If one wants to be euthanized, what business is that of anyone else? It is even legal in Holland. Why don't we

Question

just mind our own business, and stop judging how others wish to live or end their lives?

Answer 1

I've thought this way for a while now. I believe that everyone has certain rights in their life and none of us chose to be born - our parents did, whether it was intentional or not. Since we were given this life we had no control over, we should at least be given the option of medically assisted suicide. If someone is in so much pain that they want to be euthanized, who are we to tell them they shouldn't do it?

Hundreds of people commit suicide on their own each day, and hundreds of thousands more want to, but don't have it in them. Should we really make these people suffer within themselves because they have to kill themselves strategically and privately?

I believe medically assisted suicide should be available.

Of course, it wouldn't be just walking into a clinic, but if all else fails - talking to a psychiatrist, taking anti-depressants or other medications, talking it over and weighing out other options with the doctor, why not?

Answer 2

Here was my answer to a similar question a few days ago:

Though my heart goes out to anyone with a dying relative, I cannot support a person's right to commit suicide or be helped into that sleep of death by someone who assumes to know best. Of course, it is excruciating to face someone in such a position, but nobody ever said that being on the side of the angels would be easy.

Surely the very last people who can make calm and balanced decisions about life and death are those who are in pain and those who are close to them. Anguish and emotion are powerful factors and they make for a gripping story. But by their very nature, they obscure clear thought.

Nor are dying or seriously ill people insular beings, somehow cut off from outside influence. "It would be so much easier for the kids if they didn't have to come all this way all the time and see me like this." Or, "I can't serve any real purpose any more. I've had a good life anyway."

Such thoughts do not make for objective decisions. And, anyway, even the state does not believe that our lives are own. Wear those safety belts in the car, give up smoking, put on the bike helmet. Why? Because your life is worth preserving, even if you don't think so.

Then we take a look at countries where euthanasia is permitted, such as The Netherlands. Just a few years ago 10,000 'Don't Kill Me' cards were issued because so many doctors had been a little liberal in their decisions about who should live and who die. In one case a Roman Catholic nun, a strong opponent of so-called mercy killing, became a victim of euthanasia. She had obviously not given her consent.

This was legal murder, and the case is far from unique. In Holland it is claimed that up to one-third of the victims of euthanasia are killed without their or their family's consent being given.

Answer 3

So is pot and prostitution, and they'll be legalized long before assisted suicide. I don't disagree with you, but you're living in a country with very strong ties to biblical teaching and we still maintain a strong puritanical streak in our judicial system. You have a number of things working against such an institution...
1) No one wants to blur the legal line between taking a life against one's will and doing so with permission.
2) Most reputable doctors abide by "do no harm."
3) As I mentioned, there's a strong public sentiment against suicide (like it or hate it, there's a Judain/Christian ethic at play here).

The whole idea of having a system of laws is about judging others (it's why we have "judges.") Society sets rules and those who break those rules are judged.

Answer 4

You're correct, and progressive thought like this will become more common in the future as people come to realize what you already have.

The rights of an individual to determine their own destiny is something no government or religion should tamper with. Whether that's having kids or deciding to end one's own pain, the decision is a personal one.

In another generation or two, I believe this will become more commonplace...at least I hope so!

Answer 5

I totally agree with you. It should NEVER be anyone (Government) else's business when you want to end your life. If you have cancer ( and my best friend died of cancer in 1994) you're in the most unimaginable pain. I couldn't have said it better myself. Too many people judge other people that opt for this, saying they're selfish or something. Holland is way more progressive!

Answer 6

Does a mentally sound person want to commit suicide?

It could be argued that those who seek euthanasia are primarily distressed over some life situation. They may be physically or mentally ill - and such illness may lead them to seek termination of their own lives.

Which makes more sense, totally outlawing it, or having an invasive government oversight procedure which costs taxpayers millions of dollars to make sure that those who seek to have others end their lives are mentally capable of making such a monumental decision?

If you want to end your own life, there is no law punishing you if you succeed. There is a plethora of material out there that will give you the information you need - and if you can do nothing else, you can just starve yourself (dehydration only takes about 7 days) and refuse ALL treatment (which most states make allowance for).

Killing yourself is not the issue. It's asking someone else to kill you - to take an innocent life (voluntary or not) - to commit murder.

Answer 7

If a person wants to be euthanized or a woman wants to have an abortion- or a person wants to commit suicide- why should this bother us? Because God is the only one that has the right to give and take a life. Life is full of choices, and no one can take choices away from someone- but there are absolutes in the world- and it is absolutely wrong- to end a life on your own- either in the womb or in old age. This is my belief- so please do not judge me either- it does go both ways.

Answer 8

Anyone is free to commit suicide. After all, you can't prosecute someone who is dead. Euthanasia, however, involves another party in one's death and that is where the moral slippery slope begins for some people.

For example, under what conditions would euthanasia be allowed? If it really is no ones business when someone decides to end their life, why shouldn't euthansia be allowed for any reason?

Answer 9

Because somewhere along the line, the religious in this country seemed to get the impression that their beliefs should be the law that everyone subscribes to, and they still haven't learned that people should be able to live (and die) how they wish, not how someone tells them they should.

Answer 10

Holland has true seperation of church and state.
The USA is not as free as we have been told it is. Personal freedom and liberty withones own body is still limited.