How far we have drifted! Now we are determining it is “compassionate” to deny people care or even kill them. This is one of the fears with possible nationalized health care. The state decides whose life is worth living based on money. This could be an unborn child with disabilities killed or a born person who the state determines will die soon. Just because a person might not live with a disease or disability or even due to age, it doesn’t mean that their life isn’t worth saving, and they shouldn’t be denied such things as air, food, water, medicine, and treatments like chemo or dialysis. Perhaps they personally don’t want certain treatments like a respirator or have a DNR, but that is theirs and their family’s choice, not the states.
As you point out, attempts are made to pervert the word “compassionate.” It alleged by some to be “compassionate” to aid and abet illegal aliens and other criminals to commit crimes. And it is “compassionate” to kill people. The word “dignity” as in “death with dignity” is another such word.