Interesting thread but I am burned out on life and death issues. I'm going with no comment, except that I wish he had come to my university.

What college btw?

Kutztown.

They were having a bunch of public figures come by and speak, but he was the one who got the most attention, so I have no idea who else was there, or will be there.

On religious grounds (suicide and murder are wrong) I strongly oppose his actions. As a prosecutor, we would happily charge him and ship him off to prison.

Ethically, I think what he did is vile. "Do no harm" is the first rule of medicine. To violate that oath is evil and contrary to medicine.

Finally, modern medicine does not require ANYONE to suffer in pain. Morphine is a powerful enough pain-killer to solve most problems. People can also refuse medical treatment, extraordinary measures, etc.

Do we really want to go down the path of "assisted suicide?" Who gets to decide whether someone really wants to die? Anyone ever become depressed, thought about killing themselves, then changed their minds? I personally have had family members in horrible physical pain... yet were thrilled to be alive in the long run.

My hope is that Kevorkian learned a sharp lesson and doesn't play those sorts of games in the future. His actions violated the law of the state he was in-- in the midwest or pacific northwest, can't recall which one.

Kutztown? I live in Reading, dawg.

That's a great speaker proposal... I'm on the committee in charge of bringing speakers to our campus. I think I'm going to propose him.

I live in the lehigh valley, but I've been out to and around reading for various tennis tournaments.

Rlumley, based on the reaction he got here, there was only one or two people protesting him being there, so i say go for it.

@ Acosmist thats only about halfhour drive. Unless you are driving a buggy. ;)

Oh you. The Amish make EXCELLENT Lebanon bologna, actually.

Thats a pretty strong opinion there rhydon.

What do you make of the comparison that is often made between putting pets down to relieve them of their misery?
I assume it carries no weight with you?

sorry, should have been between putting pets down to relieve them of their misery and assisting humans who want the same relief.

All pets HAVE are the senses. Pleasure and pain exhaust the extent of their ethical significance.

So I assume you regard that comparison as bullshit as well?

Yes. I do. Not sure about that other dude.

So you oppose Kevorkian for ethical or religious reasons?

Yes.

Sorry, my question was unclear.
Do you oppose him because of your religious beliefs, or do you oppose him because you think what he did was ethically wrong?

Oh, I think what he did was wrong. Do you know much about him? He don't have to be opposed to euthanasia to think what HE did was wrong.

Can't say I do, considering I probably couldn't even spell euthanasia when he was imprisoned.

On a broader subject then, how do you feel about euthanasia in general? Same beliefs, or do they vary depending on the situation?

if somebody needs assistance to commit suicide, he should probably do so

In my notion, assisted suicide is the equivalent of murder. I thought that guy died, or commited suicide, a long time ago. I hope he doesn't have any more customers.

Just because modern medicine can 'cure' physical pain doesn't make the person's life any better. What about psychological pain? There isn't a drug for that - and mental pain is much worse than the physical.

And how is allowing a patient to refuse treatment any different than allowing them to die when they want?

I strongly urge you all to look at the Death With Dignity Act in Oregon (http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/index.shtml). There is a very detailed process that needs to be completed before a patient receives the fatal dose of drugs (which, they must give to themselves).

I also think its important to make the distinction between Assisted suicide (you are given the means, but must complete the act yourself) and Euthanasia (someone else commits the act).

I could be persuaded that Euthanasia is a questionable practice, but I do not believe assisted suicide is. I really see no difference between giving someone the means to kill themselves and allowing them to refuse treatment. Same thing happens.

Additionally, why should YOUR feelings on death/suicide affect my end of life care? Shouldn't *I* get to make my decisions about it?

There comes a time when we have to stop thinking so politically correct. Forcing treatment and making suicide illegal is a good thing. Maybe their depression doesn't heal with treatment. Let them live a miserable life-it's better than dying. Every person. EVERY person who has commited suicide would change the past if they had the chance. It's debatable. But it's not really.

So, you know better than I do about what I want?

Yes. Because you're not dead yet.

That's because I'm not terminally ill.

And forcing treatment is not a good idea either. We've already got an overpopulation issue. Surely, we should let a few people go, for the common good?

Yes, it's an issue. But by letting people go, which most of them would be above the age of thirty, it wouldn't solve the issue. The population would still be rising! The more obvious solution would be to stop conceiving more babies! How we would achieve this without violating rights I do not know.

Free Condoms?

That's not what I had in mind. When people get pregnant without aforethrought they usually just abort. Sadly, another issue.