And are there any countries where it IS legal?
2007-10-01 10:07:52 · 6 answers · asked by 光 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Exactly, smelly.
They do it on animals too. Imagine someone who can't afford to treat their disease, and it's unbearable. What are they to do?
I really want to understand what's the issue.
Oh. Oregon. Excuse me while I pack my stuff and move.
2007-10-01 10:15:34 · update #1
I don't know. I think if people want to die, they should have the right to have a doctor help them do it quickly and painlessly. Abortion is legal. the death penalty is legal....these acts all involve someone lawfully killing someone else. Why does killing yourself not fall into the "it's my body" or "freedom of choice" defense? How dumb....
2007-10-01 10:12:43 · answer #1 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
There are not only the legal issues (like whether assisted suicide is legal etc), but the biggest issues are moral. You've got campaigners (generally religious) who believe that euthanasia is a sin and people should only die when it's their time, whilst on the other hand you have people arguing for individual choice, regardless of the situation.
The biggest issue I can see is where do you draw the line? Take the following scenarios;
1. Patient is 90 years old. Suffering from terminal cancer. No more treatment options available. Is constantly in extreme physical pain.
2. Patient is 16 years old. Suffering from depression. Have attempted suicide multiple times and so far anti-depressents and therapy aren't working. Is in a great deal of psycholoical pain.
So, what do you think? Most people in support of euthanasia would probably think that the lady in scenario one should be allowed to choose when to die, but the girl in scenario two should be forced to undergo treatment. The reason being that she is only 16 years old, she has a treatable illness and there is a chance for recovery. But on the other hand she is still in tremendous pain like the lady in the first scenario...
Issues just aren't clean cut. What if a cure for cancer was discovered the next day, what if the patient made a miraculous recovery, what if it's a mental illness rather than psychological? Should depression/suicidal behaviour give rise to euthanasia? Should there be a minimum age? Should only people with terminal illnesses be able to particpate or should people with illnesses such as arthiritis, although not terminal but very painful be included?
I personally agree with euthanasia in some circumstances - I think that when someone is in horrible pain and that there is no chance for a cure in the foreseeable future, it is cruel to keep them alive and force them to endure medical treatments which are often worse than the diseases themselves (like chemotherapy for instance).
However, until all these questions are answered I don't think it's safe for euthanasia to be an option. It has the potential to be abused and manipulated. Unless there are very strong guidelines in place, some very sticky moral and ethical situations will arise.
2007-10-01 19:50:00 · answer #2 · answered by xxalmostfamous1987xx 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone whines about ''It's not fair" or " I want a choice" blah blah...
this time I agree : we have no choice about coming into this world, often little chance at controlling what happens while we are here...we SHOULD have options on how we leave.
2007-10-01 19:43:29 · answer #3 · answered by sirbobby98121 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Assisted suicide is legal in Oregon. Killing old people just for being old is not legal anywhere.
2007-10-01 17:12:05 · answer #4 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I cannot morally support such an idea. I would hope all states will ban it. But look up the name Jack Kevorkian. Probably misspelled it.
2007-10-01 17:34:10 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is.....every hear of the death penalty?
2007-10-01 17:14:18 · answer #6 · answered by Coach 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋