I watched Q&A last night (10th April 2017) and
saw how emotional people got on the subject of
Euthanasia. The Victorian Parliament is to vote
soon on assisted dying laws - for the terminally
ill.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorian-parliament-to-vote-on-assisted-dying-laws-next-year-20161208-gt6t0w.html

How do posters feel about this issue?

I think death is always an emotional issue. In cases where people have power over it even more so. No one wants grandma to suffer excruciating pain but no one wants to choose to let go.
At the end of the day it should never easy.

But also at the end of the day, agency, independence, identity, pursuit of happiness, absolute and total control of our physical selves. All those things we insist upon regarding how we live shouldn't they logically apply to how we die. Where possible, where practical.

I would support voluntary euthanasia, but was staunchly against it when I was a Christian. My justification for being against it was the slippery slope fallacy and the belief that only God could take life (unlike so many Christians, however, I was at least consistent enough to be against the death penalty, too, for the same reason).

A good take down of the arguments against euthanasia can be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3185895.

I think we’re a mature- and a civilized-enough society to implement a voluntary euthanasia program without having to worry about Logan’s Run becoming a reality.

I’m glad Victoria is having a vote on this. I look forward to conservative Queensland doing the same in time for my grandchildren (who won’t be born for some time yet) when they’re old and dying. However, we just got rid of our ‘gay panic’ defence, so it's probably a bit soon yet.

AJ,

If you dont mind me asking (Tell me to piss off of you do) why do you no longer practise the Christian faith?

Hi Zeil, I don't want to risk de-railing the discussion, so I'll link you to an old comment of mine where I gave a short-'n'-sweet version of the story:

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6715#204352

Sorry AJ,

I didn't consider that when I asked and it wasn't my intention.

I'm also sorry about your loss of faith. It must've been really hard for you. As much as we all like to think ourselves original, on many accounts we do what our parents did. We don't want to but the adage 'you learn what you live and live what you learn' is pretty on the nose. Change is hard, especially where something as fundamental as religion is concerned.
I hope the people in your life were and are supportive.