Quote Originally Posted by Ozme52 View Post
Bringing religion into the conversation makes it about religion and not ethics.
It's about religion for the patient, perhaps, but not for the doctors or family. For them it's ethics.

But in that context.. it's an easy answer. "Thou Shalt Not Kill"
Except that the accepted translation is, "Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder". Killing is quite acceptable, given the proper justification.

So, is euthanasia just another name for murder, or is it justified?
A very difficult question. An unexpected and sudden debilitating event. I don't have a good answer for you. I just don't know.
That's the best answer anyone could give. I don't know either. Unless one is actually in the position where he has to make such a decision, I don't think anyone can know.

I'd be much happier with a change to the law first, and then identifying the circumstances under which direct assistance is allowed.
I could agree with that. As long as lawmakers alone are not the one's setting the guidelines. Doctors, nurses, patient advocates, should all be involved. Perhaps lawyers in an advisory capacity, but that's about it.