Abortion is fine but euthanasia isn't??

[Mommabear20]

With all the discussion on abortion at the moment, and the clear view from the majority is people that they're a good thing, AIBU to wonder why we still don't allow for legal euthanasia of terminally ill people in this country (England)?

My personal view on abortion is that is a terrible practise that makes me terrible sad to think about and a resource I would never use, BUT that it should be legal for woman whose views differ to mine, to allow them to make their own decisions about their bodies and lives.

It baffles me then, to think that while we are fighting for woman's rights on this subject, that we aren't also fighting for the rights of every person who is or will suffer terribly as a result of terminal illnesses, not to mention the trauma for their families who have to watch them deteriorate in health knowing that it's only going to get worse and often times won't get to be there with them at the end.

Would you be in agreement to make euthanasia legal?

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. With support people can pass through the crisis and continue with their lives.

The dying with dignity petition is online for anyone who wants to support the case.

I support both abortion and euthanasia.

But most of all I would like to see a RADICAL reprioritisation towards enabling people to live healthy lives.

• jobs within walking distance of homes (including remote working hubs, served by local food services etc), a general decentralisation of infrastructure
• a ban on ultra processed foods
• a reduction of the standard working hours to enable greater time to live healthily

... Etc.

Modern life is staggeringly unconducive to healthy living, and the fixes are so simple. Give people time, money, and destress their lives so that they can live them better. Don't put them on the treadmill and churn through until a miserable, underfunded end.

I agree that euthanasia should be legal, but using the abortion argument to support it is not right. The two are different.

Like other posters have said you are comparing apples and oranges. Abortion is nothing like euthanasia. I'm not against euthanasia is certain circumstances but there are no commonalities between euthanasia and abortion.

I think probably euthanasia should be allowed in certain circs but there are complications with capacity that would make legislation so so difficult. Could someone be coerced into it? How can we truly judge capacity for someone’s understanding especially given that when people are at the point of considering euthanasia they must already be on the path to ill health which would affect their capacity certainly in cases of illness such as dementia?

Not really the same as abortion at all. It’s not ending a life because that life hasn’t started yet and not that complicated to legislate as long as you don’t view women as

1. lesser beings unable to make decisions about their body and lives
2. vessels

Agree with @thecatsthecats about enabling people to lead healthy lives and have shorter working hours.

My fundamental concern with euthanasia is a slippery slope and people feeling pressurised or coerced into expressing a wish. I'm worth a lot dead (value of my estate were I to die shortly) and others probably more.

While I'm in favour of allowing both, abortion and euthanasia aren't equivalent. One of the arguments against euthanasia is that it could put fear into the minds of people who understand it as a possibility ahead of them. A baby doesn't have the understanding to be afraid.

I'm pro choice and I also agree with euthanasia provided there are safeguards.

What I find odd are the people (normally men IME) who completely disagree with abortion but pay no mind to how those children will then be fed,educated etc. Complete hypocrisy in my view and shows that their views are based on control rather than concern for rights of the child.

I support euthanasia. I work in care and people can have years and years not knowing who/where/when they are.

However I'd want really strict measures in place. The amount of vultures who descend when someone has passed away who I've cared for for years yet never seen this family member who has come with their hand stretched out is disgusting. One lady had had nothing to do with her sister for decades. As soon as she passed away said sister came to collect anything valuable and we had to let her. I will admit I didn't help and just let her struggle carrying the items out.

I think it's the trauma for those that find them. Sometimes the lack of answers. If there was a process. And a place. That wouldn't leave a child to find their parent bled out in the bath or hanging somewhere.

And obviously, sometimes changes could be made to someone life which would mean they would then choose life.

In theory, I do agree. In practise, I'm worried about exploitative, inheritance-ready families pushing people who don't really want to. I'm also worried that once assisted dying becomes a choice, so does the decision not to do it...and some people may think their families are better off with them dead. Inheritance and so on.

I'm open to being persuaded otherwise. If these situations weren't a risk, I'd be very much in favour.

This

Until about the 4th month the fetus doesn't even have a working brain! And also we're asking a person (the mother) to give her body to another person (the baby) possibly against her consent. This is illegal in any other situation, I think it's called body autonomy (you can't take my kidney even if it would save your life).

no

This. There are many complications with euthanasia that are not the same with abortion. You can't really compare these two things.

With euthanasia there need to be considerations around elderly/ very ill people who do not have capacity to consent potentially being taken advantage of by those who stand to benefit from their death (e.g. inheritance).

Absolutely I would. I want the right to choose my time to go. It is inhumane to force people to suffer in a way that if you did it to your pet, the rspca would take legal action.

And we force people to suffer because ... they are more important

if my cat has cancer and faces an agonising death - Put her to sleep.
if I have cancer and face an agonising death - make me live every second of it until my body finally shuts down.

I don't know about anyone else but that doesn't feel like humans are 'more important'

It has its roots in religion I believe which is even more infuriating. I don't want other people's religion to dictate MY life.

@WindowsSmindows I don't particularly agree with your argument. Very very often suicidal people wish they could be helped. There's literally no options. That's not the same as most physical illness. Even at the end of life, there are hospices designed to keep people as comfortable as possible. There is no such thing for people suffering day in and day out. So many people are suicidal because of financial difficulty.
My brother killed himself at 19. He didn't have depression, he got himself into a really scary situation and felt there was no other way out. It was either that or someone kills him.
I would suggest you educate yourself on suicide before comparing it to euthanasia. For what it's worth, I completely support euthanasia if people want it. I think it's disgusting how we've managed to get medicine to the point where we keep people alive, not much beyond that.

I think euthanasia should be legalised but I recognise the murkiness around pressure being exerted on vulnerable people and I’m not sure how to manage that aspect.

Suicide and euthanasia are not the same and this argument is very upsetting to those, who wish for the latter. My slow demise, which started when I was about 40 has been excruciating. Maybe one day I will be in the position of wanting to end it. Yet there are people, who think they know better having never experienced such poor health and a distinctly reduced quality of life, who thin they have the right to tell me not to.

Forced pregnancy is equally devastating. There will be pregnant women with such poor mental health in the US attempting suicide now or in the near future. I am thinking they may end up being sent to prison if they don’t succeed. I have read in some states it is now illegal to cross county lines to have an abortion and the women could be tried for murder. For some, especially impoverished women, this will be the only way out.

I'm pro-choice and pro-euthanasia. I'm a member of the dignity in dying movement linked to above. Join us OP!

www.dignityindying.org.uk/

This.

A lot of people who kill themselves do so because they have a treatable, mental illness. If euthanasia were made legal, there would have to be proper channels, and treatments to go through, and assessments to make sure the individual is of sound mind.

I just want to say, I completely get that they are different, but I think it's close enough to say if we can have 1, the other should also be an option.

I would want strict guidelines around it, and I'd personally have stricter rules on abortion, but as many have said, if we can offer a peaceful end to animals, why not humans?

I'm not currently a member of an organisation fighting for it to be legal but now I know there are some, I'll definitely be looking into joining one!

women need to start taking more responsibility and not getting themselves in the sotuation of pregnancy if they do not want a child.

SO it's just the woman's responsibility to ensure she doesn't get pregnant? How about more men taking more responsibility?

I'm pro euthanasia. Obviously with strict criteria in place.

They have one issue in common which is the ‘sanctity of life’ question. Those who believe in absolute sanctity of life from conception to death presumably share a common view of abortion and euthanasia in the same moral terms and any circumstances or qualifications to that are irrelevant.

For many / most people it is the nuances and pragmatics, and / or the ethics of bodily autonomy that count.

For me, bodily autonomy is absolute. A woman must have dominion over what or does not happen in her body. An adult with capacity has absolute autonomy over their wish to preserve their life or call it a day.

Many disabled people see euthanasia as a threat: thin end of the wedge towards euthanasia for disabled babies, and others making decisions about ‘quality of life’ where it is not perceived to match able bodied.

Lots if legal issues to consider.

And anticipating the next question: I am 100% against state execution / capital punishment. But would vote for life prisoners being able to choose to euthanase themselves.