Should euthanasia be legal?

Question

animals are put to sleep when its not fair to let them suffer

if a person is seriously ill and doesn't want to suffer anymore and truly believes its their time to go

shouldn't they be aloud to make that choice?

Answer 1

This is why I am personally opposed to putting one's animal/pet "to sleep"... as horrible as some suffering is that our pets (or human loved ones) may go through, I do not believe we should ever feel it's our right to decide when that life should be taken... furthermore, it's brought us to a place where now we have found a way to not only end the temporary suffering of a loved one (or pet) but it also relieves us of having to experience the pain and potential inconvenience of seeing/living with said suffering.

All life has value, and suffering sadly, is a part of life. By ENDING A LIFE, even if things seem hopelessly grim, we take ALL hope of our loved one being healed away-and bizarre, unexplained things can and do happen medically even if it looks dire. We can not tolerate, as a civilized society the thought that death is a better alternative than living with pain/suffering. Once you're dead, that's it. There is no more hope. Furthermore, even a life that is difficult or flat out horrible still has worth and value. By saying it's ok to end that life, some may argue that that life has little-no value and subsequently isn't bringing anything to the table because of their situation... we should never let that determine another's worth in our minds.

A poor quality of life is still a life that has value, and it is the job of those around that person to do ANYTHING they can to help make it as positive as possible until God decides their life should end. There is no dignity in death, but we can help make the remainder of a person's life dignified as best we can.

Why should we look at the intentional taking/ending of a life that has suffering any differently than a malicious murder-both come to the same end, a life is intentionally ended...

This topic scares me deeply because it is a huge slippery slope to go down...

Answer 2

I'm not touching that one with a forty foot bargepole.

Answer 3

No, I believe not. read all your answers to see why.

As a nurse / medic we strive to save lives. If a person is ill in hospital, they are given the choice of DNR (Do not Resuscitate) in the event of a cardiac arredt. Even though the patient may be DNR'd we will give all active treatment, fight to the best of our ability to save the patient medically. If they do not respond to medical treatment, and there will be very poor quality of life then we consider the patients wishes of DNR.

My husband held an Advanced Directive. He was terminally ill with Cancer, and for nearly 7 years he battled with various chemo regimes, morphine etc for pain control. His advance Directive listed a protocol for not resuscitating him. It also stated that if he were to not enjoj a better quality of life, then to withold all treatment for him to die in peace. He was still undergoing treatment at the time of his death.

It is illegal in this country to perform euthanasia. When a patient is terminally ill - at the very near end and is in pain, discomfort, if there is no more that can be done to save him, we may give 24 hour pain control - this is palliative treatment, it does not hasten death, it does not prolong life, it is the giving of continuous pain relief via a syringe, usually 1ml per hour and keeps the patient pain free (physical pain, psychologicl pain....) untill their passing ocurrs. If the patient shows signs of pain during the treatment, further pain relief may be added. I emphasise this will make the patient drowsy and pain free but WILL NOT HASTEN DEATH and will NOT PROLONG LIFE.

I would like to add that before i met my husband, he would have preferred euthanasia dur to the torment of a life sentence (terminal cancer) However, over the 6 years we were together, between treatments, we took short breaks and holidays together, I bought him a camera, he spent hours at the PC on photoshop doctoring photos. Toward the end, he started to pray that he could be given a reprieve he was enjoying his persuits though suffering greatly from the illness - bitter-sweet.

Answer 4

no,this would open up a can of worms.the next thing you know besides killing babies,they'll be killing seniors,cancer patients,mentally challenged etc.

Answer 5

yes we could start by emptying the prisons using euthanasia

Answer 6

ofcorse it should be legal! if a person is suffering and wants to have a less painful death then of corse it should be legalized but only if that person gives consent. but you cannot use animals as examples, because animals in most peoples eyes are not as important as human beings, i do disagree and say animals and humans should all have equal rights.  

Answer 7

i believe so.  If you are in so much pain and the docs can't do anything for you and/or you have a life threatening illness and you want to be free from the pain i can't see why a doctor can't help you end your life.  that way you can prepare your family and get all the arrangements made and everything. I know i wouldn't' want to spend the rest of my life in pain and agony.  

Answer 8

Voluntary euthanasia- i'm all for it!  

Answer 9

Yes if you allowed an animal to suffer you would be prosecuted and yet Doctors can allow humans to suffer that doesn't seem right to me. I believe in it anyway

Answer 10

as long as it is the assured personal wishes of the person desiring euthanasia. such a decision should NOT! be made by gov't/council officials, medical staff, or families. ONLY! by the direct wishes of the suffering person. to be disclosed at an earlier time in sound mind & body, perhaps in a kind of "section" of the will & testament (or some other such legal document) it is an intolerable cruelty & hypocrisy that a politician or a judge should feel they have the right to legislate against someone in intolerable pain or suffering from a chronic degenerative disease having the right to choose, as an informed adult human being, that they wish to be put out of their on-going & increasing misery. that their families should have to watch their beloved & cherished parent/sibling/chil/spouse deteriorate & suffer outrageously. we show our greatest love for our pets by giving them a dignified end. yet to seek the same for ourselves is akin to blasphemy? the real blasphemy is deliberately torturing the most  vulnerable of our own folk when they are too weak * sick & agonised to even defend themselves.

Answer 11

What makes you think they are suffering?? oh cause you just are bored at home and want to be argumentative. Well, I found a stray cat that was bleeding from its nose, and smelled like death, unkempt,and brought it to a vet to put it down, why , because even the vet was asking me if I touched it, why?? you ask you little newb , I may have contracted something from this animal, ask me now, if I prefer a quick death , or for this animal to spread disease among other animals or people?

I did the humane thing, and stop associating your self with animals that have no feelings.  

Answer 12

From a lawyer.  It sort of is legal now.  When people sign living wills or a health care power of attorney saying they do not want to be kept alive artificially if they are near death, doctors and hospitals will only give them pain medicine and won't put breathing tubes in or do anything else to keep them alive.

Religious people are against this but only those who have never watched a loved one die a slow, horrendous death like suffocation from lung cancer.  Religious people who are against abortion change their mind when their 15 year old daughter is raped by some demented criminal.  People's opinions are based on what they have experienced.

Answer 13

Yes.