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Euthanasia: Mercy or Murder?

Why not? Once they're past the point of recovery, what other viable decisions remain? Just let them rot? That's arguably inhumane, and is certainly not desirable for anyone involved: the caregiver(s), the patient, the public healthcare system, &c.
 
As a person who has been a seasoned drug user I have a different perspective than maybe an average person. As a person who has done an irresponsible amount of dissociatives I have realised certain depths of insanity and have found it not a burden, yet enjoyed the experience. So who am I to judge any such experience? Like I said I'd be uncomfortable judging who and what is healthy I'd be better to let someone "rot" than execute a person who is unable to judge for themselves. Now, having said that I've seen Alzheimer's run its course and it appeared as a very miserable existence. Now my instinct (keeping in mind I don't have children or a wife or any such external responsibilities) would be to off myself as immediately as possible. I'm comfortable being my own judge rather than someone else's
 
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P A said:
Why not? Once they're past the point of recovery, what other viable decisions remain? Just let them rot? That's arguably inhumane, and is certainly not desirable for anyone involved: the caregiver(s), the patient, the public healthcare system, &c.
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I agree PA. It is a very cruel and unsual punishment. It is definatly not desirable for the caregiver 2 have to tend to someone so depressing day in and day out and see the progression of their rot,this is cruel and unusual to their psyche. It is even less desirable for the patient who is not living a life but going thru reality as a hollow vessel(What is ur definition of what makes someone alive Shrooms? Consciousness? Brain activity? A heart beat?). And it most definatly isnt desirable for the pockets of the public health care system,who have 2 invest $ into those beyond hope everyday they continue with their empty exsistance.

And Shrooms, u say u wud off urself immediatly as possible if u developed Alzheimers,but what if u were not able 2?Hypothetically, say u had some kind of accident and became a quadlapalegic(?) unable to complete ur suicide plan in ur immediate manner and ur Alzheimers progressed...slowly u wud even forget about ur goal of suicide in a timely manner...what then? Would u wish 2 b left 2 rot? I can understand u being able 2 judge and make decisions only for yourself so what decision would u make n this hypothetical situation?Not all of lifes decisions can be made by the individual, nor can they ever b the sole judge of themselves but must rely on others at times 2 make decisions for them when the individual is unable to do so. To believe other wise is 2 put urself on a pedestal and is conceded and narcissistic.It is putting urself above society as a supreme perfect being who needs no help from others but is independant from society.

Pariahprose
 
Quite honestly that's the dumbest thing I've read in sometime. I'm at work so I won't respond fully but that's just the first impression of your silly post.
 
what if you don't see the illness or injury coming? what if you do not realise your mind is degrading? what if you have a car accident which puts you in a persistent vegetative state?

the legal situation becomes very complicated.
 
For those situations my friends and family know how I feel on the matter. Which should give a clue top their decision which I already said previously that the person must make it known what people are to do. If you're going to ask the tireless question "what if.....they don't know" then I would accept my suffering for being foolish enough not to let anyone know. The legal argument isn't of particular interest.
 
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Okay-- so explain to me how it's narcissistic not to judge someones illness and then render their death? Making a crazy and exaggerated story does not lend me anymore the reason to euthanize someone. Like I said if their wishes hadn't been clearly expressed I would be uncomfortable euthanizing a person.
 
Shrooms00087 said:
Now my instinct (keeping in mind I don't have children or a wife or any such external responsibilities) would be to off myself as immediately as possible. I'm comfortable being my own judge rather than someone else's
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But see, that's just it, man - this isn't about judging anyone. It's about making the most economical, well-reasoned, and, most importantly, humane decision possible when presented with an unambiguously shitty set of alternative options. In other words, it is merely a matter of optimization, viz., the maximization of the patient's well being and the minimization of healthcare cost. As I see it, if a patient is incapable of scoring higher than an 8 on an MMSE for months on end, their mental state is not necessarily comparable to that of someone under the influence of a powerful hallucinogen, and at any rate is simply not capable of meeting the cognitive demands of a full, healthy human life. In these instances (i.e., comas, rapidly advancing neurodegenerative diseases), there aren't very many alternative courses of action available for anyone involved: In the case of the Alzheimer's patient, you can either 'execute' them or let them experience the protracted torment of literally losing their minds - friends, family, life experiences, even how to perform basic, everyday tasks. Please note, however, that I do not, by any means, wish to appoint myself the sole arbiter in such regrettable cases as these. The decision should, of course, be left to a spouse and/or the closest blood relatives of the afflicted (or a third party stipulated in a will).
 
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Well to clarify I meant judge in a strictly loose sense of the term if that makes sense. I see the point you're making but mine is a little more simple in that the responsibility should fall on the person with the relationship to their will. I do believe acting out of perceived empathy or economical reasons against a will, would be a form of murder.
 
what if your family members do not honour or agree with your wishes? i don't think simplification really addresses the problems which come with this subject.
 
If they don't agree there's nothing I would be able to do. On the subject of euthanasia there are only two viable outlooks for me:

1. Did I make it known that, yes, I want to be euthanized should anything happen to me? If I become a vegetable, have Alzheimer's (etc). Since I already have made it known, I am okay with euthanasia.

2. Would I euthanize an individual? Not without knowing fully (meaning such has been communicated) that this is what they want. Without which I would not be comfortable doing so.

So with respect to only those two conditions am I able to comment on euthanasia. Imaging a scenario outside of those two things seem trivial or at best a legal debate which I wouldn't know enough to comment.
 
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