Why is suicide illegal? Why can’t you have your life support turned off if you want to die? These are two things I don’t understand. Recently, a judge in Italy turned down a man’s request to have his respirator turned off. What the hell? Isn’t that a conscience choice that we should all have. Let’s breach the subject of euthanasia.

 

It seems really ridiculous. Why do people feel the need to keep people alive against their wishes, especially complete strangers. The case in Italy for example. The guy is suffering. He doesn’t want to be hooked up to machines. Yet, the government and doctors are forcing him to remain connected. How is it possible that other people have that choice over our own lives. If a person has the capability to make the decision to say “Hey, my life sucks, I’m not getting better, take these fucking tubes out of my lungs.” Then damn it, take the tubes out and let them die. It is their choice. And if the patient in question isn’t able to make a decision then the closest relative or a appropriately chosen person should make the decision. Not the government and not religion.

 

A lot of religious rights activists argue that euthanasia goes against what their god(s) wants. Well then when they are dying, they can suffer, but don’t try to push your antiquated supernatural beliefs on others. They claim to believe in free will, but it only applies when it supports their own belief system. Without death, I think it is pretty safe to say that religion wouldn’t even exist.

 

Religious naivety aside ( I could go on forever), when someone is kept alive against their will, it causes a burden on society. Resources are allocated, money is spent, drama is prolonged, etc...These resources should be going to people who want to live and are capable of having a decent quality of life. And the person dying might not be the only one suffering. What about the family that has to watch someone die slowly and painfully? Instead of dying in a day or a week, it might take a year or longer. And why? So the person can be miserable?