Should Euthanasia be legalised in the UK? I undastand for some this may be a sensitive subject and i apologise in advance, but after watching Emmerdale last night (who handled the topic very well) it got me thinking. Im kindve on the fence with this one as there are so many arguments for and against so am interested to hear anyones thoughts on the issue.
I'm all for it provided that certain conditions are met. As a point of principle, I believe that it's the individual's right to decide whether they live or die. Why should the state have a say in the matter? I see no point in keeping people with a terminal illness alive for a few extra weeks if they don't want to. If someone's in so much pain that the only way they can get through the day is to be doped up to the eyeballs, it's immoral and cruel to keep those people alive against their will. Likewise people with an incurable condition that makes their quality of life so low that they feel they don't want to go on. I appreciate that the system's open to abuse, so there would have to be very strict controls in place. It's not hard to imagine an old granny whose nursing home fees are eating into her family's 'inheritance' feeling under pressure to sign on the dotted line. People who are simply suffering from depression but are otherwise healthy should also not be offered the service.
It should be legalised only if I get to assist by using an M1 Barrett .50 Calibre sniper rifle to do the assisting with. please log in to view this image
We put pets to sleep that are in insufferable pain so why not a person who no longer wants to go through the agony of what must be a demeaning existence after having a healthy and wonderful and vibrant life. For me the crime is someone insisting that you die in agony and lose all your faculties at the same time. If the person in question is ok with it why should we be judge and jury?
I think it should be legalised, but strictly controlled. All cases should be handled by a select group of doctors and judged on a case by case basis. I've always been of the opinion that if a person is in constant pain, and any medication they are given is prolonging the suffering, then they should have the right to choose to end their life. Difficult subject because there are strong points on both sides of the argument. I don't think murder cases would try to exploit it if legalised, because if it isn't approved by the group of doctors then it is murder. The likes of Shipman might have been able to argue the case, and be let off.
