Dr. Jack Kevorkian,m who recently passed away on June 3rd, 2011 (May be rest in peace) was a "...Michigan pathologist who put assisted suicide on the world's medical ethics stage.." He admitted to assisting to over 130 suicides. He actually even served jail time for second degree murder charges. He was tried and convicted for "Voluntary Euthanasia" for the death of a man names Thomas Youk (not his only trial but one that gave him 10-25 yrs). Youk was in the final stages of "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" so he contacted Dr. Kevorkian and they ended his life. Youk was obviously terminally ill and he chose to end his life this way.
So, I ask, What if a person is terminally ill like Youk and frankly can no longer stand the pain he bare on daily basis. They are to the point in which they feel death would honesty be the best choice but sure you may argue since they're dying anyways why not let the illness take it's course? But, in a different perspective: Just as people choose to put their beloved pets (not saying people are animals or disposable and pet euthanasia is another interesting topic) "to sleep" to prevent them from more pain and agony why can't a person with excruciating pain be allowed the same right?
Besides at this point people would only be taking medication to ease the pain (if they're further into the disease) or medication to try and control different issues appearing with said illness. We know the chemicals in medication can have harsh reactions typically helping with one or 2 symptoms plus and causing different symptoms or even weaknesses in other organs, typically kidneys and liver but not limited to. And once the illness has taken a course where the doctors have nothing left to do, there are pain medications (or there is where Legalization would actually come in handy for a person who just has nothing left "Medical Marijuana" -another topic but can be applied)
Suicide has always been deemed a negative -is it really that bad or is it just a fear people obtain for the people who opt out and loosing their opportunity of making it to "heaven"? The dealing with death is always an issue with morality especially those who seem to have the power to control or have a direct impact like let's say Abortion (Pro-life, Pro-choice) and Death Penalty which the controversy when the term "murder" comes into play. But it is really? And, the main reason for everybody to judge is because everybody has a point of view especially those viewing from the outside in, the bystanders (and we know how opinionated we all are).
Of course, there is also the issue with family that is/will be affected. As a family member, it would be painful to watch someone close (Mom, Dad, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, etc) pass away but is the funeral more painful of their loss? Can it be more painful as a family member to see them suffer more and more on daily basis? Keep in mind the fact that you will never know the how it feels like being in their shoes or feel the pain that intensifies on daily basis. But, who is really being selfish: The person who wants to end their pain or the people who do not understand the illness at hand and prefer the family member to live with it until the end?
Should family have a right to intervene (of course we're talking about adult: not kids;they can be a different subject added, and so can the mentally challenge) or can it be like the Pro-choice argument of "my body, my choice" I'll do with it as I please?
And, if we decide to cop-out early, should the Physician have to pay for "a crime" like Dr.Kevorkian, who only completed the wishes of his patients OR should he be free of accountability especially if the patient signed the waivers to allow him to terminate his life? (Should these form documents be legally binding?)
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