You Don't Know Jack, starring Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian, is on HBO right now. Really interesting. Thoughts on Kevorkian/euthanasia?
Like tobacco executives, prostitutes, drug dealers, he provided a service, gave people what they asked for. No one should ever be punished for engaging in voluntary exchange. I don't know enough about Kevorikian's patients. If they were not of sound mind or did not demonstrate an intent to die, then you could argue murder.
None, but I hope Pacino says "eu-tha-na-sia" or "po-tassium-chlo-ride" in one of those mock half-Southern accents he started using during "Scent of a Woman."
Yeah, but hitmen aren't engaging in voluntary exchange with the person whose life they are ending. Big difference.
So, in the end, the judge's pronouncement was that he is being jailed for breaking the law, not for actually doing something wrong.
Euthanasia should be allowed in limited circumstances. If someone of sound mind decides how and when to end their life when faced with a terminal illness, the state has no good reason to stand in the way of the person's wishes. Surely we can come up with reasonable regulations to allow people to truly express their end of life wishes.
From a legal standpoint, everyone should have the right to die in certain situations. From a moral standpoint, i find it distasteful. I think it cheapens life. Sooner or later with our disposable society and the wonders of tech, we'll probably have the process of killing each other so insulated, there won't be a tear shed when they roll granny onto that soylent green short bus.
terminal illness, then i agree. looking now, but didn't he also use the "death machine" on people that weren't terminal... maybe disfigured? (i could be mistaken).