@McRazz To answer your last question first, it was sparked by a couple of posts re extinction of the human race being not a bad idea overall I'm not aware of having signed any form of a "Contract for Life" at any stage. Just being born (my parents choice after all ) does not entitle me to a right to life above all else. I can understand your father's concerns but I think I covered that when I said that it must be a difficult issue to consider. Don't worry -I haven't forgotten what has occurred previously - indeed what is still occurring today but those situations are somewhat different to what I was arguing for. I'd agree that any legislation can be misused but that doesn't mean to say that it should be dismissed out of hand in the future. I was talking about the UK - I know we moan about our politicians but I don't visualise a mad dictator coming to power - not in the forseeable future anyway. I can't vouch for other countries. I missed the Radio 4 article and I don't have access to BMA research but as for who would administer the final act ? Someone you trust/live with ? ( greedy relatives have been acknowledged ) Doesn't have to be a medical professional if they are unwilling. I believe enabling someone to die is still illegal in the UK and people can be prosecuted for this act. There are people suffering from chronic/acute/debilitating conditions who have said quite openly that they would like the option of when they wish to end life. We all put our own construction on what "life" means to us and we should all be able to make the choice - much as expressing your views on this rather contentious issue. I've run out of 2 pence so had to use a 5 pence
That any of us is here is simply random chance - an egg, a zillion sperm, a split-second in which this or that one is successful. There's no contract in it anywhere because there is no choice.
For me there is a big difference between being alive and living. My best friend died at 43 after spending over 6 months on a ventilator in intensive care. He could do nothing for himself and couldn't even speak to people because of the ventilator. He had been extremely active but had a progressive illness which slowly but surely took away every bit of dignity he had. We all knew he'd had enough but was kept alive until he had a massive heart attack and they couldn't bring him back.
Certainly it would be good for the planet if humans became extinct. We have proven ourselves incapable of using it wisely.
Yes , and thankfully humanity is incredibly distant from other stellar systems ; so we cannot damage any other inhabitable planets . We evolved on this world and are destined to die on it , most likely destroying it interim .
Humans will never EVER reach the stars , so feel a modicum of comfort knowing that !
Other stella systems yes, but countries are fighting over moon and plantery real estate as we speak. Instead of focusing everything on our responsibility to rescue our planet, they are plotting to bog off to other places and wreck them instead.
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I'm not aware of having signed any form of a "Contract for Life" at any stage. Just being born (my parents choice after all ) does not entitle me to a right to life above all else.
I can understand your father's concerns but I think I covered that when I said that it must be a difficult issue to consider.
Don't worry -I haven't forgotten what has occurred previously - indeed what is still occurring today but those situations are somewhat different to what I was arguing for. I'd agree that any legislation can be misused but that doesn't mean to say that it should be dismissed out of hand in the future. I was talking about the UK - I know we moan about our politicians but I don't visualise a mad dictator coming to power - not in the forseeable future anyway. I can't vouch for other countries.
I missed the Radio 4 article and I don't have access to BMA research but as for who would administer the final act ? Someone you trust/live with ? ( greedy relatives have been acknowledged ) Doesn't have to be a medical professional if they are unwilling. I believe enabling someone to die is still illegal in the UK and people can be prosecuted for this act. There are people suffering from chronic/acute/debilitating conditions who have said quite openly that they would like the option of when they wish to end life.
We all put our own construction on what "life" means to us and we should all be able to make the choice - much as expressing your views on this rather contentious issue.
I've run out of 2 pence so had to use a 5 pence
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/flourishing-vegetation-greenland-ice-sheet-alarm-climate-crisis