Chilean girl with illness changes mind about euthanasia

[KamaAina]

http://news.yahoo.com/chilean-girl-illness-changes-mind-euthanasia-190530232.html

An ailing Chilean girl who made a public plea for permission to end her life has had a change of heart, according to her father.

Fredy Maureira told The Associated Press on Sunday that his 14-year-old, daughter, Valentina, has changed her mind after meeting people who responded to her plea to be euthanized in order to end her suffering from cystic fibrosis....

A video in which Maureira asked Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to allow her to be euthanized gained global attention last month after it was posted on YouTube. Bachelet, who is a trained pediatrician, visited the girl and her family but the government said it could not approve her request.

Fredy Maureira said his daughter especially was moved by a visit from an Argentine family whose children have been stricken by the incurable respiratory illness. He said she also was given hope by meeting a patient who has survived beyond age 20.

Here's the thing. Just like with the death penalty, there's no turning back if a mistake is made.

And I once met someone with CF who was in her 30s.

[SheilaT]

1. The thing I find disturbing about this story is that

too many people will generalize from it to conclude that euthanasia or assisted death should never happen.

I certainly do not know very much about cystic fibrosis, so I have no opinion here, other than to note that by learning more about the disease and talking to others with it, she was able to re-think her position.

Other people, other diseases, other situations, will come to a different conclusion.

[winter is coming]

3. This. People should be allowed to make their own decision about what's right for them. n/t

[SheilaT]

5. Yes, exactly.

[NCTraveler]

2. This is one of those areas where I say it is a personal choice.

This case, along with many others, is more difficult because of age. Fact is, I want people who want to end their lives with dignity to be able to do so as painlessly as possible. That goes for the individual in question, along with loved ones.

"there's no turning back if a mistake is made"

The action can be taken just as easily being legal as being illegal. This young woman already has the tools at her disposal to do the job. If anything, the story details how much thought is often put into it.

[whatthehey]

4. Yes a CHOICE - with no horror stories

No evil doctors are forcing her to die, no implacable state is making her go through with it. No patronizing outside groups telling her she's unfit to decide. She's making a choice you want to take away from her and those in her same position, regardless of what their choice might be.

In this situation the individual's choice is always definitively correct. Only sadists want to keep people from having that choice for themselves.