So I just voted on a referendum here for/against legalising euthanasia. What are my chapos thoughts on the matter?
I’m torn. Not being alive to see through the climate apocalypse or terminal illness sounds pretty good, but this has to exist under capitalism and a healthcare system that’s underfunded.
Disability rights groups always come out against bills like this, and it does seem like it could easily lead to abuse.
Could this lead to less funding for palliative care? Is a young person with non-responsive depression a valid context for euthanasia (wouldn’t be legal yet but has been added to the law in other countries like Belgium)?
Thoughts?
I heard the argument that doctors shouldn't be forced to break an oath by ending people's lives, but upon reading the actual bill it says that the doctor is allowed to not personally deal with the request but they must pass it on to someone who can. In my opinion this is the best possible way of doing it.
I agree.
Also, many doctors don't take the hippocratic oath at all, or take a variant that doesn't have the "first do no harm" wording.
Not to mention that you could very easily interpret "harm" either way philosophically to justify or argue against Euthanasia.
Yes, talking about the NZ law. I'm surprised by how many of my friends who are doctors are against the law, I don't think any who I've spoken to about it (about 8 or so) are for it. Part of me wonders if that's mostly fear of change though as it will be something they have to deal with in their day to day, and changes how their patient interaction will work in a way they're unsure about.