Mercy killing, a very controversial subject.

My opinions on mercy killing, I don't think that a comparison between choosing to not prolong life and actually taking a life, whether your own or assisting someone else, is realistic. They are not the same thing.

Taking a life is taking a life. Prolonging a life by artificial means is a choice that everyone should definately have. If the artificial means weren't there, obviously the person would die, so it stands to reason that the choice should be that person's.

As for mercy killing, I don't think it is right, mainly because who draws the line when killing becomes mercy not murder? Who decides? What if someone makes that choice for you, and you are unable to say "no I am not ready, you don't understand" ?

Take for example a case here where a father "assisted" his daughter's death because she was extremely retarded and unable to care for herself and her "quality" of life was non-exsistant. He is in jail right now. Read about it http://www.acl.on.ca/news/latimer98nov.html

I don't know how anyone could determine that her life was not worth living. Playing God whether you believe in him or not is not mercy. Choosing not to prolong a life near death is a choice, not mercy.

Just my humble opinion.