The mature doctor will accept that death is inevitable, and will help his patients to approach it. But actively to push the patient across that threshold is another thing altogether.
Most doctors would accept the principle that one should not use extraordinary means to prolong life if that life has lost its “quality.”
But here the definition becomes obscure. For what is “quality” of life?
In the U.S. the medical profession has been confused by the always-present threat of a malpractice suit.
Fortunately, this is rare in Australia.
When you discuss euthanasia, either in support of it or not, you will need to consider who it is who makes the final decision — the patient, the patient’s family, the patient’s doctor, a panel of doctors or lay people, or perhaps a concensus of all of these.
But you will also need to discuss who will do the deed — the patient’s own doctor, or a specially licensed doctor — who carries out this procedure when requested.
God help him.
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