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Post by Princess Ember Mononoke on Jul 5, 2004 2:14:22 GMT -5
You see, this is interesting for me, because it's one of the few issues I haven't really decided on.
When I first learned about animal euthanasia back in first grade, it took me quite a while to come to grips with it. I'm still not sure what I think about it - I've come to accept it on some level, but there are many cases where I feel it is abused. In the end, one of my main problems with it is that the animal doesn't have a say. Oddly, this isn't a problem with human anesthesia. So if one were to be allowed and the other not (which I don't think is right - I'm determined to view all animals, human and non-human, as essentially the same), humans ought to be the former and animals the latter. Ironic, no?
Until just last thursday I was actually leaning towards pro-euthanasia, both for animals and humans. When it would come up in conversations, I would say I was for it. Then I read this book called Tuesdays with Morrie. It's probably one of the best arguments against euthanasia out there and yet, ironicly, it has almost nothing to do with the subject, nor does it ever mention it. It the true story of one remarkable man who, even with a painful and crippling disease, managed to find joy in his life and enrich the lives of literally millions of others even into his last few days. It really just proves that it's never too late to make a difference with your life. Unless you're in a vegetative state, and then you couldn't ask for euthanasia anyway.
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Post by thegreenmooseofdoom on Jul 5, 2004 11:02:32 GMT -5
I'm for euthanasia. When animals are suffering and can't be cured we do the best thing for them and put them to sleep. We'd be considered cruel if we kept them alive to suffer. Therefore, aren't we being really cruel by keeping terminally ill humans alive? People might beg to be killed but the person who is faced with looking after that person is stuck for what to do because even though they might want to kill the ill person, they can't because it is against the law. I really think that it should be legalised but I think that a professional doctor or someone that specialises in mercy killings should do it. I agree. I also have some really cruel Machiavellian type beliefs that if someone has a deadly, uncurable, highly contagious disease, they should be euthanized. It could stop the spread of such diseases, and end a lot of suffering before it starts. But I know I could never try and convince someone to do that. It's funny... sometimes I have really cruel kind of ideas, but I'm too sensitive to ever even think about it. I don't know.  |
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Post by The Wanderer on Jul 5, 2004 13:03:51 GMT -5
Are we to say that we cant take the suffering of death? Is that why the whole euthanasia idea was concieved?
Should we be able to opt to take the easy way out?
I personally think euthanasia is another thing that humanity doesnt need.
We abuse justice, freedoms, and all things granted to us on this earth. What do you think will happen, should we decide that euthanasia be allowed, when you consider how humanity has abused the things in this world that had good intentions in the beginning?
I personally think euthanasia is yet another easy exit for us to use, to avoid the pain of death. You cant avoid death, you cant declare how you will die. It just happens when it happens. And even if it is painful, always remember that it will all be over soon.
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Post by Retired Blub on Jul 5, 2004 13:20:58 GMT -5
Are we to say that we cant take the suffering of death? Is that why the whole euthanasia idea was concieved? Should we be able to opt to take the easy way out? I personally think euthanasia is another thing that humanity doesnt need. We abuse justice, freedoms, and all things granted to us on this earth. What do you think will happen, should we decide that euthanasia be allowed, when you consider how humanity has abused the things in this world that had good intentions in the beginning? I personally think euthanasia is yet another easy exit for us to use, to avoid the pain of death. You cant avoid death, you cant declare how you will die. It just happens when it happens. And even if it is painful, always remember that it will all be over soon. I think you would have a different opinion if you experienced the pain that some people go through. |
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Post by Buddy on Jul 5, 2004 14:21:27 GMT -5
Are we to say that we cant take the suffering of death? Is that why the whole euthanasia idea was concieved? Should we be able to opt to take the easy way out? I personally think euthanasia is another thing that humanity doesnt need. We abuse justice, freedoms, and all things granted to us on this earth. What do you think will happen, should we decide that euthanasia be allowed, when you consider how humanity has abused the things in this world that had good intentions in the beginning? I personally think euthanasia is yet another easy exit for us to use, to avoid the pain of death. You cant avoid death, you cant declare how you will die. It just happens when it happens. And even if it is painful, always remember that it will all be over soon. What, you mean there's an "easy exit"? There is no "easy exit" on how you're going to die. And really, how fair is it to say to someone "What, you're in pain? Quit complaining! It'll be over soon!" And then, if they're gonna be dead anyways... |
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Post by The Wanderer on Jul 5, 2004 14:46:45 GMT -5
What, you mean there's an "easy exit"? There is no "easy exit" on how you're going to die. And really, how fair is it to say to someone "What, you're in pain? Quit complaining! It'll be over soon!" And then, if they're gonna be dead anyways... Since doctors must take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to help anyone regardless of their affiliation, race, gender, and in no way contribute to people's death through medical means, I'd personally like to know who, if not a doctor, would euthanize a patient. Think about it. |
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Post by Buddy on Jul 5, 2004 14:52:14 GMT -5
Since doctors must take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to help anyone regardless of their affiliation, race, gender, and in no way contribute to people's death through medical means, I'd personally like to know who, if not a doctor, would euthanize a patient. Think about it. That is a moral oath, not a legal one. And while I, not being a doctor, cannot defend them, I'm sure there are more than plenty of doctors who believe it is well within the moral standing of being a doctor to assist a patient in ending their own life if the patient so desires and there are no other alternatives other than them dieing anyways. |
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Post by The Wanderer on Jul 5, 2004 15:02:43 GMT -5
That is a moral oath, not a legal one. And while I, not being a doctor, cannot defend them, I'm sure there are more than plenty of doctors who believe it is well within the moral standing of being a doctor to assist a patient in ending their own life if the patient so desires and there are no other alternatives other than them dieing anyways. But also realize that people go through the eight plus years of intense medical study to become doctors so they can save people's lives. And then being asked to betray everything they've worked for to fulfill someone's request, would be a heavy burden they would have to bear. |
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Post by Buddy on Jul 5, 2004 15:14:43 GMT -5
But also realize that people go through the eight plus years of intense medical study to become doctors so they can save people's lives. And then being asked to betray everything they've worked for to fulfill someone's request, would be a heavy burden they would have to bear. I doubt they bear much of a burden. To them, they're helping to end someone's life as painlessly and peacefully as possible. To them, the alternative, allowing their patient to live out the rest of their life in pain and still die, is much worse. And anyways, that is there choice of whether or not to bear the burden, not ours. |
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Post by The Wanderer on Jul 5, 2004 15:21:09 GMT -5
I doubt they bear much of a burden. To them, they're helping to end someone's life as painlessly and peacefully as possible. To them, the alternative, allowing their patient to live out the rest of their life in pain and still die, is much worse. And anyways, that is there choice of whether or not to bear the burden, not ours. I agree. Provided there is not another one of those Dr. Kevorkian-types out there. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2004 16:57:46 GMT -5
Oops, I forgot to add--I'm meaning human Euthanasia. Not with animals, because everyone seems to think the two things are pretty different.
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Post by Oily on Jul 5, 2004 17:00:42 GMT -5
I read about a doctor who would go from fighting for a baby's life in one operating theatre to helping a woman abort a baby in the next. They said how weird it was to have to end one life and then fight for another. But doctors have dealt with that, and euthansia is a person's desire and wish to die.
I personally have an extremely low pain threshold. I could not cope with the amount of physical pain some people endure for years as they die. If it did happen for me, I would want an easy way out, before years of torment meant I became a burden on everyone, that I hated myself and my life, and that I died a gibbering wreck. Death is always meant to be a release from pain, after all.
And everything gets abused. Medicines can be abused - should we outlaw them? Children are abused - should we stop having them? Everything has potential for abuse - a doctor can kill a patient now anyway, with or without euthansia laws. As long as the laws are strict enough, it would work.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2004 17:11:16 GMT -5
That's where I disagree.
Life is pretty much always worth something to someone, vegetation or not, and suffering or not.
When you choose to die, you're taking yourself away from the community, your family, and your friends. And every single life is worth so much that we are not capable of understanding unless it's somebody else we love wanting to die.
Humans, in my opinion, aren't capable of understanding the value of their life, and how precious it is to others.
Also, doctor's jobs aren't to delay deaths; they're to stop them.
If one has the choice to live or to die, shouldn't it be to live? Aren't humans supposed to have the natural instinct to live to their life's full extend?
It seems humans control what isn't meant to be tampered with but by such small a force: life, death, birth, and almost even extra people which are nothing but mere copies of another. (cloning)
Also, I'm going to throw in a question used in my English debate: Do people have the right to die?
In my opinion, it sure seems like it. They could kill themselves as they wish, but it's pretty selfish, taking youself away from everyone they love. And pretty dumb; not realizing what value their life has.
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Post by Torey on Jul 5, 2004 17:30:50 GMT -5
Oops, I forgot to add--I'm meaning human Euthanasia. Not with animals, because everyone seems to think the two things are pretty different. Oh, I know that, I'm just talking about the differences between the two to show what I think about it and all that. |
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Post by ncwidt5895 on Jul 5, 2004 19:10:37 GMT -5
I have a rather strong opinon on this matter, so I don't mean to offend anybody -
Anyway, if somebody is in great pain, with a terminal illness with no cure or anything, should they suffer? If somebody you loved was in unbelievable pain, wouldn't you rather them die peacefully than suffer for however long before they died? I believe if you know you will die from whatever it is that you shouldn't have to suffer. Its not selfish by taking yourself away. Its selfish for others to keep you alive and suffering.
I don't believe that euthanasia should be the answer for everything. Only if its certain that you will die and be in major pain from whatever you are suffering from. I know I'm being repetetive, but if you love somebody very much, or somebody loves you, they're not going to want to see you in that much pain. They're not going to want to see you dying a slow, painful death.
That's my 5 cents.
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<---- Misty the fennec fox, thanks Sarn 