I hesitate to ignite new flames, but I think assisted suicide and the state-initiated euthanasia are two-entirely different things. I think to require people whose lives have become intolerable to use crude and cruel means (i.e. blowing your brains out with a shotgun) to end their lives when much more humane means are within the monopoly control of 'doctors' is tragic. If they don't want to 'assist', OK. Just give me the drugs and I will do the rest.
The Netherlands law is the logical outgrowth of transferring these life or death decisions to the state, as many here would now do. The idea that the state can kill my children is incredible for a supposedly civilized society.
Thus, I support so-called 'assisted' suicide and oppose state-controlled euthanasia.
[I am a Biblical Christian and (obviously) not a catholic. If you have faith in RCC dogmas about suicide, your answer would obviously be much different.)
I'm not at all sure about that. This recent online Field poll
http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/RLS2155.pdf
shows that those who self describe as Catholic, are only little different than the general population. 65% agree with assisted suicide.