for Contemplation3/16/2004 c1 
30g21lto
I'm kind of hazy on what "death education" is, which probably shows that my schools aren't on top enough to have heard of it. It sounds like a good idea, though.
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The way I see it, euthanasia can be broken into two main classes - assisted suicide (like Dr. Kevorkian is known for) and euthanasia without the affected person's consent or knowledge.
I have no problem with assisted suicide. I think if a person has reached the point where they *know* their life is nothing but physical pain and suffering, then they should be allowed to end their life if they see fit.
Mercy-killing should never take place without a person's consent, whether that consent be through a will (stating that if they enter a persisting vegetative state, their feeding tube should be pulled) or through their verbal consent. If a person isn't conscious, and doesn't look to be conscious ever again, then I think the question is up in the air and should be decided by the next of kin.
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Those are my thoughts. I think mercy-killing can be a truly merciful thing, so I would disagree with your assertion that it is wrong in every instance. However, I do agree that it can be bad and even dangerous to society. In any event, I liked your essay!
30g21ltoI'm kind of hazy on what "death education" is, which probably shows that my schools aren't on top enough to have heard of it. It sounds like a good idea, though.
*
The way I see it, euthanasia can be broken into two main classes - assisted suicide (like Dr. Kevorkian is known for) and euthanasia without the affected person's consent or knowledge.
I have no problem with assisted suicide. I think if a person has reached the point where they *know* their life is nothing but physical pain and suffering, then they should be allowed to end their life if they see fit.
Mercy-killing should never take place without a person's consent, whether that consent be through a will (stating that if they enter a persisting vegetative state, their feeding tube should be pulled) or through their verbal consent. If a person isn't conscious, and doesn't look to be conscious ever again, then I think the question is up in the air and should be decided by the next of kin.
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Those are my thoughts. I think mercy-killing can be a truly merciful thing, so I would disagree with your assertion that it is wrong in every instance. However, I do agree that it can be bad and even dangerous to society. In any event, I liked your essay!
3/16/2004 c1 144Infinite Smiles
Euthanasia...I agree with you that no one has the right to take someones life...but, do we all not have hte right to take our own? Anyone can commit suicide. An elderly person who is in pain, or someone who has cancer and just cannot take the pain anymore...they can choose to end their lives at any time..euthanasia just offers the person a painless way of doing that. It is still that person's ultimate choice and is therefore not murder, but suicide... I am just playing devil's advocate, by the way. I'm not really sure where I stand on this issue...
144Infinite SmilesEuthanasia...I agree with you that no one has the right to take someones life...but, do we all not have hte right to take our own? Anyone can commit suicide. An elderly person who is in pain, or someone who has cancer and just cannot take the pain anymore...they can choose to end their lives at any time..euthanasia just offers the person a painless way of doing that. It is still that person's ultimate choice and is therefore not murder, but suicide... I am just playing devil's advocate, by the way. I'm not really sure where I stand on this issue...