Should euthanasia or assisted suicide be legal?

16 Feb 2012
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A man has been jailed in Queensland for assisting an elderly acquaintance to commit suicide, in the first case of its kind for the state.

Euthanasia refers to one person (usually a doctor) actively ending the life of a patient with their consent. Assisted suicide occurs when a patient is supplied with the means to end their life, but initiates the procedure themselves.

Do you think it should be legal?

If you are suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or access its online chat service, or call BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636.

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There is no doubt

HelTak - from Melbourne, 1 month

I absolutely support the personal choice of a human who is able to think for themselves but sadly their body cannot function to make their own independent CHOICE to live on earth or not. Why is if ok for someone to make another live just for the sake of the law? Just something to think about...

life

pete - from perth, 2 months ago

My mother cannot walk speak and is in the fetal position and doesn't move, gets bed sores and has senile dementia, The state keeps her alive on some kind of goo that gets spoon fed to her. Now and again she opens her eyes but says nothing, A person trapped in a body that is useless but they keep her alive because of some reason I don't know why.

obsolete question

phw - from canberra, 2 months ago

The fact that we need to discuss this question at all shows how far from "civilized" we really are. When will legislators start ignoring legions of ponitificating hippocrates who harbour the arrogant presumption they are chosen to tell everyone else how to live - or to die.

Just No

Jakob - from Sydney, 2 months ago

No to euthanasia due to many ethical and religious reasons and that it can be abused greatly by those with evil intent The call line linked in the article should be called by those who think this way and be treated with the help they need Every life is precious those who are thinking this way should be treated with respect and be pushed to live rather then die

Individual choice

KuhLiz - from WA, 3 months ago

I believe each individual person has ownership of their own life, and if suffering from terminal or chronic illness with no hope of recovery, they should be able to give instructions for assisted suicide.

@Simon Moragan ----Really?

Clavdivs - from Sydney, 3 months ago

"I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect."- Hippocrates. I don't know about religious dogma either. Don't seem to recall what religion Hippocrates was, if he was a Christian he was certainly ahead of his time.

compulsory

geo - from gold coast , 3 months ago

Euthanasia should be compulsory for certain sectors, and age should be no barrier. . .I would start with the current government, and they should do something original for them and that is lead from the top. I know that it is making light of a very serious subject for which I apologise, and I have posted my inner thoughts on this website, but the above could bring us back into surplus again in half the time labour are claiming to do it.

@Clavdivs

Simon Morgan - from Sydney, 3 months ago

The hippocratic oath has absolutely nothing to do with keeping patients alive at all costs. It is to treat the ill to the best of ones ability. There is no conflict of interest here. There is only the conflict between sensible human beings and religious dogma.

Professionals body chasers

michael - from rosebud, 3 months ago

You gotta feel sorry for the high paid specialists, health professionals and pharma companies if euthanasia goes ahead. The least thing thing up for grabs is what ME the individual wants.

absolutely no question about it

V Saliba - from Coaldale, 3 months ago

YES, YES and YES !

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