I agree in all cases in which pain is unavoidable. There are also instances when pain is not the issue, but the person is vegetative, or has, by the terms of their pre-written Advance Health Directive, reached a point at which their medical condition has become incurable and intolerable.
Something in your answer triggers me to wonder whether you are also including suicide in your definition. I don't agree with suicide when the issue is not about euthanasia, especially when it involves young people or people with dependents -- and this is because of the long-term and devastating effects on those left behind.
I agree, as long as the vet is qualified and uses a clean operating table, then it's all good. Saves the mess of pets dying and doing a messy death poop all over the floor.
Peter singer has an essay on it in his book, "Practical Ethics." It pretty much covers every ethical and legal issue possible. The results are visible in Switzerland and Holland and have prove to work well.
I am guessing you are talking human euthanasia, since animal euthanasia is already a widely accepted practice. Having watched my father-in-law dwindle down to a shell of a man, I am for it. What they don't tell you about dementia, is isn't just the memories you forget. You forget how to function. You forget how to walk. You forget how to swallow. Unless they put a feeding tube in, you starve to death. Then you wait for heart to forget how to beat. I would rather be euthanized than go through that. I would rather my family wouldn't need to watch that.
This post was edited by Gatorblu at December 3, 2016 1:57 PM MST
Know exactly what you mean. I worked in aged care for a number of years and looked after my mother during her last 18 months. Most people honestly have no idea how bad the end is for many, many people. Dementia is one of the worst in what it strips away.
You could do what? If you euthanized someone else, it would be called murder. If you euthanized yourself it would be called suicide. If you wanted a doctor or some other designated medical professional to euthanize you, it would be the doctor who would be "doing it" not you. You said you would "if you had to", but you never HAVE TO. Nobody makes you. It's done with your knowledge and consent.
Nobody deserves to suffer, except a murderer maybe.
So you'd be okay with letting someone suffer in pain for years on end, with no hope of ever recovering, because they weren't capable of making that decision themselves? That sounds awfully cruel and inhumane. Even a dog you put to sleep when it's suffering, but you'd let someone you love live in agony?
Mr. Bromide 