There are two jurisdictions here: One of the state, the other of the self. I would argue that both euthanasia and the prohibition of abortion entail a reduction in the autonomy of the self, as in each case, a decision (suicide or abortion) is currently made independently of the state. Therefore, advocates of euthanasia and pro-lifers need to justify why the jurisdiction of the state should override one's autonomy.

I like my autonomy.

Fester

I am not sure I understand your question.

I believe in autonomy and the choice of euthanasia. As you should be aware I abhor the thought of people suffering for months in a slow lingering death.

At present the state (law) does not permit euthanasia.

No Rhys Jones, as Severin pointed out to you, I did not advocate involuntarily euthanasing people with Alzheimers at all.

I merely pointed out why people diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease should not be left out of being allowed to ask for voluntary euthanasia, just the same as anyone else with a terminal disease.

If people were able to write out their wishes , while still in good health mentally and physically, about when they would like to have voluntary euthanasia in the future, then that should not be the business of anyone else except that person.

All others, like yourself, who do not believe in voluntary euthanasia, would be left alone to their own fate, as is their wish.

Yes, palliative care is good these days, and works well with most people. Yet, I would not like to be the one where nothing helps the pain, diarrhea, vomiting or nausea no matter what we give them.
Unfortunately I have witnessed these extremely distressful deaths many, many times.

I guess you could write out a living will stating that you are to be kept alive for as long as is medically possible, no matter what your pain levels are, or the quality of life you are experiencing.

How does that sound? Fair enough?
Just leave the rest of us alone to decide our own way out.

”And you refer to "thousands of children being drugged, raped bashed and murdered". Aside from the grotesque exaggeration…..It is almost impossible to adopt a child in this country, yet we kill 80,000 per year."

Rys Jones – Currently there are 99,900 homeless young people living on the streets just in Australia, with those aged between 12-18 years, the prominent group. Factors that push young people to live on the street include poverty, domestic violence and sexual abuse - predominantly unfit parents. And many of the abused children go on to commit the same atrocities.

The 'grotesque exaggerations' are all yours Rys Jones!

The difficulty in adopting a child is purely administrative and not the availability of babies as you would have us believe. The number of abandoned babies far outweighs the number of applicants seeking to adopt, therefore your claims are hyperbolic nonsense.

Just what would you propose to do with the 80,000? "babies" you estimate are ‘killed’ each year in Australia through terminations when there were only 440 adoptions in 2008?

The AIHW government publication state that:

"In 1971-72 there were 9,798 adoptions in Australia. In 2007–08, there were 440 adoptions of children in Australia, a 23% decrease from the previous year, and the lowest number of adoptions recorded since 1969–70.”

Perhaps it is ideologues like you who must share the responsiblity for the abandoned baby (deceased) known as Angel Baby who was left at a bus shelter in Shepparton in July 2008?

Or perhaps the abandoned baby Adam (live) found on a doorstep in April?

These hapless new mothers who dump their babies may have encountered ideologues like you who have put the fear of the devil in them if they contemplate terminating an unwanted pregnancy. Ego-centric bullies like you who believe they have control over women’s bodies en masse?

Why not share some responsibility for a young girl’s dilemma and write an article on the dire necessity for the five minute, hit and run deadbeat male to share responsibility and wear a bloody condom? You don’t need a prescription for condoms do you? What’s your problem?

Severin

There was a time when suicide was a crime: Would you agree that it is better that suicide is no longer a crime? I dont think that the involvement of the state with the individual's choice to die was such a raging success then, and I dont see why it should be any more successful now.

Fester

I am aware that suicide was once regarded as a crime and that some religions regard it as a sin.

Do you believe euthanasia should still be a criminal offence?