Ending Lives
I've come to see euthanasia as a mercy when quality of life is in the negative and chances of improvement are likewise. I've seen enough of suffering to convince me that too much pain for too long can make life a hell that's not worth living. I'm also coming to appreciate that we all have different philosophies of life and different thresholds of what we find bearable. Unfortunately, animals can't tell us clearly if they're done with fighting, but fortunately, there is a way to ensure they aren't feeling tortured for long. Still, making that choice for anyone is a grave responsibility. Being there to put my former neighbor's cat to sleep (the first time I really saw it in action) helped me to see that interminable suffering doesn't have to be allowed, and that death can be a gift given in the spirit of love.
I struggle with euthanasia because I value the people involved. Having to put our kitty boy to sleep broke me because if we'd had a lot of money, we might have been able to save him. He still looked healthy and was so lovingly responsive (although his tests showed he was half-way down the drain), and I so wanted to give him every fighting chance to stay with us. I hated having to throw in the towel simply because it was too expensive to continue, and the routes they offered may not have done any good (neither plan seemed like it would figure out what all was going so wrong; both seemed like more expensive pit-stops on the way to even more procedures, and he'd already been through enough). Speaking the words and signing the paper felt like a betrayal of him and of myself, but I loved him too much to bring him home to suffer until he passed.
Some of my key concerns for euthanasia in humans are if it's fully willing and real chances have been offered to help them live better lives but failed. If someone is in grave pain, won't recover, and wants out, who am I to demand they fight for an unbearable existence? They can speak for themself, and we have measures to bring quick release. I can't bring myself to condemn someone to live a life they despise when chances for improvement are nil, rather the same way that I can't bear to demand that women be trapped into pregnancies they don't want. One's agency over one's own condition and being is sacred. That being said, if there are good chances for better times, I'd want to see other avenues explored before the final one (just as I'd like women to get real support so they can afford to continue their pregnancies, if they want to). Death is so very final, and we deserve real aid in desperate times.
What might seem unbearable now might not be so forever, so I'd like to see folks get all the support possible before making a final choice that can't be undone. Particularly when it comes to mental and emotional agony, I feel like folks should be supported and encouraged to hold off on choosing euthanasia or suicide. They should get the support they need to see if they can heal; it's the least a society should offer, if indeed all of us have value. While I'd rather not work against someone's wishes for their own life, my key concern is this: our perspective is easily skewed out of balance, and amazing recoveries happen all the time. Our experience of internal anguish can be out of touch with our real chances and feel overwhelming and unending so quickly. Our feelings can't be measured or treated as easily as our bodily functions can be, so it can take more work. But I've seen people endure many hells and come out well and glad to be here.
I suppose that ultimately I want anyone who wishes for death to have every fighting chance to feel better and to be fully informed of their true situation and chances for recovery before making the final choice.