Euthanasia, a hot topic in Italy

[Denur]

In Italy a hot debate has erupted about a 17 years comatized woman on whom her family want to commit euthanasia:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2009/02/03/8244126-ap.html

I am not a religious person, nor do I consider myself an atheist. I just do not feel linked to any religion (Catholic, Baptist, whatever). But I do have a feeling about right and wrong. For example, I do feel that it is alright for a raped woman/girl to have an abortion, but I do oppose to abortions that are done because of mere inconvenience.

I have similar feeling about euthanasia: I will support a person who desires to leave our world when the pain is too much and cannot be helped anymore (also mentally), but I oppose euthanasia when the person requests it because he/she does not want to be a burden on the family anymore (to me that is murder), e.g. when he or she realizes that dementia is kicking in. (On a personal note, my mother wants to be put to death at the first sign of dementia - her mother had it in a horrible way).

This case in Italy is about a woman who has been comatized for a very, very long time, without any hope to come to life anymore. I support her family in their wish to let her go to the next life and just stop any medical support (in other words, let nature take its course). But the Catholic church is not supportive at all. To them taking her of life support is like murder, while to other Christian believes, putting someone on life support is a crime against Gods design/wishes whatever.

Maybe someone can enlighten me on this issue.

 

[Danoff]

I prefer to have a principled position on issues rather than basing my opinion on how the issue strikes me.

In principle:

Human rights dictate that we are to be free from force provided that we recognize the rights of others. Since no one but you has a right to your life, there is no principled reason you should not be able to take your own life.

However...

I can see a religious reason for making suicide against the rules. Religion promises many great things in death: no pain, face time with everyone you ever loved, perfect judgement, pure bliss, eternal existence, all questions you've ever had answered an explained... basically a shopping list of everything you might want.

If you believed that was the case, you'd be in a big hurry to get there. Gotta put a "no suicide" clause in to make sure you don't jump the gun.

 

[Denur]

I think you mist one part here. This person has no freedom, she had been comatized for a very long time. Only her family can claim any freedom on her life (and her church, or so they claim).

 

[homeforsummer]

In this situation: It's not going to be an easy decision for the family to make as it is, so at least let them make the decision without having to be hassled by a religious group. Imagine having to let go of someone you love, how difficult that must be... and then have to hear a collection of people with no business in the matter at all go "oh, you shouldn't do that, it's morally wrong".

Just to summate, here are my views on a few hot topics, in a nutshell:

- Abortion - completely up to the mother (and nobody else) as long as she's not deciding very late and the kid is a kid and not just a collection of cells/very early foetus. Nobody elses business otherwise. Also acceptable if having the child will result in the death of the mother for any reason, but at the same time I can completely understand if the mother is prepared to die to give their child a chance at life. Also, completely acceptable if the mother has been raped, for example.

- Euthanasia - again, I agree with it in situations such as the above. If the person is in a coma from which they will likely never recover and they have no further chance at life, and if it's causing pain to their entire family, then it's just. If the person themselves, in right mind, say that they wish to live no longer, then that's acceptable for me too. I disagree with euthanasia if it's either enforced for whatever reason, or if someone has made the decision when the subject is still of right mind and capable of making their own decision on the matter.

 

[wfooshee]

I'm not sure removing life support even qualifies as euthanasia here. If machinery is required to maintain functioning cellular life yet no active intelligence is present, and furthermore removal of the machinery would result in the cessation of active cellular life, then to me, the person is already dead.

My dad has a living will limiting mechanical life support to 30 days. I urge you all to consider something similar for yourselves if your law allows. Otherwise the dilemma your family faces will be such as this Italian family faces now.

I don't think removing life support and letting nature run its course is euthanasia in the same sense that actually drugging a patient (with death as the intended result) would be.

 

[Denur]

She has passed away already, before the italian government could pass an emergency law to put her on life support again. Rest in peace. You deserve it, and so does your family.

 

[Omnis]

Shame, but RIP, lady.

I don't support euthanasia. I could not pull the plug. I just don't feel like that is a decision for me to make. First, do no harm.