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"One has observed life poorly, if one has not also witnessed the hand that mercifully kills."
Fredrich Nietzsche

I wouldn't try tossing this topic around at the 4th of July party. The world has seen very few topics incite such opposite polar reactions as this. Abortion may be it's only worthy opponent. Euthanasia has no middle ground and you'll get no wishy washy "I don't have an opinion one way or the other" answer here. Everyone has an opinion and they are strong, with conviction supplying fuel for the fire. Whether moral, legal, or religious euthanasia is a topic brimming with conviction. Leaving both sides of the fence convinced they are right.

When translated from the Greek Euthanasia leaves us with a "good death". On the surface it appears to be a reasonable and rational desire. If nature were to give us the option, who in their right mind is going to say "No, I'll take the completely horrible death package over there on isle three instead."? The "good" death would be the way to go right? Unfortunately nature offers no such options. As humans we try to manipulate nature hoping to coax her towards the good death. With the advent of more advanced medical treatments and technology we have become a race capable of outsmarting nature for a good long time. We vaccinate, radiate and obliterate anything standing between us and our well being. Surgery can be preformed on a fetus; we can clone a sheep for God sakes! You can have your eyes, your teeth and an ultrasound all done at the mall. Bodies are acronymically scanned routinely and what can't be cured can be treated. Yet despite all of our efforts we or someone we love will come up short. Given the fact we are resourceful creatures when faced with the bad death option we have found a few ways around this as well.

Euthanasia has in more modern times become generally accepted as the purposeful ending of the life of another at that person's request. It is also generally accepted such death will be merciful and painless. Euthanasia is by no means a modern concept. History is steeped in it, with many accounts being anything but merciful or painless. Ritualistic suicide for the preservation of honor or the giving of drugs to hasten death was not an uncommon practice in the ancient world. Dig around in any culture and you will find references to such practices. Regardless of ancient vs. modern the debate hasn't evolved much and in some cases neither have the practices.

Some opponents of Euthanasia

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