Monday's Debate - Legalising Euthanasia

I pretty much agree with you. Although I can see why there's reluctance - it does open the door to a lot of grey areas.

And with this case, it wouldn't be assisted suicide as the man isn't able to move at all so the doctor would actually have to kill him. Not saying that changes my mind but it adds another dimension to it.

When someones life is not really able to be lived I can see the argument for it.

Eg, my Granny had alzheimers for over 5 years, it pains me to say but she was a vegetable, she didn't recognise anyone or remember anything, to begin with she would remember stuff from her childhood and that made her happy but by the end she didn't even have that and when she died we were relieved, we grieved in a different way to usual because we had already grieved for the person already. It was painful for us to watch but that doesn't make it right to euthanise..but it was painful and upsetting for her to go through and she was all but gone already.

I don't agree with justifying it for financial reasons (ie burden on nhs)

I don't think it's right that people end up going abroad to dignitas earlier than they would actually 'need' to, if they could stay at home they could live for longer but if they know they want to do this then they have to be still capable enough to travel.

Such a tough one legally though because the law has to be written so carefully to ensure that it's not misinterpreted or open for abuse.

I agree with Nutella. In principle I am in support of legalising euthanasia but legislating the line where it stops being the individuals decision and becomes a doctors decision especially in cases of severe loss of mental capability and/or ability to communicate beyond doubt is tough.

I would expect that if this happens there will need to be stringent guidelines about the number of separate expert medical opinions that need to be sought before a doctor can confirm that they have an opinion that this would be agreed, especially if they were to go as far as allowing a living will that states that should some become dependent on care like many of the people who seek to die then they want to be euthanised.

Exactly this. It would inevitably happen that the law would be abused by people.

I also echo your feelings on your Gran Nutella! My Grandad has vascular dementia is although he's still with us...he's not really with us anymore. He's been in a home for nearly 10 years suffering from it. There was one point in 2008 when he was sent to hospital and they didn't think he was going to make it, but he's still going strong. It's hard to watch him as he is now, and i wouldn't think that he would be a candidate for euthansia because despite the fact he's lost his mind, he's happy in his own wee world. I suppose it's those who feel that if they got to that stage that they would be a burden on the world, and for that part, i feel it's a shame that that's how they see themselves.

If someone is of sound mind (as assessed by various doctors), with a consistent and open desire to end their life, and living in constant pain with no promise of recovery, then it should be allowed.

Without consent, I don't think it should ever happen. Unfortunately, that would preclude those people who are of unsound mind and therefore unable to consent, even if they had previously stated their wishes in some kind of living will.

I don't see how I would ever sanction an external decision, made by families or doctors, based on their judgement of someone's quality of life. I think that's a very slippery road.

I think I've just heard that it has been granted. So this might pathe the way for other cases. It's a really difficult one to judge, but I do really feel for the people desparately wanting an escape.