I strongly agree with Ollies' thoughts on euthenasia. I too watched my elderly father die a prologned and horrible death in a nursing home. He also was a proud and independent man until his late eighties when dementia set in and he could no longer make decisions for himself. Until that time he had always stressed how horrified he would be if he became an invalid and a burden to society.
His death was certainly anything but dignified and even staff at the nursing home who see suffering all the time were upset to see him in so much pain.
I truly believe family should be given a choice in these situations.
Katie

I think it is important not to muddy the waters around euthanasia by confusing issues relevant to involuntary euthanasia with those relevant to voluntary euthanasia, eg what is respecting someone's wishes in one case may be denying them in the other.