Euthanasia & physician assisted suicide (pas).

Euthanasia & Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS).
All sides to the issue.
Quotations:
"Whose life is it, anyway?" A plea by the late Sue Rodrigues, a high-profile, terminally-ill resident of British Columbia, Canada, who suffered from ALS. 1 She was helped to commit suicide by a physician in violation of Canadian law in the presence of a Member of Parliament. Neither the doctor nor the MP wereprosecuted.
"We are disappointed at the decision. The president remains fully committed to building a culture of life ... that is built on valuing life at all stages." White House spokesman Scott McClellan speaking for President George W. Bush, responding to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2006-JAN which found the Oregon physician assisted suicide legislation to be constitutional. 2
"Theright to a good death is a basic human freedom. The[2006-JAN] Supreme Court's decision to uphold aid in dying allows us to view and act on death as a dignified moral and godly choice for those suffering with terminal illnesses." John Shelby Spong, retired bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA. 3

Overview:
Throughout North America, committing suicide or attempting to commit suicide is no longer acriminal offense. However, helping another person commit suicide is generally considered a criminal act. Three exceptions are the states of:
Oregon which, since 1997, has allowed people who are terminally ill, in intractable pain, and not depressed to obtain a lethal prescription from their physician which they may decide to consume and end their chronic suffering. This is called "PhysicianAssisted Suicide" or PAS.
Washington voters passed Initiative 1000 in 2008-NOV. Supporters call it a "Death with Dignity bill;" opponents call it an "Assisted Suicide" measure. Both are accurate descriptions. It is simlilar to the Oregon law.
Montana's Montana Supreme Court legalized PAS in a decision handed down on 2009-DEC-31. Unfortunately, it does not have the system of safeguards in place thatthe laws in Oregon and Washington have

There were four failed ballot initiatives between 1991 and 2000:
1991: Washington state: defeated narrowly 54% to 46%
1992: California: Defeated narrowly 54% to 46%
1998: Michigan: Defeated overwhelmingly 71% to 29%

1998: Michigan: Defeated overwhelmingly 71% to 29%
2000: Maine: Defeated very narrowly 51% to 49%.

Between 1994 and 2010, therehave been in excess of 75 legislative bills to legalize PAS in at least 21 states. All failed to become law. 4

should a person:
 Who is terminally ill, and

 Who feels that their life is not worth living because of intractable pain, and/or loss of dignity, and/or loss of capability and

 Who repeatedly and actively asks for help in committing suicide and

 Who is of sound mind andnot suffering from depression

be allowed to request and receive assistance in dying?

Ultimately, euthanasia is a question of choice: whether to empower people to have control over their own bodies. As of 2010, unless a person lives in Colombia, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Albania or Thailand, or in the U.S. states of Montana, Oregon, or Washington, the only lawfuloption is to remain alive, sometimes in intractable pain, until their body finally collapses.
The main opposition comes from some:
 Conservative religious groups. They are often the same organizations which oppose access to abortion, same-sex marriage, equal rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered persons and transsexuals (LGBT), etc.
 Medical associations whose members arededicated to saving and extending life, and feel uncomfortable helping people end their lives.
 Groups concerned with disabilities, who fear that euthanasia is the first step towards a society that will kill disabled people against their will.

Ethical aspects of PAS:
Some considerations:
 Some terminally ill patients are in intractable pain and/or experience an intolerably poor quality of...