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Ageing Population and the Euthanasia Solution

William Hung

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I once told @Nihonjin1051 that it will soon be common for the elderly people in Japan to take their own life when they feel they've become too much of a burden to society, as it was once a tradition for some segment of Japanese society.

Nihonjin thought I was trolling, but I was telling the truth. A senior Japanese politician even recently publicly supported the idea:

Top Japanese Official Urges Elderly to 'Hurry Up and Die' - ABC News

'Old people should hurry up and die', says Japan deputy leader - Telegraph

That was only an opinion of one politician though. A more telling sign is that one of the prominent Japanese News site has just published an article from a pro-euthanasia philosopher:

Choosing death when loss of self is imminent | The Japan Times

It is plausible that Japan will endorse and promote euthanasia to address their ageing demographic in the future. It is possible that euthanasia might become a popular option in China too, especially when modern medicine makes the process smooth and painless. I doubt it will be popular in South Korea due to Christian lobby group.

So, is there anything wrong with euthanasia?

Edit: Ah, I forgot to mention Singapore, another ageing country. But there are probably some anti-euthanasia Christian lobby groups in Singapore as well. @Lux de Veritas
 
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Because?

You can't deny those links. Why did the Japan Times published that article out of the blue? Peter Singer is one of the most pro-euthanasia professor around.

And why are you so concerned about Japanese issues? :coffee:

ばかなこと言うなよ.
 
You can't deny those links. Why did the Japan Times published that article out of the blue?

One politician's opinion is not government policy, in addition, Aso is known for making insensitive comments on public issues.


Peter Singer is one of the most pro-euthanasia professor around.

And this has any relevance because? If you should know, even in the United States and the West, euthanasia is consigned to fringe groups , and is illegal in most of the United States, with only very select few states that support it. Japan, a conservative society, would never agree to such a program.
 
Why is it illegal/immoral for someone to choose if he wants to die?
 
Why is it illegal/immoral for someone to choose if he wants to die?

"This article examines Buddhist and Christian perspectives on euthanasia and finds that in spite of their cultural and theological differences both oppose it for broadly similar reasons. Both traditions reject consequentialist patterns of justification and espouse a 'sanctity of life' position which precludes the intentional destruction of human life by act or omission."

Killing, karma and caring: euthanasia in Buddhism and Christianity. -- Keown and Keown 21 (5): 265 -- Journal of Medical Ethics
 
Why is it illegal/immoral for someone to choose if he wants to die?
That my friend is the question that i also want answer to, almost every year I hear news in US where someone suffering from cancer wants to end their life, but can't because of law. Even when they are going through so much suffering and pain. There was also this case couple of year ago where a doctor helped a cancer patient who took his life because he couldn't bare the pain anymore. The doctor was charged by police, not sure what happened to him. But I believe if someone is truly suffering, and there is no possibility of them recovering or living a proper life without pain and suffering then they should be allowed to have the choice to end their lives instead live in misery.
 
One politician's opinion is not government policy, in addition, Aso is known for making insensitive comments on public issues.

I already said it was one comment.


And this has any relevance because?

Why are you asking if it's relevance to what? I'm simply stating that he is very pro-euthanasia for those who doesn't know. Why did the Japan Times published his article out of the blue? Surely someone from there thought his idea is interesting and worthy of publishing. And everyone know News site is a significant media used to shape public opinion.

If you should know, even in the United States and the West, euthanasia is consigned to fringe groups , and is illegal in most of the United States, with only very select few states that support it.

That's because the US has strong Christian lobby groups and euthanasia is immoral for most Christian denomination. The anti-euthanasia stance is primarily religious motivated.

Does Japan have any significant Christian population? No.

Japan, a conservative society, would never agree to such a program.

1. This sort of things once existed in the past in some segment of Japanese society. I don't know how the "we're conservative" argument would help.

2. What about the Hara-Kiri, Sepuku culture that some Japanese people are proud of?

3. Japanese suicide rates is already one of the highest in the world, so don't pretend that euthanasia would be absurd in the Japanese society.
 
Religion? Really? Think of a bedridden patient, like Million dollar baby, or a cancer patient on death bed passing each day as if in hell. What good is life for them? Why is it illegal for them to get away from their suffering?

That my friend is the question that i also want answer to, almost every year I hear news in US where someone suffering from cancer wants to end their life, but can't because of law. Even when they are going through so much suffering and pain. There was also this case couple of year ago where a doctor helped a cancer patient who took his life because he couldn't bare the pain anymore. The doctor was charged by police, not sure what happened to him. But I believe if someone is truly suffering, and there is no possibility of them recovering or living a proper life without pain and suffering then they should be allowed to have the choice to end their lives instead live in misery.

In the case of terminally ill patients, hospice medical care provides the necessary care, as well as posits patients with dignity until death. The infusion of incremental doses of morphine renders pain nill, and will eventually lead to respiratory and neurophsyiological collapse. So, for patients who are suffering with terminal ailments such as cancer, neurofibromas, congestive heart failure, chronic renal failure et al, they are given comfort (palliative) care. This already exists in most health care delivery modules.
 
In the case of terminally ill patients, hospice medical care provides the necessary care, as well as posits patients with dignity until death. The infusion of incremental doses of morphine renders pain nill, and will eventually lead to respiratory and neurophsyiological collapse.
What about psychological pain? Why should they be forced to go through the irrecoverable disease for long period? Being not able to do anything by themselves. Why can't a person choose the point of his death if he is suffering through life?
 
What about psychological pain? Why should they be forced to go through the irrecoverable disease for long period? Being not able to do anything by themselves. Why can't a person choose the point of his death if he is suffering through life?

These are but natural of grief and dying. There are actually 5 stages, as reiterated in the Kubler-Ross model:

1. Denial and isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance.

Patients that are dying experience these 5 stages and throughout hospice care, they are provided with not only medical care to reduce the physical pain, but are also provided with psychological and spiritual support. They can avail of hospital chaplains, rabbis, Buddhist and hindu priests, as well as given psychological support by mental health counselors/ social workers if they should need it.

If you are a Christian like you claimed to be, then you should be able to explain the Christian perspective. Don't just copy and paste an article.

I leave it for you to use your conceptual and analytical skills to interpret the premise of the article. Provided, i already gave the abstract. :)
 
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