This weeks moral debate- Euthanasia. Right or Wrong

[Psychochef]

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of over treatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. 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. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

Ah, sharing information. I do love it so.

Look at the second line. Many doctors believe that euthanasia counts as "therapeutic nihilism." Of course, since it's no longer absolutely required for doctors to swear the oath these days, this may be a moot point.

 

[Erana]

Because saying its wrong bars all possibilities, and that there are always exceptions, I'm gonna go with yes.
That, and, people who go through $1000 of the US government's healthcare when they are doomed to die a slow, painful death, and they cannot remember anything except having been chained up for the past two weeks, is kinda cruel for the current old generation and the next.
What is gonna happen when this regime uses up all the money on people who are suffering such a horrible existence? I am afraid that the Government will have to say, "No." to America's future adults.
I hate money being a factor in life or death, and I hate that there have been no preventative courses of action. I don't want anyone to have to die, or suffer, or anything of the sort. If it is not agianst their religious ethics, and they are doomed, then why not let them stop their suffering?

 

[Archaeology Hat]

Euthanasia, is not wrong, in some cases. Someone who is in a state of suffering and does not wish to live, but lacks the ability to commit suicide does have a right to do. However, there is a great problem with possible abuse. No matter how many failsafes are put in, there will always being people unscrupulous enough to abuse any legal euthanasia.

 

[Darkauthor81]

Despite being such a nice guy, I'm ALSO decidedly pro-death. I'm in favor of abortion. I'm in favor of capital punishment. I'm in favor of euthanasia. Pretty much anything that gets rid of people on this planet, I'm 100% behind.

I find your views intriguing and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Same here.

And for that matter. Get rid of personal safety laws. If a person wants to do something like drive without a seat belt, do drugs, etc etc on then more power to them. The world will be a better place when stupid people are free to eliminate themselves from the general populace. Laws should only apply to when an action harms other people (drinking and driving etc).

 

[Danny Ocean]

Despite being such a nice guy, I'm ALSO decidedly pro-death. I'm in favor of abortion. I'm in favor of capital punishment. I'm in favor of euthanasia. Pretty much anything that gets rid of people on this planet, I'm 100% behind.

Ditto, I believe that having too many people is the root cause of almost all the problems on earth.

PLUS what the guy above said.

What do old people even do anyway?

 

[JakubK666]

On a trivial note, isn't it nuts when you see people who are anti abortion, anti euthanasia, but pro death penalty?

What about being pro-abortion,pro-euthanasia and anti-death penalty?

 

[Danny Ocean]

Old people do plenty ... want to.

Good point.
But that's what they Did not what they Do.
Nevertheless you kicked my ass with that one, my post was hot-headed and wrong and I'm sorry for any offence I may have caused.

Besides, if they did it by how productive we were then I'd be fucked.

 

[zachbob2]

Pro-capital punishment
no abortion
No suicide assisted or non
because that is what the Bible says.
(Don't Hate me)

 

[Copter400]

"Euthanasia, Everyone should try it!"

No, "Everyone Should Try It At Least Once."

Also, avoid try-before-you-buy policies.

 

[Asymptote Angel]

If a person still possesses the mental faculties to come to terms with the fact that he or she is facing misery in the face of the disease, accept that his or her life has been what it has been, and rationally decide that death is the next step he or she wishes to take, then I have no moral objection to euthanasia. Basically, if a person is mentally clear and decides that it is the best course of action, then it's fine by me. The trick is finding a member of the medical profession who holds the same view.

If a person lacks the aforementioned rationality, then by no means should the end of his or her life be in the hands of another person. I will only countenance euthanasia if it is a conscious decision by the... I'm not sure what word to use. Recipient? In any case, I believe that criteria is essential in any pro-euthanasia argument.

I used the words "I think," "I believe," and/or similar phrases in all of my opinion statements. Please recognize that they are statements of an individual's opinion and in no way affect the issue in the real world. I am merely adding my viewpoint to the discussion.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Pro-capital punishment
no abortion
No suicide assisted or non
because that is what the Bible says.
(Don't Hate me)

Instantaneous hatred. I would have actually been interested in hearing your arguments for such a viewpoint, but the intellectual nihilism you displayed by the 2nd-last line has rendered all thine arguments depressing.

Unless it's a satire. In which case it needs a little work.

 

[jake09050]

i do not believe in abortion, but i 100% believe in the death penalty and euthanasia in fact i'm a member of the church



Heres the link to it
http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/

 

[Cpt. Red]

Well Im a bit unsure about euthanasia but if a country have death penalty I find it very illogical to not have euthanasia... So it isnt legal for you to be killed, even if you want to, unless you kill a bunch of people? so if you want to die and want to die legally then you should kill a bunch of people... And by the way Im against death penalty...

 

[BurnoutPriest]

The only problem is the murky waters this controversy is submerged in. My first response is to make it legal, especially if we still have a precedent like the death penalty hanging around (horrific pun I know). However, where is the line we must draw? People can suffer from incurable mental diseases which torment them to vast degrees. Is that the line? What about people who don't have a condition that is slowly killing them? If someone such as a full body third degree burn victim is in so much pain they plead for death with tears streaming down their face, would you deny them?

We have to realize that these situations are going to be emotional, powerful, and moving. Humans can easily begin thinking illogically when face with such circumstances. Without clearly defined limits abuse of such a law could run wild. After reflecting I'm still for it, but I think we need to get much more in depth. We can't just say "Yay, legal is good!" Proponents need to delve far deeper or we're going to set ourselves up for our own downfall.

 

[Nikomikiri]

I think that it's perfectly fine. It's not like they're having it done against their will.
Just because you('you' used in a general sense, not YOU personally)have a problem with somebody not wanting to live through the final stages of some disease doesn't mean they should suffer the pain of it. Personally, I wouldn't want my family members to see me wasting away and seeing me suffer if it came to that.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

On the death penalty: Yes, and often. Only one appeal,limited to a minumum 1 year period, execution by either hanging or decapitation.

For: HIV-positive sex offenders, gang-related murder, murder related to other major crimes (robbery-etc) and child molesters. Leniency takes the form for the child molester- castration, the others don't get leniency.