What are your thoughts on Euthanasia?

Question

Do you feel it should be made legal? If yes why, if not why not?

I’m talking about for incurable illnesses not just for the hell of it, your views please.

Answer 1

I think it's time that this was properly discussed in parliament. People who are suffering from a terminal illness, who are suffering, have no quality of life and are having their death drawn out by medical intervention should be allowed the option of a dignified death.
It's a disgrace that an animal can be euthanized when it is suffering but we do not afford this comfort to people.
Equally it has to be regulated so it is not abused, either by greedy relatives (what a shame this even has to be considered), care staff with ulterior motives (beverly allett would be a good example), and is not available to people who have not been thoroughly assessed by the mental health services to make sure they understand the implications of their choice.

Answer 2

We should take a look at how we deal with animals. If there is no hope and they are in pain we can have them put down in a humane way. This is a lot kinder than what we do with people who are forced to suffer and lose their dignity - often for many years before they die.

If the patient wants to die then they should have that option, if they are too ill to make that decision themselves then the decision should probably be made by a next of kin in conjunction with a doctor and a third independent person. Obviously that could raise all sorts of legal issues but the fact is euthanasia would be better then forcing someone who will die to live as long as possible in pain.

Answer 3

Of course it should be legal. In fact it is legal in some developed countries such as the Netherlands. I think it was also legalised in the Northern Territory of Australia until the federal government overruled the Territory.

For goodness sakes, we treat our pets with more compassion. We allow the vet to put them to sleep when they are suffering incurable diseases.

Many doctors have been quietly doing it in one way or another anyways. For example if someone is suffering incurable cancer they may give them more and more morphine to ease the pain -- even if they know that the morphine will kill them before the cancer.

What is the point of making someone suffer and lose their dignity during the terminal end of their lives. One last hurt and insult from a society with little enough compassion already.

Answer 4

Euthanasia should be used only at the patients request,when they are able to do so, not when they are racked with pain and so incoherent that they are not sure of what they really want.
Their should be a legal document that has to be signed by doctor and patient, as a ultimate last resort.
I am split two ways about this question, as it could really open up a can of worms.

Answer 5

Even incurable disease is not a matter of discomfort or hell as we visualise. Everybody shouts , cries, feels miserable even at small injuries, so that is no measure of agony.
The life, or the being, or soul (any name ... does not matter) that keeps the body alive knows best when to leave. As simple as that. It never overstays, even if the body is healthy ! This being is something that cannot be perceived with sense organs or any tool created using sense organs. With deeper self-awareness one can experience it. Even if the patient asks for euthanasia, it is to be regarded as suicide attempt. Even if it is legalised, it wont make it correct ! What is difficult to believe or understand is that the release for the being is to go through the process of life completely, with or without disease, and a forced exit half way causes more unexplainable misery which cannot be felt , understood or even explained to other living people around.

Answer 6

Tough question. My opinion is that the quality of life should be paramount.How youu tell this I suppose is normally up to the Doctors but their job is to save lives!!! It is therefore a hard thing to look at from a legal point of view. Who takes the ressponsibilty? What about the family opinion? Perhaps a different term i.e assisted suicide will be easier to arrive at. The law is an ***!!!!

Answer 7

Having been told my sister-in-law would have no quality of life after her accident and having part of her brain removed then my answer is YES YES YES euthanasia should be made legal it is so upsetting and frustrating for her and all the family for her to be like this.

Answer 8

no, i do not however i feel that people mistake legal for compulsory, for that is the next logical step. and who is to say what is incurable.
we do not know what is incurable, goverment budgets restrict research,companies only research those ilness that have a high affection rate per head of population, they need to see a return on thier investment.
what should be reviewed is the nonsense in law of charging the helper with assisting in the attempted suicide.
it needs clarification, and the grey areas sweeping away.
on a moral or religeous grounds the church or its councils should offer more guidence and counselling rather than damnation. LF

Answer 9

yes it should be legal i believe this as if someone is in so much pain that they cant go on and that they are going to die anyway why should their pain be prolonged because of a stupid law. My dog got put down because there was nothing that could be done for her and she was in pain.I AM NOT COMPARING THE LIFE OF A HUMAN TO THE LIFE OF AN ANIMAL but if an animal can be put out of its pain so that it doesn't suffer then why cant a human have the same respect and have a dignified death.

Answer 10

Yes absolutely!!! - if you (or some-one you know) is suffering from an incurable illness and your (or their) quality of life is so poor as to be non-existent then yes euthanasia should be an option. We put down animals who are in pain and suffering and who are beyond any cure - so why would we do any less merely because we are humans???