Should euthanasia be legal?

[Skip Intro]

I'm not talking necessarily about the TS case, but these situations are common and daily.

My sis is a nurse and we were talking today and of course the TS situation came up, and at one point I said that if I were in that position, I'd want to be "put to sleep" instead of dying from lack of nutrition.

"Nope, can't do that, because its illegal in the US," she said.

I guess I knew that, what with Kevorkian's persecution a few years back, and all the right to lifers screaming that terminally ill patients have no right to end their lives with dignity.

Sis said that when the decision is made that the patient is better off being allowed to leave, that the only legal way to do it is to withold nutrition, and medicate with morphine.

But, once the decision has been made, by the doctors and family, wouldn't it be more humane to euthanize the patient?

If it were me, I'd rather that.

If this has already been discussed, sorry for the dupe. I've been avoiding most of the threads on the subject, and didn't really start paying real attention until the perverse delay/frist/bush show got underway Sunday night.

[sui generis]

1. absolutely. it's like gays in the military though . . .

it already happens every day, just don't ask and we won't tell.

[Selteri]

2. My mother has already told me she plans to take the

sleepy pill express if she feels she's going to go down to the level she has to even live in a nursing home.

I've already been asked to respect her will whenj and if anything happens with life support that she wants the plug pulled with nothing 'unreasonable done'.

[PsN2Wind]

3. People should have the right that the people of Oregon

voted themselves TWICE. That was the "Death with Dignity" act that allows, with safeguards, a physician to prescribe to a person the means to end their life.

[napi21]

4. I didn't answer your poll becaue none of my responses fit.

I agree with you that something should hasten death once a decision has been made to remove life support. Perhapse that morfine drip could be a little stronger than usual.

I am a little afraid of abuse of any power like that though.

It seems to me that if a law wre written to authorize euthanaisia, it would have so many restrictions and requirements, it would be useless in application.

I will tell you, there are hmmmm, accidental overmedications made in hospitals all the time and just never documented. I don't know if your sister would admit to this or not, or even if she knows, but it happens.

[goodhue]

5. Schiavo case is not euthanasia

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3330735

[mondo joe]

6. I support the right to assisted suicide. I also support hospice care

for those who are on their way out but do not choose assisted suicide, or have life support removed by family.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

7. I support euthanasia

for the entire Bush clan.

Even the dogs. Just in case.

Well, no.

Strike that.

Let the dogs live.

[mondo joe]

8. If Euthenasia is legalized, yes, I can think of a few deserving

parties.

[Poppyseedman]

9. euthanasia should remain illegal except for a DNR

A DNR (do not resuscitate) order

Euthanasia Definitions

* Euthanasia: the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. (The key word here is "intentional". If death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia)
* Voluntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed has requested to be killed.
* Non-voluntary: When the person who is killed made no request and gave no consent.
* Involuntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed made an expressed wish to the contrary.
* Assisted suicide: Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called "physician assisted suicide."
* Euthanasia By Action: Intentionally causing a person's death by performing an action such as by giving a lethal injection.
* Euthanasia By Omission: Intentionally causing death by not providing necessary and ordinary (usual and customary) care or food and water.