing it since this has been happening for ever. Yes and let it be up to them and only them or else it is murder rather than suicide. Everyone has to agree with that, since you cannot stop them but, they need to figure it out on their own, not with the help of medical professionals. It risks the lives of others when doctors are able to kill. There is already a problem with that now and there needs to be serious consequences for any medical thugs who steals a life .Shame on u and the other pros for wanting to make it a doctors job. doctors have better things to do then steal peoples lives.That is not in the job description."
"would you rather suffer every single day, every single minute, every second of you life and cost you family thousands of dollars just so you can feel "better" even though you know death is getting closer or closer. Or would you relieve your pain and die peacefully knowing that your family will not be burdened by the costs."
"So lets say you have cancer and you will die within a month. Two doctors have confirmed this diagnosis. Currently, no magical suffering healing item is going to help you without requiring you to sit in a hospital bed as your family watches you die. And by the way if you are one of those people who thinks cures can happen in the spur of the moment, go read the manual for FDA drug approval. No medicine is just going to pop out of nowhere."
"like what exactly? if suffering could be fixed so easily we wouldn't have a problem here. If anything, the best a doctor can do is give morphine, which is highly addicting and has so many negative side affects. People don't understand that medications take away what makes you you. would god want you to drug yourself and prolong your miserable life?"
"I've tried the others for over a decade and this is what's left. I'm obviously not alone and you ALL continue to force barbaric, traumatic, violent suicides by not dealing with this compassionately & kindly. Rent the A Necessary Death to get an honest picture of what people are forced into doing with no other options."
"to u should be ashamed unless u have seen people loose their life from euthanasia against their will then u also r not putting herself in their shoes. u also have no idea how much our loved one wanted to live yet she was killed for no reason and u think it is safe to allow an actual dr to kill a person. drs and medical staff can be extremely selfish,so much that a patient is killed because they do not want to work.u cannot trust a dr to decide who lives or dies.medical staff should be prison for euthanasia."
"Euthanasia is basically murder, so by agreeing to legalize this your basically saying that its okay for people to murder. And murder is not okay... SO yeah."
"Sorry to say pro euthos but too often euthanasia= Murder.The dictionary and goggle will not tell ya everything. Sometimes U have to learn the hard way (Real life situations). Not all answers are on the computer."
"....ugh people, please learn common sense before you write things on here! its not murder, if anything its just plain old suicide. Seriously research before you shout out your dumb comments"
"Well, what about the ones who want to leave this earth. If someone wants to die, as the case was with the Klebold kid. (His diaries mentioned it numerous times.) and the people who go on shooting sprees, if they had that right, then maybe alot of those crimes wouldn't happen. Sure, they will die, but think of the prevention of killings that would happen. Plus, some stalkers have that obsession problem, and letting them die ends their madness. You have to understand that some people want to leave this earth with dignity, and allowing something like this gives them that right, plus, if someone is in alot of pain, or severely depressed, and wants to leave this earth, instead of them going on sprees and killing others, shouldn't we allow the people who want to die to do so in peace and with dignity, instead of making them feel more desperate? Something to think about."
"Yes it IS a TRAGEDY as it is! Lonely, traumatic & violent. That's why it is time for enlightened understanding and compassionate kind care. I have been treated so cruely but you and millions are justbFINE with that."
"Your right i mean how do you now that the person that is askiong for this cant bring his/her self to hurt themslef so they ask the Doctors to do it for them its not right"
"And I believe that people can decide for themselves. If God controlled everything in the world than we would never be able to make choices for ourselves."
"why would you want to have someone do it for u its rong i no that when you think about suicide you get scared cause ur scared but haveing someone else or a doctor do it. its just like muder. its rong theres no reason to do it i under stand if ur very sick and u know ur going to die but if ur fine and ur going threw depression and u wanna die dont have someone do it for you and dont do it your self. its just wrong! just think of the doctors and peopkle legalizing assisted suicde is wrong and it is basically muder but with permission to!!! I DONT THINK SHOULD LEGALIZE IT!!!!"
"It's spelt wrong not rong, and you not u, why not learn how to spelt and learn about assisted suicide. If your life was not living for and the only thing you get to do is suffer and watch your family suffer over you, would you really want to stay alive?"
"So, you would like your family to live in pain ? and btw physician assisted suicide is issued toward the end of the patients life. Plus, it is the patients choice (but they usually talk to their families about it). And shouldn't death be an unalienable right, after all it isn't included in the constitution. Why should the Government tell you that it is illegal to die and save yourself from pain? No where in the constitution will you see that "it is illegal to choose when you die.""
"It's not murder in any way. There are people suffereing who want it to be over, what if they know they're going to die but have to suffer til it happens. In what way is that murder?!"
"to maddi U is perfectly acceptable everyone knows what that means it is a short cut that is used now for casual writing. If someone is writing fast sometimes letters get left off. It looks like you have some creative ways of spelling yourself, but anyway spelling is not the issue here. The issue is understanding the point that people are trying to make such as killing is wrong because people who did not want to die and should have never been killed are being killed by doctors."
"sorry i dont spell how people want me to! and at least i would want to spend time with my family ! and at least talk to them to see what i should do!!"
"the people who think euthanasia is needed are so timid and selfish because you have no right to take a human life although it is requested to do so ! because i knew a man who was suffering from the cancer but he does not back down and keep his faith strong and no he is completely cured . but if he was killed because of euthanasia who would be responsible for his death ?"
"actually no @tom brown. Those who are against euthanasia are selfish because you cant personally put yourself in their shoes. You have no idea how much someone can be suffering and especially if theyre suffering from a terminal illness. You expect them to suffer the rest of their lives in pain?? That is complete and utter selfishness and no one has the right to be the boss of what they do with their body. Cancer is something you can fight, it is incurable but you can still fight it and become cured. Tell me how you can become cured with a terminal illness. you cant."
"remember,a person asked for it because of suffering,not becouse someone decided for them.have you ever seen anyone who,s suffering without hope,especially the elderly who want nothing ecxept meeting their maker?"
"well he wasnt killed, and that was his choice..what about the poeple who have lost the will to keep fighting, should they be forced to live by doctors who have vowed to save them? how are they saving them if they do not want to be saved?"
"Everybody on the pro side,i would not ever let a family member of mine stay at the hospital if u were a doctor there, killing or assisting another human beings suicide is not okay on ANY level...NO EFFENSE."
"These doctors who are doing this are not going around and killing random people. They are assisting in ending pain and suffering that you have no doubt felt or witnessed. I am not positive, but I am sure that these doctors review and determine that those that want to end their lives have little or no chance of regaining a quality of life. They are not going to assist somebody who is depressed because they lost their job, divorcing. They are assisting those who have no more options. It should be each person's right to decide how they want to deal with the anguish, not YOURS, not MINE, or anyone else. If a person wishes to deal with the pain, that is up to them. If they decide they can't take it anymore, again thats on them. Shame on you and everyone else who believes that the decision lies in the hands of another."
"There is not way to justify ending a human life. If someone murders someone there is no justify it so how in this situation is there a way to justify it. Miracles happen so if a person is sick it doesn't matter."
"Think about it people we are on this earth to live a full faithfull life not to kill ourselve because if you have 6 mounths think about that cure they all pray about.... seriously life is life you end yours you are a murder."
"I'm 55 and have lived that wonderful life. My life, my pain, my limit, my decision. I've believed this for over ten years. Suicide isn't murder nor is it a crime."
"There is grave responsibility in this matter before God first - and man, second. From a Christian perspective, it is believed to be wrong to take human life, whatever the reasons. The explicit commandment 'Thou shall not kill,' sums up the entire conscience dilemma, had it not been for which, euthanasian death would have been one of the noblest acts of mercy in totally hopeless situations...
[W]e either disregard the medical condition of our patients and leave their fate to God, or disregard God's role and take action ourselves for an instant relief of ones that are suffering.
Bottom-line is, I'm against euthanasia, but I cannot imagine myself standing there watching another human suffering, with no hope of recovery and do nothing."
"Your bottom-line says a lot and I do not think people think about sitting next to someone for the long painful death. My last patient slowly died 12 days after she started to shut down and could no longer eat or drink. It was heart-wrenching!
I must admitted being healthy I say I could never plan my suicide by euthanasia but who knows what I might do.
Kinda of like owning a gun for protection, you hope and pray you never have to use it but when someone breaks into your house you thank god you have it. Are you a murderer for protecting yourself and your family by shooting the intruder? Most would say no so why keep someone from making a choice for themselves because the doctor or your family cannot choose for you.
People should pray for others if they feel they are doing wrong but let them make their own decisions because what "Sally" does will not affect you and your relationship with God. Plus if "Sally" truly wants to die it would be easier to commit suicide on her own then go thru the rigorous ordeal of being approve to gone on with euthanasia."
"chelle that is scary to think that a dr does want to end a life for any reason. stacy u with a gun hope u dont end up shooting some poor little old lady who comes in to ur house by accident or ur own relative since u are so kill happy."
"American government and the hospitals that answer to it are from of religious restriction. they are supposed to do what is RIGHT, and what is BEST for the patient. It is partially the role of the patient to choose how to do this."
"Well, whose fault is that, right? If a person wants to die, and they tell the doctor, so what? I mean, if a person wants to die, they want to die. A mental illness has nothing to do with it. If a doctor doesn't know, they shouldn't be a doctor, or maybe they are the wrong doctor for the person. As far as a mental illness goes, that's irrelevant, especially since there are mentally ill people who don't want to die, and sane people who do. Also, about a mental illness it depends on how severe it is, and if the person is one with homicidal tendencies and carries them out. I say, they want to die, and they tell their doctors, go for it. Wouldn't bother me one way or the other, especially since none of them ever bought anything I made, or did tribute sites to me, so I would say good riddance to bad rubbish, and I will just leave it at that."
"Sure. Why not, right? They're not fans of mine, and besides, if people want to die, whose decision was it, right? They made the decision, nobody else.but them, so why force someone to live, if that isn't what they want to do to begin with, right? You can't force a person to live, if they choose not to. If they can't die with dignity, they will choose other means, such as the case with alot of stand offs. You have to look at it from that person's point of view, and their point of view is that they want to leave this earth with dignity. I mean, if a person or animal was suffering, would you want them to suffer and suffer for your own pleasure? No, right? So, why should we let a person who wants to die keep them going. You're only hurting the person, and that isn't what should be. They should be allowed to end their life with dignity. Besides, it would be one less a**hole to inhabit this planet and make room for more. Something to think about."
"If you want to die jump off a building don't have doctors who have been healing people for the past 2000 years start to kill as well, if you go to a doctor who has the power to kill how will you be able to trust him? It would be easier just to kill you and take the money, then to try to heal you (you will not get your lifes worth). I don't want to see our nation go down a path of destruction, if it gets to the point when killing your self is legal, what is the point of doctors. Over half the Assisted suicide and Euthanasia are Non-voluntary: When the person who is killed made no request and gave no consent. If we go down the path of legalizing this where will it stop."
"Did you guys even get the main point? There are many ways to kill yourself I really didn't think you guys would be so shallow to only reply to the jumping of the building scenario. The main point (if you bothered to read the whole thing) is why should DOCTERS be the ones to kill people. It's sad to see people wanting Docters who have dedicated their life to healing, switch and go to killing. Involuntary Euthanasia will be soon legalized after, it happened in Europe."
"if the person is in a coma or terminally ill you think their just going to walk out and jump off a building? cause that's possible..they wouldn't have the "power" to kill the patients would more have the option. If you were in the patients shoes and were practically brain dead wouldn't you want to die and stop the suffering for yourself and family, or rather suffer untill your heart gives up?"
"There are no statistics for your false claim of 50%. Killing yourself is legal. We are just to backward & primitive to help those who decide this course with love/compassion. Healing and ending ones' life should both be treated with respect to individual situations and wishes. Hard to get access to the top of buildings where I live and the trauma inflicted on others seems as heartless as you"
"For those who seek to artificially extend their lives beyond natural means: to do so is a perversion of what is right. For those who seek to end a life that is still to be lived: please acquaint yourselves with a higher god."
"I am con after doing extensive research if they make this legal in all the states the people who want to live will not have a choice but to die because the government will want to be cheap and only pay for the 35 dollars. Its the same as abortions its Morally wrong and should be illegal. A doctor job is to make sure that patient survives not kill them. You have no choice but to die. Yes the person will suffer pain but theres meds for that. Have faith people!!! I for one dont want to see my family leave because they gave up hope. theres always another way."
"OK so it is morally wrong for the lady that was beating and raped or raped by her dad,brother, uncle to have an abortion.. and it is morally wromg for a person that is suffering from something that is causing a great deal of pain and can not be cured they should just take pain meds to take away the pain so that when the insurance stops paying for the meds they have been on for the pain now not only are they still suffering but the are not addicted to pain meds.. How WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WERE the lady that was raped would you be a good person and have the baby.. OR if your child, parents, spouse, or other family member was suffering would you watch them or would you want them to have the choice to have peace?? Ignorance is bliss just remember you are NOT these people nor do you know what they are going threw and until you do who are you to judge them or the choice they make.. God help you or anyone in your family you would let them suffer due to your self absorbed thoughts.."
"Hey Kathy my stepfather died, he was weak and had suffered, but at least his death was not cause by drugs, he wouldn't have wanted to die that way. I would take the baby, the baby didn't rape the woman. It wasn't the baby's fault that something horrible happened to their mother. There is always Adoption. 90% of abortions are simply because the girl had sex and got pregnant, but didn't want the baby. I have Adrenoleukodystrophy and Addison's disease, I would want to live if I started going through the effects of it. Euthanasia hasn't always be thought of as something only for terminally ill people, the Nazis used it against people with physical disabilities and people who had mental disabilities. They had no choice about it."
"NO it should not be legalised as by doing so we shall put the lives of many vulnerable people under danger.Instead we should concentrate on the factors responsible for the demand of euthanasia (by a very few people)"
"If you add in a law, then it could limit the dangers by just adding a family's consent or proof of desire. Plus, it would limit messy arraignments without help. Also, it is happening under the table at the moment so why not bring it above ground? Also, currently 40-70% of patients die in pain and 50-60% die feeling shortness of breath (www.dying.about.com)."
"Doctor's play god every day. The surgeon doing the heart transplant, the administered epinepherine. It's all changing the natural course of the human body. So maybe Dr.s should stop saving lives too is what you must be saying, if they shouldn't play god that is."
"There is no god in my world. How is it that some invisible being in the cosmos somewhere should decide my life ? The religious can consult the god of choice but I have no need for the great father image for advise"
"Seriously? This is why religious people should not have a say in the law. Hell is not a real place and even if it were, without a body or nerves" burning for eternity" doesnt really mean to much"
"Uhh I have one thing to say, no one should die it's no rush to go to heaven god waits peacefully. Im only 13 and have heard a lot and I have been reading stories of kids who take their life , and it's really sad. ;("
"I am also 13 and I have to disagree. Euthanasia isn't kids killing themselves. It's people in termanial condition that are suffering. Don't they have the right to end their suffering?"
"your talking about people who just commit suicide, phyician assisted suicide gives people a way to die with dignity, and without prolonging pain. It gives them a way to go on into death without the suffering that shouldnt even be there."
"Do you understand what physician assisted suicide is? Mnay do it because they know they are dying and they know its is going to be painful. It's not a depresses kid killing themselves ere, we're talking about a different group of beings that should be able to decide that they are done with the pain."
"Wake up girl, there is no god. Everything that happens because it's the natural order of things. Humans are savages that kill one another, and animals are food for the top of the food chain."
"I'm not religious at all I barely believe in God but I turn to my family because they are always there and so are friends but you wouldn't know that would you?"
"Many call themselves christians including me which tells you I have turned to god to be my sacior and sheperd and I know you have an opinion on your thoughts but Euthanasia is decided by the family and the patient with the illness (if concious) other than that i understand theres no rush but you have to understand the pain these patients go through just wanting to be done let alone their families just watching them until its over so they may grieve"
"To everyone on the pro side: You are murderers. There is no other way of saying it. You try willingly to end the lives of patients, but even worse, you try to have the doctors do it. A doctor's job is to ensure their patients live. They are not meant to be murderers. First, who would trust a murderer? Second, what doctor in his right mind would want to kill someone? And finally, it's simply wrong. I don't know what moral standards you hold yourselves to, but killing people is wrong, no matter what words you use."
It is ONLY for terminal patients! Do real research and not just on bias websites that support your side. Also read the modern Hippocratic Oath http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html#modern A doc's job is not simply to keep a person alive because as we all know that is not possible."
"Good thing God forgives murders too!!! Come on get a grip and do some real research on the matter because you sound like a hypocrite. Research both sides not just your own and really think about each case your side presents and what the laws are surronding the issue. Look at the laws and process it takes to even be approved for the procedure. It has been around for many years and has not be taken advantage of and people have not flocked to Oregen just to die."
"so if you had a child or family member that was in the last stages of cancer and was having so much pain they could barely function. are you saying you would watch them suffer and watch them?? should you ever get sick you should be allowed to suffer in all the pain and be made to feel what these people feel then maybe you would want to have peace and to die pain free and be able to say good bye to loved ones.."
"So, if did your research, you would know that it only occurs at the end of their lives. Also, in the case for comatose patients, they would have to get the permission from the families. And not all the rules and regulations would be the same. If there are as many people looking into this in congress, i'm more then positive that they would but some time into making sure that the restrictions are appropriate. Also, the physician would be a savior to, they would save a patient of 6 or less months of: -vomiting continuously -coughing continuously -spasms -loss of control of excretory functions -severe cramps -apatite loss/ gain (uncontrollable) -Digestive system disorders -circulatory system disorders -respiration system disorders -so on..."
"Just wait until you go through the trauma of having a terminally ill parent suffering, in worse pain than the family dog that you put down recently! WHAT A HYPOCRITE INsanity! If my body ever deteriorates to the point where BOTH of my parents are currently at, I swear to God that I will swallow a bottle of sleeping pills, to avoid a miserable life devoid of any quality!"
"second part of my comment for chelle about mom.When adult protective service was called as the forced drug abuse continued,aps felt she was in a safe place and she needed to stay there. So where do you go for help?She was euthanized because the last drugging that she was in put her in a 2 week coma. At that point the doctors played god and labeled her life as worthless and euthanized her. These medical thugs stole my mom's life from her and us.The difference between street thugs and medical thugs is the medical thugs happen to be in the medical field.The point I am trying to make is that euthanasia is allowed now and used against peoples will. Why should this continue and be allowed. It will just make a medical thugs life easier to commit murder. I think until we have people in the medical field that are not murders that euthanasia should NEVER even cross anyone's mind only laws to stop it from ever happening again."
"sanity also research the lives that were already destroyed by euthanasia. These pro kill groups seem to be lacking in their research of euthanasia that is happening now when it is not even legal."
"To Stacy: I just did a ton of research as you suggested and found information on Oregon's physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia laws. Now, I still stand on Con because the process isn't strict enough. I believe that a patient should be terminated ONLY when terminal, NOT when comatose, fed via tube, in pain, or otherwise indignified, because there is always a chance of recovery, and I destest early death even in the face of indignity. I can't stand to watch pain, but I hate death even more.
Also, to your benefit, I recommend you find a definition of "hypocrite". Just sayin'. And, as an atheist, I don't care if God forgives Doctors Death 1 and 2, I don't forgive them myself."
"Mark said: "If killing is always wrong, should we not have killed Osama? Are soldiers murderers?"
I say: "Of course they are! But leave it to the murderers to murder. Also, doctors didn't cause hundreds of people to die, so yes, Osama had it coming.""
"Killing 4 a living. Don't think its only 4 ones who want it.Its for lazy hospital staff or understaffed. The illness doesn't have to be terminal.These killings are 100% wrong. It's a good excuse 2 let patients go especially if legalized, GOD FORBID. Then let's welcome serial killers to medical facilities. Watch how many will die.It was against mom's wishes for evil medical staff to kill her. She had something that was very curable. She fought hard as the medical staff tried to force her to die & 2 break her heart in a convalescent prison it didn't work, next sedatives which were dangerous 4 her. At the end the devil medical team won the battle. They forced narcotics & never treated a very treatable skin infection that was given to her there & went sepsis.If the staff was not so obsessed with death and more into the living she would be here today.Her freedom & rights taken as medical staff made her death decisions. This did not happen in a third world country far away with n
What do you think? Share your pro or con views and help us foster civil, intelligent discussion on important social issues. If you're looking to attack, harass, demean, or impersonate others, please go elsewhere. Read the rules on submitting comments at ProCon.org. Please note that the pro and con comments and thumbs up/down votes reflect the views of ProCon.org readers and not necessarily of ProCon.org or society in general. Remember to enter your email address so we can notify you if your comment gets posted. Thank you!
PRO (yes) Comments (172)
Sort by: Best | Newest | Oldest
CON (no) Comments (73)
Sort by: Best | Newest | Oldest