I think that if they legalized it there would definitely have to be very strict guidlines as to who could elect for it. And they would also need to decide whether someone who has the Power of Attorney could elect for the person who gave the the power's death.

I think it should be legal. Perhaps with some protections on it, say a waiting period or a condition that gives a good reason to it, but in the end, if someone wants to die, they will find a way to do it. Why not make it a good end, rather than a bad one?

"Just wondering what ya'all thought about it. "
Just wondering or just trying to start another controversial and inflammatory discussion you troll?
Just kidding!

I highly doubt an 85 year old will be that relentless in finding a way to die.

hahahahahahah, nice hellalt, you troll. ;) jk I'm actually writing a paper on it and I always like the different view points you guys present.

Asian youth?

I think it should be mandatory.

If it were legalized it would need the person's actual consent to still be considered "assisted suicide," which is what it's generally defended as being.

While I'm somewhat divided on this issue, falling in favor of it staying illegal, if it were legalized and people were allowed to make the decision to use euthanasia for someone not capable of making that decision (for whatever reason), then it would become assisted murder, since it's not a choice made by the person dying.

yeah, thats be big problem with it. It has potential to become very evil. Right now though Switzerland has Euthanasia legalized, but it's illegal if it was done with malicious intent or something like that. So that could be a potential good option.

This is a very slippery slope. In many instances, the individual in question may not able to clearly articulate their thoughts, or may be making decisions under medical duress. You can easily imagine a scenario Parent is unable to communicate at the time... and where Child #1 says "Mom told me she wanted to die if she were ever faced with this" and Child #2 says "oh no, she told me something different". There are already enough thorny ethical issues dealing with end of life issues as is, legalizing this could make this even more problemetic.

Absolutely against. "Slippery slope" is right. You start with somebody who chooses it for himself or herself; but then you move to allowing somebody with power of attorney to choose; but then you move to deciding who has power of attorney; but then you move to people who have little to no connection to the person in question (e.g., healthcare providers) making the decision.

Also, it leaves the door wide open to infanticide: parents who have power of attorney over a disabled child choosing the option of putting their child to death (and at the risk of invoking Godwin's Law, the Nazis did in fact start early of euthanization of disabled children, and we know where that ended up.) That's a path we do not want to go down.

To piggy back on PeripheralVisionary, it seems like euthanasia could go the same way as abortion in the United States if it were legalized.

Abortion in USA got it's start with Nazi eugenics programs (Margaret Sanger, the founder of planned parenthood, was a eugenicist and did much work on sterilization and abortion with Dr. Mangela). It's led to things as extreme as already born babies being killed (I believe partial-birth abortion is now illegal in the entire USA, I'm not 100% certain of that though).

The same sort of thing would probably happen with euthanasia, with all sorts of ridiculous arguments (those which are already used to justify abortion and euthanasia in the USA) being made for why life either isn't innately valuable or can be considered too much of a nuisance to bother with.

Id hate for it to come to a point where anyone felt obliged to end their life, but at the same time people who really do want to end their life understandably I think it's cruel to deny them that. But distinguishing suffering etc with a feeling of having to do it because of not wanting to be a burden is tricky

Yeah, I actually just wrote a paper on the connections it has with nazism and darwinism, the Nazi's actually killed off something like half a million kids that were disabled. They also sterilized a ton of people.

"Abortion in USA got it's start with Nazi eugenics programs (Margaret Sanger, the founder of planned parenthood, was a eugenicist and did much work on sterilization and abortion with Dr. Mangela)"

Oh good grief.

@Grumbledook

Did you have something to contribute or just don't like the facts?

This goes back to the right-to-die thing. According to the Tenth Amendment, this issue should be left to the states or the people. Either way, the federal government has no place in this issue.

@grumbledook: Yeah, I can't believe they actually went in that direction.

@Tantris

You can't believe we've been pointing out how similar issues have gone in the past?

Or do you just disagree with the stances taken by people posting here and don't have anything to refute what's been said?

@TMW

Indubitably, it has to be an issue taken up at the state level. Of course it probably won't be, because both parties like to take things to the federal level if they think they'll be more successful there, and the supreme court never gets pulled into the situation so they can fix it (or they choose not to get involved should the necessary case come along).

@SteevoKun:

You believe that if I have a degenerative disease, and I have the presence of mind to write a living will asking to be put to sleep if I reach certain conditions, that I should not be able to because the Nazi's were killing people in the 1940's? You believe that my request to be put to sleep, would be essentially the same as eugenics?

I don't see any reason to discuss anything with you. My life is my own, and you can not force me to live because you see it as some kind of duty of yours. Yet, you will try to.

@SteevoKun:
So, did you celebrate Tiller's death?

@Tantris

Did you even read what I've posted here?

If you had, you would know I said I'm on the fence. I'm worried about where legalization could lead. In the situation you described I would say the government shouldn't be involved and the individual in question should be able to do as they please.

What I would be worried about would be situations where the individual being euthanized isn't the one actually making the decision about the matter.

In other words, your entire post was inane and seemingly angry - all without necessity.

Oh, and try actually reading my posts if you plan on responding to them.

@Tantris

That comment about Tiller is just sick. I don't celebrate anyone's death.

Would you care to ask where I stand on an issue before you start asking me ridiculous questions, which seem to be intent on doing nothing but labeling me a loon?

SteevoKun: Show your (unbiased) sources, please.

You want indisputable facts? Abortion was a capital offense in Nazi Germany. (see "Germany and the Germans" by John Ardagh, or "Gender in Crime in Modern Europe" by Margaret Arnot and Cornelie Usborne).

@SteevoKun:

I did read your posts. You want it to stay illegal. You worry about it being used in Eugenics, like abortion(as if that is happening). You equated the use of it to Nazi's, which is Godwinning the entire discussion. It is an unreasonable position. Your posts were inflammatory and misguided.

Everything can be a slippery slope. I'm not saying euthanasia can't be abused, I'm not saying there shouldn't be some sort of restrictions/regulations but to state that there is this downward slope to Nazism (seriously??) is a bit hyperbolic.

I would also like to see the source that states Margaret Sanger and Josef Mengele actively worked together (which is what your post implies).

My point is, this is a touch subject and should be treated as such. Elevating it to "your side are a bunch of Nazis" is a huge disservice to the topic and kind of insulting.

But to get back on track: We euthanize pets that are suffering and it's considered humane. Why/why not apply this to people?

(I'm not trying to attack anyone either, SteevoK. I just feel people tend to throw out all sorts of nonsense and it ends up cheapening the debate).