Pro-Choice?

Question

I believe that everyone should have the right to determine what happens to there own body. It's nobody else's business what a person decides to do with their life. Why should the government stick its nose into another persons private life. Why do Christians think that they have the right to impose their moral standards on the rest of society. Everyone should have the right to decide when their life should end. Instead of making it difficult for people to commit suicide, the government should set up clinics to assist people in commiting suicide. Or perhaps they good make a pill that you could buy off the shelf. If this country really wants to be pro choice, than we have to allow people the right to choose to die.

punch: That would be like saying that we should outlaw abortion because some women might later change their minds. Do you think that we should outlaw abortion for the same reason?

Why do people have a problem with someone choosing to end their own life, when they have no problem with them choosing to end an unborn childs life. Seems a little contradictory to me.

Answer 1

im with u. Having a baby is a serious thing espeacvlly on the mother if she does not think it is right then its not . Its HER choice its just that simple no one else can chose for you wat to do wiht ur body!

Answer 2

I am rather shocked by this idea in general. I would have liked for you to qualify this statement further.

I will begin by saying that I am an atheist and as such none of my moral beliefs stem from the belief in a higher being/power. I think what you are purposing is beyond comprehension. While I will say I have a great deal of compassion for people so disenchanted with life that they would commit suicide I still consider it to be a completely selfish decision they are driven to. What about your friends and family? People in this state need help; I believe we are biology programmed with a will to live, those that have lost that along the way should not be handed a gun.

Answer 3

Hi, Lots of questions and statements here.
In principle I agree that everyone should have the right to decide what happens to their body but I know that in practise, that would be impossible. For instance, would it be okay for me to sell one of my kidneys for pure financial gain and then demand to be placed on a public waiting list for another one in later years if my only surviving kidney failed? I think not.
As to the government sticking its nose into someones private life, not sure in what context you write however I have heard that statement in connection and debates regarding legalisation of some drugs. E.G. Marijuana (excuse spelling) and use of alchohol.
Personally I don't care what people do in the privacy of their own home as long as they are not hurting or taking advantage of others, however we know that people will not restrict their behaviour to their own or someone else's home, they will instead go out and drive but hey, that is their choice. Now I ask you a question, what about all the people who have chosen not to be involved in this type of behaviour. Is it right that their choice of a quiet life be denied by say a drunken driver or someone high on drugs killing them in a car crash, of course not.
The 'elected government' is in place to make sure that we all have fundamental rights, one of which is the fundamental right to travel from point A to point B and expect to get there, in one piece.
I am not sure why you singled out the Christian faith as the only one imposing morale standards on the rest of society. All religions ask people to behave in a particular way. If the reason you mention christianity is with regard to suicide, then I think you will find that most religions condem the taking of ones own life.
People can and do commit suicide, the pill/pills you mentioned are available and have been used over the years. Society will of course try to prevent anyone taking their own life for various reasons, not least of all because quiet often the decision to end their life is due to mental stress rather than a real want to die. I hope that society will never accept this kind of behaviour, we should help our fellow man.
Euthanasia or assisted suicide is a more difficult debate. It normally refers to someone who is terminally ill but the nature of their illness means that they may take years to die. They know that their body or mind will get to a particular point that they do not want to live beyond and they know that they will be either physically or mentally incapable of commiting suicide. They ask someone to help them die and in some countries this is legal. Doctors can assist the person albeit by following very strict legislation..
In most countries however, it is still considered illegal. The reasons for this are not all linked to religion, sadly it has a lot to do with the fact that if legal it would most certainly be abused by some people.
To a degree however euthanasia is in place through a 'living will' which states how an individual would like to be treated during illness and at what points they do not want to be revived.
A person can also impact when they die by refusing treatment for illnesses.
I worry about your last line that we have to allow people the right to choose to die and hope that some of the points I have mentioned here will perhaps add some balance to the discussion.
Meantime, I am glad I live in a world where society has some rules. I am 99.9999% sure that if I fall into a river tomorrow and cannot swim back to the bank, if I wave my arms someone will help pull me out. In your world, they would just wave back and shout goodbye because they would assume, I had elected to die.

Answer 4

The suicide thing is hard for me--I'm usually very pro-choice (with regard to abortion, etc.), but I've struggled with depression for years and have been suicidal often as a result. I'm glad no one made it easy for me to kill myself, because I wouldn't be alive now! It's already definitely possible to kill oneself; I don't think the government needs to make any changes there. I'm divided about the whole physician-assisted suicide issue, though: I'm studying to become a doctor, and it's hard for me to imagine helping someone die. It goes against what I want to do in general as a doctor (i.e., healing).

At the same time, I think it is very, very important that every patient knows that they have the right to refuse medical treatment. For many patients, this is essentially choosing to die.

So I think we have the right to choose to die--but when I was depressed, I was incapable of making choices; even I could have told you that at the time. So I think it's important that we recognize that we have the right to live, as well, and we have the right to receive help when we're unable to do so on our own.

Answer 5

i agree with most of what you're saying.

everyone should have the right to choose what happens in their own lives.. and whether the government likes it or not we all DO have that choice. Governments are delusional to think that they can truly control peoples' individual choices.

Unfortunatley- organizations like the moral majority and the christian coalition feel that they need to influence and manipulate the government into adhereing to Christian beliefs and doctrines.

It's been the same for thousands of years - control the masses through fear.

Answer 6

some people want to die, but change their minds. If you are dead you can't.

I concede you have a point there But there is a diffrence between being born, and not being a baby yet.

Answer 7

you dont need extra assistance to kill yourself-its called a bottle of asprin,car exhaust fumes,a noose,or a knife.people can choose to die-thats why suicide exists.its not like you dont get a choice in it.

Answer 8

So....there's no dignity in a human life, eh?

Abortion is NOT about a woman's right to choose! The right to choose is NOT an end in itself! People have fought and died for the right to choose GOOD over evil!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suicide is an illness....it is the ultimate form of violence against oneself. Can you prove that if an emotionally/mentally distraught person were in their "right" mind they would still end their life? People who do commit suicide have no hope....otherwise they would not go through with it. It is a cry for help.

Euthanasia.....how far "gone" must a person be before the plug is pulled or the fatal dose delivered? How long before society decided when a person is simply too feeble to go on? Or too handicapped? Its a real slippery slope!!!!!

Answer 9

I believe that LIFE is the God-given right of every human being (born or unborn) God bless.

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence. These three aspects are listed among the "unalienable rights" of man.

Answer 10

Are you serious?????!!!!!!!!