What I disagree with is that we have a right to force or expect someone else to do it for us. Funny you should bring the abortion debate into this. The “right to choose” is becoming the right to force someone else to terminate the life of the unborn. As you may know, in some places there aren't enough butchers willing to do the dirty work, so medical schools are forcing doctors to be trained in abortion techniques.
“To force someone to remain alive, beyond what would be a normal lifespan - is nothing short of sadism.”
Your statement sure sounds like those awful prolifers “forcing” someone to continue with an unwanted pregnancy.
“Is your stance “Life at all costs” or do you support a “Death Panel” that determines when your ‘Quality of Life’ or medical costs justify pulling the plug?”
Sorry, I don't accept either of your choices. Are you aware that most people who commit suicide are depressed (rather than terminal) and that treating the depression often eases the urge to commit suicide?
I did notice that you didn't really deal with my main point of the vulnerable being pressured into assisted suicide. Sorry, I can't take your “duty to get drunk” flip comment seriously.
The culture of death has no place on FR.
And I have NEVER expressed this desire in any manner, way, shape or form.
Please have the courtesy to NOT credit me with things I have neither said, nor implied. I promise I will show you the same respect and courtesy.
Abortion, for all intensive purposes is 'Convenience murder'. Literally, "It's 'inconvenient' for me to have a child, so I will have it killed". The baby is the one who ultimately pays the price, and has no means to appeal. Naturally, and I believe we may agree on this - in cases where the mother's life is in jeopardy, some consideration may need to take place.
But, in the 'right to die' discussion my stance is quite simple. The right to die should always be an "option" - not a requirement, not determined by a panel - but an individual choice. Same thing with the doctor who may (or may not) opt to assist. I would no more force a doctor to perform an abortion, than I would suggest he be forced to perform as a prison system executioner.
For example, would you force a cancer patient to undergo Chemotherapy? If he does nothing, he will almost certainly die. So, do you feel you have the right to strap him down, and by force - administer the Chemotherapy? Or by threat of law? Perhaps threaten to take his children away? (Happened here in Utah, by the way) I would say the answer is obviously 'No, that is his decision'. He bears the responsibility to make that decision, and lives with the consequences of that decision. Then, why would his decision be valid in this area; but be invalid if he decides that instead of suffering the oncoming cancer, he wished to pass quickly?
As for the person being 'pressured'; you could make that statement about any legal activity under the sun. Selling a home, buying a gun, getting married, getting divorced, buying shoes, joining a church, mowing the lawn .... at the end of the day, it's a decision that each person must make for themselves. I call it a quaint concept called "Personal Responsibility".
Now, what I would do in a variety of circumstances is my choice; in some cases our choices will coincide, in some cases they will diverge. However, I would never mandate that MY choice should override YOUR choice. I ask for the same consideration.
In the end, we will all face judgement for what we have done.