First let me say that I do not deny the fact that there is a group of
people in this world that are being kept alive by technology (not just
machines, but procedures and care that was not available 80 years ago).
This is a very sad and unfortunate group. Their quality of life is
zilch. However, when speaking of euthanasia, it is opening up a whole
area that will quickly spiral out of control. Hitler used euthanasia in
Germany. It started with the mentally challenged and people who weren't
able to contribute to society. It ended up with the murder of 6 million
Jews and countless others who were in the way or didn't fit into the
agenda. What looks to be a way to allow people to die with dignity,
will quickly become something that none of us would like to see. You
have to deal with who makes that decision and a host of other questions
and ethics. Places I hope to never have to go.
I do believe that in this country, we do not allow people to die with
dignity. We feel that if someone dies, we have lost. Was it a wise
decision on the MD's part to spend 45 minutes resuscitating the now 23
y/o with cerebral palsy? Just because I have the ability to "bring
someone back", does that mean that it is in their best interest.
I say all this to say that I don't believe that euthanasia can ever be
allowed. It can, and will, spiral too quickly into a monster that we won't
be able to handle. The best we can do is make people comfortable, take
good care of them, handle and treat them with dignity. Make their lives
or last days as pleasant as we can.