Portuguese parliament initiates debate on legalizing euthanasia

[Person Man]

Euthanasia or assisted suicide?

[Person Man]

Euthanasia or assisted suicide?

Only euthanasia. Assisted suicide will continue to be illegal.

You mean, its not the patient's choice? If so, I'm against it.

[Person Man]

As my views with assisted suicide, if someone understands the procedure, what it means, and gives consent, who are we to deny it to them?

As long as it can be ensured that they are of sound mind when the decision is made, good for them.

Uh, no. It is never moral for a human to end the life of another except in self-defense or to protect the lives of others. (which is why capital punishment for murder, treason, etc. has always been understood to be morally justifiable)

So you find it morally acceptable for someone to deny a dying person's chance to die peacefully and with dignity? Do you find it morally acceptable for someone to allow someone to suffer because of their personal beliefs about what is moral?

There is no dignity in suicide. Only disgrace.

"Dignity" and "Disgrace" are such abstract and suggestive terms, though. It makes it seem that those are just things you don't like.


And then the question is whether one has a right to live or simply an obligation to the Government to stay alive. I think that is a better question.

It also seems to be a cop-out to just say that legalizing Suicide causes people expect people to off themselves. It is not like legalizing abortion has led to more abortions.

I still don't but the argument that where it is now tolerated, it has made right and wrong so complicated that we have a whole bunch of people that we didn't before that can't stay off the streets or out of jail because they don't understand how to live anymore.

[Person Man]

What is wrong with Portugal?  Aren't they Catholic?

Yes, around 80% of the population say they are Catholic but only 20% go to mass regularly. Religion isn't very influential politically nowadays. Yes, they were very important in the past particularly during the Revolution but today, religion is more demotivating than motivating.

For example, in the 2007 abortion referendum the church decided to enter in the campaign and across the country many priests started making sermons about abortion and why voters should vote no. In some places they even gave people flyers against abortion. This infuriated many voters and, as a result, in many conservative areas the Yes vote performed quite well.

So a place can still be religious and still respect a seperation of social institutions?