Legalization.

[Dystopia]

I disagree. I don't think it should be illegal at all.

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I don't need the government to protect me from myself. I am perfectly capable of deciding whether or not I wish to risk my own life while putting no one else at risk.

Amen! In a country where we can drink ourselves to death and/or smoke ourselves to death we have to be sure to buckle up!

Thank you insurance company lobbyists!

Drinking or smoking will kill you with time, but having a car accident can kill you instantly. Just because we don't forbid A, it doesn't mean we can't forbid B.

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[quote='Blackout' pid='701294' dateline='1404503050']
I disagree because my ethics hierarchy (personally mine) is composed by 3 values 1 - Life 2 - Justice 3 - Freedom. Most times, I don't support anything that violates life, therefore I don't support the death penalty or euthanasia (this doesn't mean I want it illegal, I just don't approve it ethically, it is still an act for taking a life, even if done for compassion). The thing is we need to think if problems would arise, eg my professor told us euthanasia could give origin to organ trafficking and other problems like taking out the weakest members of society. Another problem, many people may want euthanasia and regret, I remember a guy in my country, he has no arms and legs, wanted to be euthanized, but after a few years he is now happy and says he regrets his former wishes.

If life is at the top of your heirarchy, you should also recognize that the quality of said life is an extremely important factor. It is a fact of life that existence can become so painful that non-existence is preferrable. If you truly value life, you should value that fact and recognize that people in certain situations will have so much pain that their want to die will rise to a need.

The quality of life will highly depend on the circumstances, even someone in pain can use medication to ease it and spend more time with his family. This is my position. I'm not saying sometimes a painful existence violates human dignity more than losing your life, but in generally I oppose everything or almost everything that violates the right to live. I too don't ethically support suicide. My hierarchy may be strict, but I stick truthful to my principles. I'm not saying people can't do it, but I won't. I don't need to support it ethically to support legalization. I may also think it is immoral to consume cocaine, it doesn't mean I support people going to jail for it.
Euthanasia is not taking a life. It is the willful relinquishing of one's own life with help.

Also no euthanasia if you are physically capable of doing it yourself, this is a logical necessity, if you are unhappy you kill yourself, don't ask for help

How about if I have been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, but can still physically move well enough to kill myself? Do you think the ethical thing would be to refuse me the assistance of a medical professional and force me to take a much less pleasant route, like throwing myself off a building?

If you don't have physical mobility that is a different issue, I'm talking about healthy people that don't have courage to commit suicide. There is no need for involving a third party if you have physical capacity to do so

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[quote='Blackout' pid='701279' dateline='1404501919']Well I'm assuming assisted suicide implies someone unplugging, therefore taking a life in a cause-effect relationship of another human being.

Assisted suicide is not just "unplugging" someone from life support. If it were then that would be illegal in 49 US states and it's not. Assisted suicide is actively assisting someone who wants to die. This should be made legal in all jurisdictions for all cases of "no-hope" terminal illness. The only objections that can be made are religious ones.

Not only religious but moral or ethical. I didn't know euthanasia and assisted suicide were different therefore my answer could be twisted. Can you explain me the difference?

I wouldn't be comfortable do it, specially if it was a relative of mine. But if some people are fine doing it, it's ok. We should always respect the person's opinion on the matter.

Have you ever watched a loved one die slowly, in excruciating agony from cancer? I watched my mom die that way. It was not fun. My brother even mentioned to me that he had considered overdosing her (mercy killing). The truly sad part is mom lived in the only state in this country that allows assisted suicide but her religiosity got in the way. She didn't have to suffer the way she did but for her delusions.

It depends on the situation. A friend of mine highly supported assisted suicide, but once her grandfather needed it to avoid suffering, she just couldn't do it, she said it paralyzed her, it's still a hard decision even if it's the right one. I'm not saying I would always be incapable, but I'm not imagining myself doing it.

From a legal perspective it matches the description of murder, even though it's not the same. Where I live it is still illegal.

Assisted suicide and murder are not the same, legally, morally or ethically. Helping someone who wants to die, because they are going to die, but don't want to die horribly is compassionate, not criminal. Ever had to put down a pet? The only difference (as far as assisted suicide is concerned) is consent. It's wrong to make an animal suffer when there is nothing that can be done about the suffering. It's wrong to make a human suffer when there is nothing that can be done about the suffering and they want the suffering to end!

Once again I don't know the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia. Firstly comparing humans and animals arguments will make zero points. I didn't say it wasn't compassionate, but form a constitutional perspective it is not possible where I live

And I think euthanasia shouldn't depend only on the law, each case should go to court and the decision of the court would be yes or no. I say this because in some cases we don't know if the person would consent or not, if they are in a comma for instance.

Without consent, assisted suicide is off the table. Please stop equating euthanasia with assisted suicide. They are similar, but are not the same thing.

I agree

Court decisions on every case of assisted suicide? Please tell me you're kidding. Most people with terminal illnesses would die in agony waiting for their day in court. While I will probably live out my life in Colorado (a place I love), if I'm ever diagnosed with a "no-hope" terminal illness (unless this state wises up), I'll die in Oregon (a place I fucking hate). That way, I'll be able to end it myself, with my loved ones around me. That's the most pernicious part of assisted suicide being illegal. If you're even in attendance of the death, you'll be prosecuted. Imagine having to leave your loved one who has decided they have had enough of the agony to die alone while you have to go out and pretend you're not terribly bothered by something.

I agree court decisions shouldn't always be needed, specially if the person can consent specifically. But imagine the case when someone is in a comma and the wife argues the person is against assisted suicide and the parents argue the opposite. A court decision would solve this case and similar cases pretty well.
Just saw this:

Also no euthanasia if you are physically capable of doing it yourself, this is a logical necessity, if you are unhappy you kill yourself, don't ask for help

Do you really believe the only reason people ever want to die is because they're unhappy? Really?!? Do you think my loved ones would prefer to go away while I blow my brains out and them come back and have to clean up the mess? Or do you think, just maybe, they would prefer to be with me when I go, helping to make my passing better and more comfortable and being able to say goodbye for fucks sake!

I was just making my expression the simplest possible. You may want to die for all possible reasons. If you are capable of committing suicide, why ask for help? and what method would we use? Why call in a third party if you can do it yourself without involving others? If I was capable of killing myself I would never ask anyone to have the burden of doing it for me. Sounds selfish. But I may just think differently than you

If you're depressed and suicidal, seek help. It's there. If you're dying and wish to avoid the excruciating agony along the way. Tough shit, I guess (unless you can get yourself to Oregon).

Where I live it's illegal too. But pain can be controlled with medicine, the more scientists progress in terms of medications the less assisted suicide will be needed. If I had 3 months to live and could ease the pain almost to zero I wouldn't want to die but to enjoy my time.