This story leaves me torn. On one hand, I do think that euthanasia-without-consent is a VERY slippery slope. How long until other groups are euthanized without their consent?
OTOH ... if I were the parent of a child like one of those described in the story, a baby whose skin fell off every time it was touched, it would be torture to me to know how much that child must be suffering. If an infant is suffering terribly, from something that will kill him/her sooner rather than later, and the suffering cannot be abated without tranking up the baby so much that it is unaware of life anyway ... then what is the point of that life? Does God enjoy the suffering of infants? (That was rhetorical; no need to flame me. I am quite sure that God does NOT enjoy anyone's suffering.)
I don't really have any answers here. Just wanted to point out that this is a very difficult question, not one to be answered quickly.
These are the same FReepers who will gleefully cheer everytime a person is executed in this country.
Apparently, murderers get relatively quick deaths but suffering babies...? TOUGH! It's "God's Will"
Thanks for pointing that out. Kneejerk reactions on this subject are not helpful, IMO. I am a bookkeeper in a skilled nursing facility AKA nursing home. We have some residents that have been living there for years who can't feed themselves, are incontinent, some are in pain, some are Alzheimer's and other dementias -- the state is paying for their care thru Medicaid. It hurts to see this daily tragedy and I have to give credit to the aides who are so gentle and caring of these people. But I wouldn't want to be the judge of when they should go.
Carolyn
People agonize and feel guilt, shame and uneasiness about such things for a good reason.
When you have to stop and think about the reasons why it is wrong, then don't do it.