I may need to pull it back a bit to basics. Is "assisted suicide" the same as "do not resussitate" or "taking someone off life support"? Where is the line drawn?
"Assisted suicide" is having someone else perform a positive action that leads directly to your death. It is not the same as having a DNR (do not resuscitate) order, which means "if I'm dying, don't stop me. Let nature take its course." It is not the same as withdrawing your consent to ongoing medical treatment such as artificial respiration or nutrition.
I think people have the right to refuse medical treatment, although there are certainly cases in which it's most appropriate to see psych involved, as when a new quadriplegic says "I'd rather die than live on a respirator - disconnect it." What people don't have the right to do, in my opinion, is ask society to get involved in the business of whose life is worth living and whose life isn't.
no subject
"Assisted suicide" is having someone else perform a positive action that leads directly to your death. It is not the same as having a DNR (do not resuscitate) order, which means "if I'm dying, don't stop me. Let nature take its course." It is not the same as withdrawing your consent to ongoing medical treatment such as artificial respiration or nutrition.
I think people have the right to refuse medical treatment, although there are certainly cases in which it's most appropriate to see psych involved, as when a new quadriplegic says "I'd rather die than live on a respirator - disconnect it." What people don't have the right to do, in my opinion, is ask society to get involved in the business of whose life is worth living and whose life isn't.