Do the Terminally Ill Have a Right to Die?

Do the Terminally Ill Have a Right to Die?

With names like Dr. Jack Kevorkian and Terri Schiavo making international headlines during the past few years, the complicated subject of euthanasia remains on everyone's mind. But when considering the plight of the terminally ill and their potential suffering, is "pulling the plug" a matter of dying with dignity or tragically playing God?

Next question in Religion in Society

You are seeing 2 Comments. See all 143 Comments on this Question.
  • Nada
    Euthanasia

    "To save a man's life against his will is the same as killing him," (Horace). Under specific circumstances I believe that physician assisted suicide should be legalized. First, the patient must be terminally ill, as indicated by at least two physicians. This helps to avoid assisted suicides based on a state of depression that can later be overcome. With that, the patient must have expressed obvious consent, whether it be in his will or through serious and repetitive, verbal agreement directly with the physician while in a conscious and sane state. If time allows, this verbal agreement should then be signed in official documents. The method for assisted suicide should be swift and humane. Only a select few under the age of eighteen are even considered for assisted suicide; they must have nearly no chance of survival and expressed consent from the patient (if capable) and of the guardian(s).

    - NadaUS February 18, 2009 12:40AM

    Reply to this Recommend (0) Icon flag Side: Yes

    Thank You for your Comment

    We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.

    • StriveforYourDreams
      very effective quote

      "To save a man's life against his will is the same as killing him" (Nada, Horace). Nada, you could not have chosen a better quote as this summarizes the entire point of assisted suicide. We often ponder in life and literature about what life really is; whether it is physically living every day, or the summation of the experiences we encounter. I tend to believe life is a summation of what we do in our time, no matter how long that is. If I can no longer have quality experiences in life, as I would define them, I would rather not live, and that seems to be the sentiment of some people who are currently in that siutation.

      - StriveforYourDreamsUS March 1, 2009 9:16AM

      Reply to this Recommend (0) Icon flag Side: Yes

      Thank You for your Comment

      We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.

A Right to Die?

Loading
  • Yes
  • No
Vote
View Results

Ask Your Friends to Vote

Spotlight

Loading
  • ALL
    In a nutshell, American Life League is a 501(c)(3) organization co-founded in 1979 by Judie Brown and nine other dedicated pro-life Americans. It is the largest... More

Subscribe to Opposing News

Biweekly updates on new debates and experts

Loading
Thank you for signing up

Please check your email to confirm your subscription.