Euthanasia

I have been watching my Aunt Faye slowly die over the past month in hospice. At times she was lucid, but now she slips deeper and deeper into sleep. It started me thinking of an old debate that still occasionally comes up in our legislative halls. Should we allow those who have passed beyond all hope of recovery choose to die with dignity and intentionally (i.e. through the administration of Nembutal or another barbiturate that overdoses them and allows them to sleep until death)? I believed at one point that this was an unconscionable act that doctors should never even contemplate but now I am not so sure. Our lives, much like our property, belongs and is owned by us and though it may affect others, it still is ours to do with as we please. We have no qualms with allowing people to kill themselves or put themselves in harms way through other means (e.g. cigarettes, alcohol, texting while driving, etc.) but we seem to believe that to allow another to end our life intentionally when we are suffering with no or very little hope of recovery is an act akin to murder. But why? Why are we so intent on this? While it is true that miracles can and do happen, they are not as a matter of course a regular occurrence. And if an adult, in their right mind (not depressed or under the influence) decides that they do not want to continue to suffer, should we not afford them the right to make that decision? Is it not more painful to the family to watch someone slowly die than to allow them the chance to die as they wish? I believe it is. It does not make sense that we refuse to give people complete control of their life (including their death which is a part of every life) yet argue so ardently that life begins at conception and has human rights then. We give the unborn more rights than those who have faithful served their society and only wish to end their life in a manner of their choosing. Of course I do not believe that those who are depressed or are unable to make a rational decision either through drugs or mental illness should be afforded this right, that would be fool-hardy. Yet as I watch my Aunt Faye slowly die before my eyes I can't help but feeling and knowing that this is NOT the way she would have chosen to go if she had another option. For now I must be content to know that as she slips away at least she is not in pain. This, however, is little comfort. What do you think?
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