Note the the use of the active verb ‘kill’. Would it be a good/moral idea for the government to permit people to check themselves into Death Row?
Let us take the extreme case for. Abby is old, paralyzed, in constant pain from incurable medical condition X, and has nothing to live for. She has decided that she wants to die, but can’t fall out of the hospital bed through a nearby 12 floor window. Does she have the right to demand that her government kill her?
No. That’s really taking crade to grave gov’t care to an extreme… I say let someone kill themselves if they want to, but don’t make me pay for it. This country was founded on the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of hapiness. (Not the right to hapiness, but the PURSUIT of hapiness.)
John Mace,
In the example given, Abby is suffering from X medical condition, treatment of which is probably being paid for by your taxes in one way or another.
So would you rather pay to keep her alive and suffering, or pay to have her put out of her misery at her request?
I would choose to pay for neither. I don’t buy the “motorcycle helmet” logic of legislation. I.e., we have to require helmets since we will have to pay for their medical bills. DON"T PAY FOR THEIR MEDICAL BILLS!
But seperately, I think it unwise to give over such a critical thing (life or death) to the gov’t. Too much potential for abuse.
NO It should not be the governments job to exterminate anyone willing to die. Although I favor the government allowing them to commit suicide, they should pay for the deed themselves. I’m not paying my taxes for someone to off themselves. I’m having enuf problems with the idea that my taxes pay for people who are unwilling to find a job.
Alright, then, let me phrase this a little bit differently. If a person wishes to die, but cannot off themself, does the government have the same obligation to provide 1st-story rooftop ledges as it does elevators and handicap access ramps?
Yes, I think it should be a govt service with all the requisite govt saftey checks in place (ie. psychological conselling etc.) Bbut I still think it should be on a user pays basis. Possibly with a govt support for low -income earners and the like.
The government should kill people whom I want to die. “I’ve got a little list . . .”
Problem is John Mace you dont have a choice, the money is being taken from your taxes to pay for these medical bills. Unless of course you don’t pay taxes, which would include VAT on food, petrol & other items?
IMO, yes, the government should provide a way to allow people to die painlessly should they really want to.
But it has to be proved that the person genuinely does want to die. If they are of sound mind and can make a ration decision, as determined by whatever specialist, then they should be allowed to “opt out”. If they are incapable of making that choice for themselves when the time comes, regardless of whatever they have said in the past, then the decision should not be made for them.
Sure I would sit here now and say, if my body deteriorates and I become a burden on people, then I would rather be dead. That is my feeling now as a healthy person. It is a possiblity that once I get to that stage I may decide that any life is better than no life, and regardless of how vehemontly I have stressed my previous opinion in the past, it is not anyone elses choice to make should I be incapable of making it myself.
Writing something down on a piece of paper doesn’t cut it, as should I change my mind I would be just as unable to prove I had changed my mind as I would that I still felt the same way.
I think the idea of the government being obliged to provide “1st-story rooftop ledges” or handy local means of offing yourself is asking for trouble, who’s to say that your friend who came to watch you jump, wasn’t actually your friend who pushed you?
(Yes, the autopsy may reveal that, but by then it is too late).
There should be a regulated body which deals with euthanasia. The same way we have (or are supposed to have) regualted bodys to deal with other huge life changing decisions, for example, gender re-alignment.
Eve, it’s sooooo much more satisfying to do it yourself, so I’ve heard… what? quit looking at me like that! 