The 'cure at all costs culture in the medical establishment' is certainly alive and well in the US and accounts for a significant amount of wasted medical expenditures trying to extend the lives of terminally ill patients. Terri Schiavo, anyone?

How much time have you spent inside of nursing homes full of terminally ill and Alsheimers patients? I've spent enough to know that I may well desire a quick end to it all rather than living in persistent vegetative state. YMMV.

There's a bit of a difference between being made comfortable while nature takes its course, and assisted suicide, dontcha think?

Sure, but should the outside observer (you) have the right to tell a terminally ill patient without any hope of survival that he must stick it out until he expires, despite severe pain and no will to live any longer? I'd rather not cede that decision to you.

Hospice is definitely one alternative to a "cure at all costs medical establishment," and a well-respected one. I don't see why one for whom palliative care has no effect should be denied the choice to end his or her suffering. That is also a reasonable alternative which should be available.

If people don't desire to live anymore, they shouldn't have to.

That's freedom.

Seems whell is all for less freedom. He'd rather have the law tell people that they must continue suffering.

Excellent idea. Just give all palliative care patients a gun. Bed mounted holsters would be great! That's the American way.

Having just had my brother die after a long and hopless fight against Parkinson's and Alzheimer's all I can say to you is drop dead.

I agree with hospice having just lived through it.

Even then some of the family blamed the hospital.

You don't have to actively kill someone.

Pete

Sometimes it's the only loving and compassionate thing to do.

John