DR GEORGE Wong's pro-euthanasia stance in 'Dad's needless pain...' (Nov 15) is premised on several fallacies.

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First, suicide is not criminal in all countries. Law, while consistent in most areas, is treats many things differently. Simply saying because something is criminal, doesn't mean it is wrong. Take for example, criticizing our judiciary/public servants (or maybe they are 'masters' in Singapore) is criminal with huge fines as punishment. Are they wrong?

Second, pain is relative. Even if you could measure pain, people will still have different thresholds. It is the CAUSE of pain that outsiders can help determine if a call for euthanasia is genuine. i.e the colon cancer from the letter 'Dad's needless pain'. Of course, if you want to commit the slippery road fallacy and associate mental pain, I can't stop you.

Third, Law is not necessarily about majority. They exist also to protect the minority. Frankly, as the days gone by, I have heard less about religious reasons to not have euthanasia. While still driven by religious convictions, the reasons given were mundane, focusing on possible abuse, etc. Is it only you who is only thinking about 'religious' reasons?

Fourth, yes, dignity is subjective. i.e the decision to decide what is 'dignity' can only be given by the person himself. How can you unilaterally declared that 'suffering from a ravaging disease beyond our control' is not undignified for all?

YOU can 'caress a sick individual and feel a connection, and in an inexplicable way, entertain the hope that somehow he may feel love'. YOU can do that... what does the sick individual feel? Do YOU care?

Right on lobo_respawned. Tell it like it is!

This seto guy's arguments are based on several fallacies.

Emotional pain can heal with time and love. Physical pain from end stage cancer can only get worse till death. If the patient is feeling immense physical suffering and strongly wish to end it all, who are you to judge that he's not feeling as bad as he claims unless you're in his shoes?

Simply put, we are more irrational than we think we are. We are weaker than we think we are, and we are invariably morally worse than we think we are.

It is too much of a burden to take upon ourselves the decision to take away lives. That should be left to a higher power.

Erm.. not everyone believes in that 'higher power' you speak of. So...that point is moot.

Good valid points, Seto. Nevertheless if the likes of 'lobo_respawned', 'inplainsight' and 'AlChristian' lie sick and groaning in their hospital beds, I'll be very glad to volunteer to inject that lethal dose into their veins to send them on their way. And I'll try to be very merciful in the assisted killing.

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Those who do not believe in a higher power would be in need of greater, not less moral help then.

"Nevertheless if the likes of 'lobo_respawned', 'inplainsight' and 'AlChristian' lie sick and groaning in their hospital beds, I'll be very glad to volunteer to inject that lethal dose into their veins to send them on their way. And I'll try to be very merciful in the assisted killing."

Thanks. I will let you know if I suffer from a terminal illness and would like to opt for death.