[FeyOberon]

In some ways, this is a difficult topic. If I were asked the black-and-white question, "are you for, or against, assisted suicide?" I would invariably answer "against" -- it just doesn't sit well with my belief that suicide is wrong. However, those who argue for assisted suicide might do so out of a benevolent sense of mercy -- which is good. The issue has gray areas.

When assisted suicide starts being espoused as an individual right, a lot of doors are opened. If society says to a man who is terminally ill or severely physically handicapped: "You are living in pain; your quality of life is significantly less than that of the average man. Therefore, it is your right to choose to end your life," but says to a man who is severely depressed and has not responded to treatment: "Your pain is in your mind; your quality of life is technically equal to that of the average man. Therefore, it is not your right to choose to end your life," is that fair? If choosing to end one's own life is a personal right, who is to say which of us has that right and which does not, or whose right should be denied?

While there may be instances where allowing a person to choose to end his life is merciful to him, establishing who may, and when they may, is a frightening prospect. Allowing assisted suicide could be a dangerous precedent.