The Right to die.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Yes they do. Actually, I was thinking about hospice when I made the comments about other types of medical professionals.

FWIW, none of the friends I have who work or have worked for hospice would call themselves "medical professionals" . . . except, of course, for the ones who are doctors or nurses (and therefore bound by medical ethics).

Originally Posted by AGDee

One could argue that you are doing harm, mental anguish type harm, to someone by forcing them to die a slow, painful and struggling death when a little bit of morphine could hasten the process and keep them peaceful simultaneously. The line between "keeping them comfortable" and killing them is very very fine.

It is, and maybe we're getting into areas of grey here. At least accoring to the Wiki (hey, why not), what you describe is called "passive euthanasia."

Euthanasia may be conducted passively, non-aggressively, and aggressively. Passive euthanasia entails the withholding of common treatments (such as antibiotics, pain medications, or surgery) or the distribution of a medication (such as morphine) to relieve pain, knowing that it may also result in death (principle of double effect). Passive euthanasia is the most accepted form, and it is a common practice in most hospitals. Non-aggressive euthanasia entails the withdrawing of life support and is more controversial. Aggressive euthanasia entails the use of lethal substances or forces to kill and is the most controversial means.

The Wiki on Physician Assisted Suicide.

I think that this is quite different from "aggressive euthanasia," which is what I, at least, think of when I hear "physician assisted suicide" -- a terminally ill patient, who by law usually must be of sound mind, makes a conscious decision to commit suicide before the illness puts them in what they consider an untenable quality of life situation and seeks out the help of a physician or medical professional to carry out the suicide painlessly and quickly. It's this later practice I have a problem with.

The Wiki also describes the Principle of double effect here; the description is quite in line with what AOII Angel said above.