Euthanasia

[Takun]

So basically everyone on this entire website is mad at me because I expressed my oppinion on the matter that was presented? Why is that? Is it a problem that my oppinion is different? Just because im disagreeing with you in a debate? Thats a bit immature dont you think?

[Hi no Seijin]

Don't listen to JQ in that regard; I'm not mad at you.

[Takun]

Yays!  

[darkphantomime]

On the other hand, JQ, it doesn't make much sense to deny a younger person the right to choose to die if they're going to die anyway.

It's called 'terminally ill', a point that I keep making, but Heriophant is making a case for them NOT being terminally ill.

We're not mad. That type of thinking just doesn't make any sense to anyone but you. So you have to express it on a point where people WILL understand. But again, still doesn't make sense to kill a kid that's not terminally ill.

The point is that some people may eventually get the idea that it's 'ok' to have someone Euthanised for any reason. Which is really why Euthanasia is EXTREMELY controversial.

[Vaati]

In a way, I can see what you're saying. If a kid isn't terminally ill, why kill them if they'll get over it? But what if they're in super, über pain and they'll be like that for a long time? I mean, some people may be able to deal with that. I know I can. The way I see it, is if someone wants to die, they should have the right to die, but they should be required to give it some thought before they actually do. Like how they thought of (or are) making women who are getting abortions to look at their baby through an ultrasound to kind of say "Are you sure you want to kill this baby?". And people called it "blackmail", but it never hurt to think about it.
Going back to Euthanasia...

[Takun]

I just think that like Vaati said, some people might not be able to handle the pain. So maybe theyd like to be uthanised. And I think that anyone should be entitled to this right of death. Not just the old or terminally ill. But I think that they should first understand what exactly uthanasia is.

[darkphantomime]

But would a kid be able to fully and thoroughly understand the concept of being put to death?

Also, a child wouldn't be the one making the decision. A child cannot legally have that type of power, so the decision would fall to the parents, in which case, they probably wouldn't allow that to happen.

[Vaati]

True, if I had a child, I wouldn't want them to die, but sometimes it's the best thing. Parents can had sympathy for their kids and practically feel their pain. If my child was suffering in pain so much and I knew it would last so long that he/she won't be able to take it, I'd euthanize him/her.
Now, if you're talking about a toddler, then maybe. But if they're old enough to understand death and that they'll never be able to come back, then they should be allowed to decide. I learned about death when I was three when my brother died. Some kids may have a clearer idea of death at younger ages.

[Takun]

I agree, some parents would wait it out. Others may want to end the pain that the child feels. Dang it Vaati, you keep saying everything I was going to say! Your invading my mind arnt you! *puts on a tinfoil hat*

[darkphantomime]

There are so many 'if's here. 'if' a child feels great pain, 'if' a child understands death in the same way an adult understands death, 'if' a parent would allow it to happen.

The thing though is that there must be a very specific example. A car accident isn't really that much to go by. If they're in a critical/severe condition, then chances are that they'll die anyway, but who are we to make that decision?

In the end, death will come when it comes. Most of us wouldn't really know how much pain would be 'enough' pain.

And even if we did believe that we're doing the 'right thing' for our kid, a strong sense of doubt would still linger on in the back of our minds.

With a critical/serious condition of health, we shouldn't be the ones to tip that ultimate balance...

Hah, it's funny, I can see it now, a politician approving of this, against the parent's wishes. Saying that 'the child was in enough pain'... How much anger will be spread in such a case! We have no real way of knowing just how much pain is truly 'enough'.

[Vaati]

You never know, a child can mature after a very serious situation. Say my son got his face blown off by a bomb, or he suffered severe burns. And he could recover in, say, a month. But he was in so much pain, he couldn't sleep, and they had to feed him through a tube. If he told me he wanted to die, I'd ask him "Are you absolutely sure? If you die, you can never come back again. Think about it." If he really didn't want to have to go through a month in extreme pain, I'd kill him if he really wanted. Yes, you can never actually tell how much pain a person is in unless it happened to you. But I'd be driven insane if I had to put up with unresistable pain for a long period of time.

[Takun]

I dont except that. The whole, who are we to tip the scale and what not. We are people. We have feelings. We have every right to play god as long as were doing it for a good reason. Life support is the same thing. If its a persons time to go and theyre put on life support to keep them alive, then the doctors are denying the enevitable and "playing god". I think that if someone is in horrible pain then why should we keep them alive for the rest of their life in this pain. Thats no fair and in my oppinion it would be right to "play god" and put them to rest.

[Vaati]

That's what I was saying. If someone really wants to die, then who are we to stop them?

[Commodore Axilon]

Most of the time when someone wants to die, they are mentally unstable, i.e. not in their right mind. That choice is too powerful and final for someone to make on their own.

[darkphantomime]

You never know, a child can mature after a very serious situation. Say my son got his face blown off by a bomb, or he suffered severe burns. And he could recover in, say, a month. But he was in so much pain, he couldn't sleep, and they had to feed him through a tube. If he told me he wanted to die, I'd ask him "Are you absolutely sure? If you die, you can never come back again. Think about it." If he really didn't want to have to go through a month in extreme pain, I'd kill him if he really wanted. Yes, you can never actually tell how much pain a person is in unless it happened to you. But I'd be driven insane if I had to put up with unresistable pain for a long period of time.

Except if you had actually been asked that sort of thing, you'd be extremely upset and disturbed. I mean, you nearly lost your kid to a bomb, do you want to lose him for real?

You guys have no iidea how much a real world situation can change from the hypothesis's we venture in our mind. An experience that we may think turn out 'okay' if we simulate them in our head, would turn to a very traumatic, painful one in real life.