I’m torn both ways on this issue.
I have had to put down many dogs over my long lifetime. It broke my heart every time. The last two recent ones (2 years ago) still make me well up when I think of them and how much I loved them (MORE than human family).
It was the compassionate thing to do in every case. Our last little guy had been deaf and blind for his last few years, we adapted.
There comes a time when their “quality of life” or their inevitable death sparing them pain and suffering, must be taken into account.
Why should this not be afforded humans? Humans, many times, can make this decision for themselves.
There is one OVERRIDING reason NOT TO.
The slippery slope.
Once you start allowing assisted suicide (the killing of a human) for ANY reason, you start down that slope of it being “for ANY reason”.
Grandma is old and weak, but her 401K is very healthy.
My wife has expressed the will to end her suffering, my girlfriend agrees.
My child was born with red hair. I want to spare them the life long pain and suffering that they will experience for being “different”.
A spouse has lost their loved one. Its only fair and compassionate to mandate that life insurance companies pay claims for people who have exercised their rights of assisted suicide. (Flood gates opening).
The government has decided my “time is up”. (Soylent Green).
I am against government assisted suicide as I believe that for some of us, the painful exisitence of life before passing is part of our process in reaching heaven. I do believe that pain relieving drugs should be available to those that wish them, to ease that passage—
How long before volunatary assisted suicide becomes mandatory assisted suicide?
>>Once you start allowing assisted suicide (the killing of a human) for ANY reason, you start down that slope of it being “for ANY reason”.
Agree with you completely. I have a friend with a very bad genetic disease who has been active for physician aided death for decades. She’s encouraged me to vote for it in our state election but, much as I love her and much as I don’t want to suffer in a last pain myself with no choice, I can’t vote for it as long as I can’t trust those who would make the choice for other people. Your slippery slope.
I’ve sat through many Hemlock Society discussions and always kept my mouth shut. Now she’s right in the middle of the disease but she calls every few days and says she’s happy with her life and with her loving husband caretaker, so I’m currently reassured for her.
For others, I’m heartbroken. But I still can’t vote for it. The danger to people without a strong support system is just too great.