(November 14, 2013 at 5:57 am)missluckie26 Wrote: You can, yes. But does that mean you should?IMO, that should depend entirely on the individual: the state should't mandate that you shouldn't. However the risks of misuse or abuse must be reduced/eliminated by proper education, regulation and support. Society may (and does) have a general disposition towards the value of life (life's precious, life's worth fighting for etc.) which can vary culturally (e.g. Min's point about suicide rituals) but we can probably be assured that a general 'life's preferable to death' theme will run because that's how we've evolved, for survival. But people must have the freedom and unalienable right to govern certain fundamental aspects of their lives themselves. I think the 'right to end one's life' should be amongst them.
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The real problem is that the arguments for/against euthanasia are clouded by the piss-poor governmental funding levels for public institutions which could improve people's quality of life, especially vulnerable groups. I say, first provide the medical & social support then we can look at euthanasia on a level playing field.
Sum ergo sum
