[Acrylic-bob]

There seem to be a number of contradictions of logic in some of the arguments put forward so far.

Doug reckons that it is compassionate to put our pets out of their pain and misery because they cannot do it for themselves, but then goes on to say that doing the same thing for a relative who might not be able to help themselves is morally and ethically wrong.

He also argues that all life is a precious gift, which it is, but what value is that gift to the person who is clinically brain-dead and is only kept alive through the actions of Hospital staff and the products of technology? How valuable is that life when the body upon which it is bestowed is no longer aware of it and can make no further use of it?

We are all arguing from a standpoint that bears little resemblance to actuality. Euthanasia may be a criminal offence in this country, but that does not mean that it is not employed in homes and hospitals throughout the country every day of the week by the very same doctors and nurses who publicly claim that they never do and never would! There are even euphemistic phrases employed by the medical profession to describe it. I cannot remember the exact acronym that is appended to a patients notes, something like "NR", which means in effect "take no action to resuscitate this patient". I am sure that Margaret or Lettie would be able to tell us what it is exactly. But that is a form of Assisted Dying; an infraction of the law, whether by commission or, as in this case, omission is still an infraction. And what of the use of increasing amounts of morphine to suppress respiration? Or the over use of powerful anti-coagulent drugs like Heperin? I have seen both used, from the finest of motives; that of bringing death a little quicker and alleviating suffering.

And if you want to bring God into the argument, the Bible tells us that we are each alotted three score years and ten, which would seem to imply that anyone over the age of seventy three shouldn't be alive anyway! The Commandments, quite rightly tell us that it is wrong to kill, but they say nothing about helping someone to die. They do however make rather a big deal about love, respect and being obedient to the will of our elders.