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Where would those social Darwinists with an Old Testamental attitude draw a line ("serves you well, die")? Who is in the position to judge? What about denying any treatment, because someone took the stupid risk to live? Yes, I'm getting ridiculous now - as ridiculous as this part of the discussion is.

My opinion: Life is precious, regardless of race, breed, colour, amount of legs => the first step to an inhuman community is => separation, adding/taking value. The next - not-more-so-large step => euthanasia? Either passive, by denying treatment or ... maybe active?

Germany had a terrible past in this discrimination. It started by saying => a race is not worth to live - went on by saying, disabled are not worth to live and would have probably ended in => all those too small, too thin, too infertile, too darkhaired/fairhaired whatever don't deserve to live.

HEY! Wake up! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />


Excellent post, Kiya. And since I'm too close to this issue, you said the words I wanted to, but couldn't. It's a slippery slope we venture down once we think we can choose who is worthy of medical treatment and who isn't. However, people do not receive some kinds of treatment because of their own neglect. I knew a guy who had a liver transplant. He contracted Hepatitis C and later cerosis of the liver from drug and alcohol abuse. He continued to abuse alcohol and drugs even after his transplant. I had a hard time dealing with that because I felt his drug and alcohol abuse was morally wrong. Yet, who am I to judge how this guy should live his life? His new liver soon became diseased and surprisingly enough the transplant program would not put him on the receiver's list until there was proof positive that he was both drug and alcohol free. One year later he died because he refused to give up his favorite pasttimes. So, when it comes to transplant organs, they (the organization) are very careful about who they treat. And, I don't know how I feel about this.


Faralas <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mage.gif" alt="" />