Euthanasia

You state that "suicide attempters should not be lumped in with the terminally ill." Why not? That's what this is. People who want to kill themselves. You then go on to state that many of those that attempt to kill themselves, don't really want to die, and are just seeking attention. Can the same not be true for those requesting euthanasia? Perhaps it is their way of saying that they don't want to be left alone, or that they want their family to visit them more often? Or even that they want a pack of cigarettes and a six-pack-of-beer. Think of all the people that are healthy that try to kill themselves because they're depressed. Now add on to that, constant pain and the news that they will never leave the hospital bed again. That's enough to make anyone depressed, and it wouldn't be a surprise if a lot of people initially ask to die, rather than face their new reality. It doesn't mean they won't change their mind three weeks down the road when they are able to tolerate the pain, and accept the little time they have left. But under your plan, they won't be alive to come to that realization. It's good you agree that patients should not be coerced into dying for profit and cost cutting. But let's take an example: Let's say Agnes, is a 75-year-old woman in chronic pain with four months left to live. She has full insurance, and her cost of care will be about $200,000 to live out the next four months. She has no family left and drifts in and out of consciousness. Do you think it's possible that the insurance companies will encourage the doctor to encourage her to end her life, and everybody gets a nice little bonus? Who cares, right? She's just an old lady. Where's the harm? Do you think doctors always advocate for the patient's best interest or do you think they sometimes advocate for what's in their best interest? Have you ever heard of doctor's getting bonuses for prescribing certain drugs, or signing patients up for trials? Do you think doctors ever order unnecessary tests because they get extra money? I agree with you. If the people are in constant pain and If there is no way to control the pain and If they are definitely going to die soon and If there is zero chance they would ever change their mind and if they have a clear state of mind and if there is no chance the doctor could encourage them to do this against their wishes and if there is no chance family members would encourage them to do this against their wishes and if there is no chance that someone might falsify their 'intent to die' and if it never goes further than only those people with terminal illnesses and in great pain and if insurance companies don't incentivize doctors to urge their patients to die Then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing. But that's a lot of 'ifs'. But there's so many things that could go wrong. You yourself state "the legal and medical system is not perfect" And that's exactly why euthanasia must not be allowed. If we don't allow euthanasia, the worst thing is someone is hopped up on drugs for a couple weeks before they die. If we do allow euthanasia, the worst thing that happens is people die before they want to, to facilitate other people's greed. The dangers far outweigh the benefits. It seems like a pretty simple choice to me.