Should euthanasian for everybody be legalized?

[Torie]

The rap against euthanasia is the risk that the right to die will morph over time into the duty to die. A law professor at the University of Michigan, wrote a famous article about that in the 1970's, entitled something along the lines of The Non-Religious Case Against Euthanasia. I found it pretty persuasive. So for the moment, I would legalize the big E for the terminally ill only, with the terminal bit signed off on by a court. Also, some folks contemplate suicide when clinically depressed or psychotic, or both, and those conditions can be mitigated, so the impulse is but temporary. E should not be legalized for that in my opinion.

[Sewer]

The rap against euthanasia is the risk that the right to die will morph over time into the duty to die.

duty to die?

[Earth]

It should.

If someone really wants to die, it should be allowed.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The rap against euthanasia is the risk that the right to die will morph over time into the duty to die.

duty to die?

Meaning if you're sick and a drain on the health care community with no realistic  hope of recovery, doctors will push people to it...  At least that's what I think Torie meant.

[John Dibble]

Yes. For terminally ill patients or those in chronic pain they should be able to get it easily, though for people who are simply depressed or possibly suffering from some sort of temporary condition I think some period of counseling should be required first. (if they are willing to go through the counseling instead of just offing themselves in another manner then they obviously have some sort of will to live, so I think this step is reasonable)

[phk]

Only if their ability to judge isn't clouded by depression.

[RosettaStoned]

Absolutely.