It's my body and I choose if I want to.

With our new parliament the debate on Euthanasia has been put back in the agenda.

I am strong believer in the principal that governments should as much possible stay out of our life choices, so long as I not causing harm to others.  Be this in the choice of sexual partner, what I choose to see and read and amongst many others, the right to end my own life.  So in principal I believe that the people have the right to have access to euthanasia.  Most arguments that I have heard against this seem to be little more than religious values dressed up in some sort of fear mongering about people being euthanised against their will.  In the case of abortion we respect the rights of women to have control over their own bodies, yet we don't want to extend to the terminally ill.

However I do have some concerns about this.  This mainly stems around people feeling obligated to end their life as they have become a burden on those caring for them.  To go back to abortion, with this now normalised, outside of religious circles it seems somewhat anathema for someone to have strong feelings that abortion represents the taking of a life.  I have seen first hand pressure being placed on someone to have an abortion, despite her strong feelings against this choice, with complete lack of understanding of her position.  Her body, her choice yet this doesn't seem to be respected when her choice is to keep the baby.  If we were to legalise euthanasia could we possibly reach the same point?  Would people be expected to take there lives rather hang on with every last breath?  You are free to choose as long as your choice is the affirmative one?  Maybe not a straight up as first appearances give.