Topic of the day: Monday

[Csara]

I figured it would be better to start a new thread for each new topic - maybe even putting the subject into the title so everyone knows what it is ahead of time? Just a thought....

Anyway, Monday's topic -
How do you feel about euthanasia being available for humans?

[HeavenLeigh]

This is one subjuect I have thought long and hard about, especially after the Dr. Kavorkian saga.
At first I was dead set against it, no room for discussion. I felt (and still do) that is playing God to decide when yourself or someone else should exit this world. Then I started working in hospitals and started seeing more terminally ill patients. Some of the mental and physical torment their own bodies put them through is unreal. I have seen the pain and have often thought "If I am ever in that shape I hope someone has enough mercy to put me out of my misery"....
I still feel that euthanasia is wrong but other things could be done. Higher doses of pain meds for those that need it, drug induced comas but letting the systems shut down when they are ready.

[Sexy Strawberry]

I am all for euthanasia (as long as it is clear that the person really wishes it).

For instance, I think it's cruel that a person who suffers an accident, is totally paralyzed and can only move his/her eyes is forced to live against their wish.

[meliz]

I'm all for it, if it can be proven by the dying person's own words or past sentiment, that this is what the person wants. I would not want to be a burden to my fam, or an overtaxed health care system. Nor would I want to live in intolerable pain or in a haze of medications, and I wouldn't want someone I love to live like that if they did not want to. I think the decision has to emanate from family as well. I think it would be dangerous to allow hospitals to make that determination.

[nicolef888]

I too am all for it as long and it's clear cut. A member of my extended family had battled cancer for 12+ years and he was in terrible pain. They uped his pain meds, he got permission to smoke pot legally but that did not dull his pain. In an effort to end his pain, he recently committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. I think that euthanasia would have been a better way for him to have left this world but of course it was not a legal option.