People who support euthanasia often say that it is already considered permissible to take human life under some

circumstances such as self defense - but they miss the point that when one kills for self defense they are saving innocent life - either their own or someone else's. With euthanasia no one's life is being saved - life is only taken.

History has taught us the dangers of euthanasia and that is why there are only two countries in the world today where it is legal. That is why almost all societies - even non-religious ones - for thousands of years have made euthanasia a crime. It is remarkable that euthanasia advocates today think they know better than the billions of people throughout history who have outlawed euthanasia - what makes the 50 year old euthanasia supporters in 2005 so wise that they think they can discard the accumulated wisdom of almost all societies of all time and open the door to the killing of innocent people? Have things changed? If they have, they are changes that should logically reduce the call for euthanasia - pain control medicines and procedure are far better than they have ever been any time in history.

Euthanasia violates our right to live, many argue that this should co Exide with our right to death as well. Which is completely foolish. Death is promised, death does not judge and unless you believe in vampires and immortality and elixirs that promise youth youre feelings of self-righteousness and dissatisfaction are void. And if you do believe in such than all the power to you. Like death I dont judge.

The real alternative to euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS) is to provide loving, competent care for the dying or disabled person.

For the relatively healthy individual who supports the legalising of euthanasia, the reason is fear that they, themselves, might want it sometime in the future: fear of cancer and other debilitating diseases or disabilities; fear of becoming a burden to one's family; fear of surviving without really living; and, perhaps most of all, fear of severe, uncontrolled pain.

Opponents of EAS believe that the development of modern methods of palliative care makes the legalisation of euthanasia unnecessary. This addresses one of the greatest fears that humans have namely the fear of pain. It does not, however, address all the issues.

Those experienced in Hospice care say that the greatest fear of the dying is not physical pain, but the fear of being abandoned either by family, society, or both. "Once a patient feels welcome and not a burden to others, once his pain is controlled and other symptoms have been at least reduced to manageable proportions, then the cry for euthanasia disappears. It is not that the question of euthanasia is right or wrong, desirable or repugnant, practical or unworkable. It is just that it is irrelevant.

Proper care is the alternative to it and can be made universally available as soon as there is adequate instruction of medical students in a teaching hospital. If we fail in this duty to care, let us not turn to the politicians asking them to extricate us from this mess." 1 For those who have no family and/or few friends to be with them, loneliness can be a key factor in wanting to die. Hospice provides the answer and many lonely, elderly or dying people have found friendship when they least expected it.

Professional hospice - palliative - care can be given either at home or in special facilities for the dying. Its purpose is to ease the psychological pain of loneliness and the physical pain of dying that many people suffer near the end of their lives.

Better pain and symptom management In 1990, a World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee found that the greatest improvements in quality of life for cancer patients and their families would result from implementation of existing knowledge about pain and symptom management.

The committee concluded that "...with the development of modern methods of palliative care, legalisation of euthanasia is unnecessary. Now that a practical alternative to death in pain exists, there should be concentrated efforts to implement programs of palliative care, rather than yielding to pressure for legal euthanasia." 2

The WHO Expert Committee recommended that governments devote specific attention to cancer pain relief and palliative care before considering laws allowing euthanasia. Unfortunately, "not enough health professionals, patients, families, and government policymakers understand that the proper use of existing drugs and neurosurgical, anesthetic, and psychological approaches can relieve pain and make life worth living.

Some people may believe that suicide is the only way to avoid a painful death. Severe, chronic pain can result in helplessness and hopelessness - two mental states that can lead to suicide.

Controlling pain can help ease these mental states and change the belief that a premature death - a painless "final exit" is the solution."

For example, patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center who had requested suicide dismissed this as an alternative once satisfactory pain control was established." 3, 4

Killing the pain, not the patient "Euthanasia will always be an issue because people who've had a bad experience will see it as the only option," said Dr Richard Hillier, chairman of the Association for Palliative Care in the UK.

"These people will have seen a friend or relative receive sub-standard care - they will have seen them die appallingly probably. The vast majority of them will have been nowhere near a palliative care unit.

"They've got the wrong solution - the answer is not to then go around killing the patient. The answer is to get involved with a very good palliative care unit." 5

Treatable Depression Studies have also shown that non-psychiatric physicians are not reliably able to diagnose depression let alone to determine whether the depression is impairing judgment. Patients requesting a physicians assistance in suicide are usually telling us that they desperately need relief from their mental and physical suffering and that without such relief they would rather die.

Although terminally ill and disabled patients often have suicidal thoughts, especially soon after being informed of the serious nature of their condition, these thoughts don't typically last.

When they are treated by a physician who can hear their desperation, understand their ambivalence, treat their depression, and relieve their suffering, their wish to die almost always disappears.

Doctors, lacking clinical knowledge and skills, may not always be able to distinguish between the 'normal' distress, which is inevitable, and more severe psychological distress. "Psychological distress impairs the patient's capacity for pleasure, meaning, and connection; erodes quality of life; amplifies pain and other symptoms; reduces the patient's ability to do the emotional work of separating and saying good-bye; and causes anguish and worry in family members and friends.

Finally, psychological distress, particularly depression, is a major risk factor for suicide and for requests to hasten death. "

Seventeen. Thats a relatively large number. ONE year away from legal adulthood, and TWO years away from living a whole two decades on this forsaken planet, or in your optimistic words this beautiful planet we call Earth. All I can say is that Im truly thankful for having met such a person. Someone who is as beautiful on the outside as they are inside. Thats the first thing that I noticed. You have no idea how beautiful you are, truly. Im not trying to kiss up or anything, its not like its your legitimate birthday or anything. Youre like those girls they talk about in the books, the ones who have no clue how pretty they are. Youre a natural beauty and if you ever change Ill CUT you. That was not a joke by the way. I also love the fact that you jump to my aid without a second thought. I dont know if you really thought about it, but I really needed someone like you in my life. You have this amazing energy and I get that sounds kind of weird and hippy but being a naturally sad person its great being around someone who makes me happy. I dont know if were going to keep in touch. The pessimist in me says no, I cant be that lucky but that optimistic side that youve played a role in making says that maybe Ill be lucky enough to have a friend like you as a permanent fixture in my life. My mother told me to pick my friends wisely, to choose a friend that is smarter than you, a better person than you, and someone that you can learn from. I took my mothers advice and found that person in you. You are ten times the person Ill ever be, and youre parents should be proud they raised a daughter like you. Im not saying youre perfect cause you aint. Im sure you make mistakes, but that seems almost stupid when you look at the women youve become Yes I did in fact say woman which is really creepy if Im being honest. Were getting old. -.-. Anyway I may not be the greatest friend, actually Im a pretty crap friend. But Im trying, and although I have doubts in our groups friendship I do hope that well all stay in touch. This card is simple and a quite plain, and as much as I wanted to glam it up it just wasnt me. Just like how you arent the type to judge. You are an amazing person. Dont ever change. SERIOUSLY. It would crush me. No pressure.

Keep on Keepin On

-Sahar H.