Rhys Jones says:

"Fortunately most of us have the brains and creativity to work out a reasonable method of suicide without needing the assistance of doctors or pharmacists or anyone else. We don't need to be formalising euthanasia. This is one area of life best left to the individual affected"

I agree almost entirely, and would add that, if we seriously want to end our own lives, we should take responsibility for the action and not implicate doctors or others in a process which, at the very least, they will surely find extremely uncomfortable.

However, there are cases where people are physically unable to take their own lives. Others may no longer be mentally competent to indicate an informed preference for death, but have clearly signified in advance a preference for euthanasia in the case of (for example) severe dementia. In these, rare, cases, I believe euthanasia is justified

This piece by the "good" Bishop is so full of straw man arguments and untruths that no further comment should be necessary.

David

Do the religious people who are so against mercy killing {Voluntary Euthanasia} are against any wars that are being fought, or is this OK by them, it is not as far as I am concerned, it is still killing, not only soldiers but innocent civilians, where does their Bible belief of "Though Shalt Not Kill" come in, and why are they not demonstrating in the streets against this unnecessary killing of life, but come to me wanting to end my life, when suffering from loss of pain and dignity, these very same religious people want me to abide by their rules, I do not hold any belief from a fairy story written a long time ago, so let me decide my ending, and if I am wracked with pain I am sure I will not care where my money and estate will end up, I am sure that would not be my last thought if someone was out to grab it all, the only thought I would have would be to end this life quickly with a lethal injection, so once again stay out of my life all you religious people.

Ojnab

Pat - I sincerely hope you are going to drop dead or die quickly in a catastrophic manner. I say that as a practising Christian believing 'medicine' has been trying to 'play God' far too long. Many unfortunate souls linger painfully, treated with every death defying 'weapon' available, suffering a fate far worse than death. The lengths 'medicine' goes to at times to 'save' people with extreme disabilities, elderly folk in the clutch of dementia and so on is morally indefensible.

My family struggles to care for my elderly father who suffers advanced dementia and physical failure. With little control over bladder, bowel and motor function, he can barely stand and walk a few metres with assistance. Help is needed with EVERY aspect of daily life. There is little dignity or quality of life left even though we try to keep him comfortable and happy as possible. While he generally knows and responds to his family we are reluctant to place him in care - even though the effort involved is taking it's toll on his main carers, his elderly wife and daughter. WE HOPE HE DIES SOON! Because we love him ....

To this effect - though my father doesn't have an advanced health directive, we have met with the family Dr and expressed unified desire that in life threatening illness he will recieve palliative treatment only. While our Dr agrees, there is no guarantee that some 'hero' will not decide otherwise if he gets admitted to a hospital.

All adults have the right to refuse treatment for whatever ails us - with exception of mental illness. (Involuntary treatment may be imposed on people who may harm others or themselves.) If I, for example, were to decline treatment for heart disease or cancer, conditions which would, barring a miracle, bring about my demise, that's my choice.

Similarly I support anyone who wants an assisted exit from this life when terminal illness has become unbearable. THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS! I only hope never to be in that situation

Hopefully, one day the control freaks will leave people alone to plan how to live & die as they see fit whilst still in a fit stage.

Dear Mr. Pat Power,

Unfortunately the stricture of economic rationalism has to be observed in any of our circumstances; hence I disagree with those that are reticent to admit that euthanasia is reducing the argument to an economic level.

I remember that when I was a child the world population was less than two billion and electricity had not reached my town of 15,000 souls which then sported only two automobiles. Those souls have now triplicate.

This population explosion has been brought about not by miracle but by an excess in the number of births over that of deaths and the near doubling of average life length.

Now each day I cost more than ‘the average’ in energy.

A Clare Holland house may be for you, Sir, but, if I can’t get a pill, given the chance, I will have to jump