Your Stance on Death and Euthanasia

Is death a thing to dread as our culture suggests? Is euthanasia immoral if the person being euthanized(think quadriplegics and paraplegics as an example) is fully capable of making that choice? What if they are not able to make that choice(think Terry Schiavo), are there still situations in which it would be ok? How would a society write laws to prevent slippery slope situations? Are there benefits for society for this?

Personally, I believe people should embrace death as a part of the process in life, instead of being so fearful and frightened. To fear death is to fear life. I also believe that all people who have the capacity to make such choices, should be able to decide if they still want to live in this life. I think that a person should designate whether or not they want to live if there capacity to make such a choice is removed. Alas, I would say more but I must leave for work.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with euthanasia, but it should only be exercised in certain cases. Those who are rational and can understand the gravity of such an act should have the full ability to pursue that course if they wish to. For those who lack the faculties to do this (individuals with signifiant brain damage, for example), there needs to be a different approach, one that comes on the basis of pleasure vs. pain. Namely, if such an individual lacks rational ability, but is still able to feel some degree of sensation, as well as some degree of pain and pleasure, euthanasia should not be an option. For individuals where there is absolutely no brain activity and no perception of the outside world (the typical "brain dead" case), if there is no chance for improvement, I would fully advocate euthanasia. Keeping patients such as that alive costs a huge amount of resources, both human and economic, and those could be much better spent on other people.

If the person is willing to sign a document saying it is their choice to be euthanized, I see nothing wrong with it.

As far as brain dead people go: if the family is ok, and numerous doctors agree that there is no chance for improvement, euthanasia should be an option.

My pet dog is being euthanized tomorrow.

He no longer has spacial perception memory and can't really walk anymore either, so it's for the best.

I'm totally for euthanasia if the situation calls for it. I mean, if a person is brain dead and can't sense anything, seriously, whats the point of keeping them around? I actually think its disrespectful to keep them alive. I'm sure if they could see their own state they would want to be euthanized.

For other people who can sense things, they would have to agree with it of course and doctors would have to agree that there is no hope of getting better for them.

For death in general, its just fear of the unknown that makes people hate it. Nobobdy knows what happens if you die. Some belive in heaven and hell and some don't. But I personally don't fear it. If nothing happens when I die and I just become nonexistant like before I was born, I wouldn't be noticing it, now would I?

If you are capable of making an informed decision about being Euthanized, you should have every right to allow it to happen.

It's sad, but not immoral. Putting an animal out its misery either way is fine, I think.