[QUOTE=rbchaddy2000;231725]What do you think about euthanasia as a viable alternative for thr terminally ill, or for those who are severely damaged cognitively for example dementia?[/QUOTE]

As for euthanasia, I think we should be more concerned with the youth in America, our own country.  Other that that , I would categorically be for youth everywhere

[QUOTE=rbchaddy2000;231725]What do you think about euthanasia as a viable alternative for thr terminally ill, or for those who are severely damaged cognitively for example dementia?[/QUOTE]

As for euthanasia, I think we should be more concerned with the youth in America, our own country.  Other that that , I would categorically be for youth everywhere

Only as a last resort: partly because I don't trust health care administrators("Consider the financial burden you could be saving your children, Ms. Pauper..."), partly because people should take a moment to say goodbye before they die.

That said, if your physical suffering is beyond endurance, then it should be your choice whether to bear it--not mine, not the state's, not your HMO's, nor family, friends, or strangers. But you should do it in a way that respects those who love you.

I don't want to give doctors a "slaughter at will" card, but if I have an honest relationship with my doctor, I want to be able to say "Doc, enough of this." and have my doctor hear me and act.

grampawombat wrote:

Oregon has a law that allows for physician assisted suicide in cases of terminal illness. I'm not one to cite data on such things, but my impression is that the law has worked well and has not been abused. Maybe someone could look it up.

First voluntary euthanasia should be defined. I found this:
Advocates of voluntary euthanasia contend that if a person

    (a) is suffering from a terminal illness;

    (b) is unlikely to benefit from the discovery of a cure for that illness during what remains of her life expectancy;

    (c) is, as a direct result of the illness, either suffering intolerable pain, or only has available a life that is unacceptably burdensome (because the illness has to be treated in ways that lead to her being unacceptably dependent on others or on technological means of life support);

    (d) has an enduring, voluntary and competent wish to die (or has, prior to losing the competence to do so, expressed a wish to die in the event that conditions (a)-(c) are satisfied); and

    (e) is unable without assistance to commit suicide,

then there should be legal and medical provision to enable her to be allowed to die or assisted to die.

([COLOR="Blue"]source[/COLOR])

The highest number of those whose death, in Oregon, that came about by physician assisted suicide was for the year 2002 - 38 people.