I don't doubt that there are a number of people in very poor health that would prefer to be be euthanased rather than keep living in pain, but is it likely that somebody else may receive that death sentence if not enough care is taken. There have been instances quoted in the news, of several people disposing of their parents, and although I realise that it is not very often, once is too much, isn't it. It is a problem that would be foolish and very dangerous to pursue in parliament.

Indeed Trashcanman I believe everyone here, and definitely myself included, share your naivety for such families.
-
Merv,
So Merv, by your logic we should ban cars and public transport because some people die in road accidents?

Or maybe ban people from being allowed to take painkillers, headache tablets and other medicines that are an overdose risk?

Just to be sure?

Your majesty,

Re your response to Merv, we can all play that logic-game: are YOU suggesting that if anyone runs someone else down with their car, that should always be treated as an accident ?

Many of us who have reservations about the practicability of euthanasia are fairly comfortable with straight-out suicide. We are not comfortable with murder. The difficulty is to differentiate the two conclusively. Running someone down with a car is relatively uncomplicated.

Surprisingly, it sometimes is a bad, bad world. I know this comes as a shock to many people, but there ARE some people with naughtiness, even evil, in their hearts. That such wickedness could be ! But yes, it can, so how do we distinguish one type of death from another ? Voluntary from involuntary, if you like ?

So why not push for legalising suicide first, before we go down the various paths justifying the involvement of other people in someone's death ? See how that goes first, say for five or ten years ?

Joe

"If you really want to release economic rationalism on the frail aged, give them euthanasia" - Tony Abbott expressing his sincere concern that a future government, confronted by the costs of palliative care, might not allocate funds in the expectation that the frail aged might make the choice of resolving the problem for themselves.

Tony Abbott: should euthanasia be legalised? | Fora Radio | 11 February 2009

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2010/s2846418.htm

The Gillard government has relegated the aged to a shared sub-portfolio with Mental Health. Mental health is topical and a subject that will attract a lot of interest and questions, occupying the minister and senior bureaucrats. This indicates a lesser concern with the needs of the aged, in an environment where the ageing of the population is seen as creating serious challenges, drains in fact, for a number of heads of expenditure.

Regardless of ageism being far more prevalent and untreated compared with other areas of discrimination, it does not attract a Commissioner to advocate for the rights of seniors. A Commissioner for the Aged is overdue for the protection of the aged, but it is crucial if euthanasia is to be approved.

A federal Commissioner for the Aged is far more necessary than (say) a Sex Discrimination Commissioner where large gains have been made and corrective measures have been in place for a very long time.

PeterGM,
I'd like those who oppose euthanasia be made to attend those ill people. You'd be surprised how quickly they'd come to support it.

yes individual...you are/correct...watching..some-one die..is/traumatic..[to say/the least]..

but while..the issue of-this topic...i suppose its/more..about fed/govt..being able-to overide..decisions of the act/nt

there i would say..not

of course/if..the issue is
can docters kill people...i say no

we hear much lately..in the news/about..how accident'victims'..are in a med-induced coma...[as far-as..i am willing-to..let docter's..go]

lets say that docters/can dull physical pain
they are completly inept..to judge mental pains

the cure for mental-pain..[in the after-realms..is sleep]

so we return to coma..requiring pallitive care..[or bed occupation if you like]...then it becomes a matter of money/beds/staff

and of course others needs/wants/desires

no one knows best /what is best for any-other..[including govt]

people little realise...that in applying to vote...
we are giving-up..our powers of atourney...
to those claiming the majority of the vote/

i dont trust those..you voted for..to/do the right thing/thus give them..no extra powers..over living nor dying

all death is only a transition..into further living

yet athiests believe..[as they may]..one shot[at life]..then nothing

its not a simple/issue..
but docters are sworn to relieve suffering[under oath]..
to whom much is given/much is expected

im fortuinatly..not paid to relieve pain
or decide life..and who shal die questions
[war is hell..govts shouldnt send kids to die]

govts have long ago stopped serving the trust[the people]...
who gave them special power..[to be honest over half/are or were lawyers...and are/only..serving the party-line..or doing as/their true masters..[the public service/party sponcers..decree..or..[tell them to/do]

docters should not be licenced to kill..[for any reason]

so any legislation should decree..and euthinasia/victim..
is not to be vandelised..for organ harvest[for egsample]..as the phantom-pains..can haunt/organs

science has found/ways to destinguish hauntings[mental pain events /from real physical-pain events]..or at least cast-out demons/but..that line of research has long/ago..been abandoned[read 30 years ammoung the dead]

anyhow to kill for love/
is possably the moral event of our times
so much depends on
..who/is doing the killing..for what reason

and till we can make that..fail-proof..
its unlikely..we/they..can resolve the real-issues

[those..we have given..so much/to...
in reality..have so little to/give]