OJNAB...

You seem very defensive whenever anyone chooses to speak out against euthanasia, with a retort similar to, 'get out of my life' and such ? I was always under the impression that this Forum was a place for everyone to share their views, rather than 'attacking' any those who chose to disagree with you, a hitherto, very bad practice of mine, sadly ? I've been to a war, and despite being a retired copper of many years service, I positively DON'T agree with capital punishment ! That said, I still don't support the notion of State sanctioned euthanasia ? I've always believed it's the thin edge of the wedge, once euthanasia has been mandated by governments ?

Believe me my friend I've seen enough of death to last me ten life-times, it's for this reason I believe in that well used, if extremely 'corny' phrase 'while there's life there's hope...' ? So pardon me OJNAB, if I happen to disagree with you on this subject my friend.

I see where Ojnab is coming from.

All those who don't want legal voluntary euthanasia are very welcome to cling to life for as long as possible, under any circumstances.
Surely the rest of us should also have the choice not to?

Suseonline, correct in your post, there seems to be this element from some writers that they also may have to request VE if it became law, this is not the case, it is your decision, and yours alone to have your say in your end of life choices, my life is my life and my death should be as I dictate to use VE if needed, not other people making that decision for me, which is how the law stands at present.

SUSEONLINE & OJNAB...

I have no issue with either of you concerning ownership of your life, no issue whatsoever. From a 'personal' perspective, I'm philosophically against it. It's the broader picture that worries me ? Not now, not in 2015 - 2030 even, but maybe in half a century on, I'm quite sure certain governments will see a clear corridor to advance an exciting economic/health policy in order to reduce the colossal health overheads which will only get bigger and bigger.

As an example might be, perhaps they may seek a mandate to introduce legislation somewhere along the lines of say...an individual over 75 years, who smoke, and are overweight, but need immediate (but expensive) life-saving heart surgery, but are automatically rejected, purely on economic grounds ? Or those who're confined to Mental Institutions, who appear prima facie untreatable, and have reached the age 60 ? A panel of Doctors may decide to humanely 'put them to sleep' in order more beds may be made available for younger, more treatable patients ?

Never happen you say, but are you sure ? I've seen some truly awful inhumanity done to other humans, all in the name of science, even perhaps an economic rationale ? I would cite that, of Chelmsford Private Hospital and their scientific but anachronistic 'sleep treatment' ! At best, some patients were made more unwell, and at worse, some committed suicide. With politicians, I'd put nothing past them, nothing at all !

Yes o sung wu, I see the danger. I want the right to help me out of here, if I get beyond helping myself, but not someone with the right to turn me off.

I also see the danger of costs destroying the society.

If they gave me a new heart & lungs I could probably go on for quite a while, but uselessly. I would need new knees, & a new back to be of any use.

Then again my balance is going, I find cleaning the leaves from the gutters a bit hairy these days, & driving will probably start to slip soon. I guess I'd need a bit of head work on that, Oh & some new eyes & ears, to be back to a really productive life.

Most of us oldies can be kept going way past our usefulness, but at quite considerable cost to our youth.

We will definitely have to limit free access to life stretching medical procedures some time. I wonder if we are smart enough to do it nicely?

Hi there HASBEEN...

I think I'm rapidly losing this argument, big time ? As I stated in my earlier thread, I believe everybody has the explicit ownership of their own lives. Nobody else. And I do accept (reluctantly) there's a case that a reasoned person, has the moral right to determine when their own life is beyond repair, beyond usefulness, or too unbearable to preserve even. It's just when you allow governments a power, hell knows what they'll do with that power ?