The right to choose to end one’s life makes sense to me now. But it isn’t right constitutionally. Think: “You can’t take things that aren’t yours away from yourself.”

Plus, even if the right to choose to die is granted, how can people be protected from potential misuse?

In the case of life and euthanasia, it is much tougher, I agree. It is still not a paradigm shift. Just an increase in magnitude.

There is a problem with crying “constitution” all the time. However fine, the damn document was not signed by all of us who are supposed to be under it’s purview. Plus it’s changed rather often. E.g. I will never sign a document that proclaims that India is a socialist republic. But hey, that’s what the constitution says right now.

In such a case, the same standards that aare applicable while deciding whether a doctor has been negligient or not can be applied in the court.

What exactly do you mean, Amol? One’s life is own’s own, is it not?

You can only “own” what you can give yourself. Shirts, houses, cars and even money are things that somewhat qualify here. I use somewhat here because they won’t ultimately belong to you… Try not paying taxes and see who assumes ownership :). On the other hand, intangible stuff like knowledge and experience are truly yours…

Coming back to life and ownership… Your life is given/gifted/entrusted to you by your parents. Though you are free to use it in any manner you choose, doesn’t directly imply that you own it.

If I was given a gift, I think I own it. It might be crass and ungrateful to destroy that gift, but by all means my right to do so because it is mine. The same hold for the gift of a toy your parents gave you to the gift of life.

Amol gives Yazad a toy on his birthday. A few years later, Yazad gets mad at Amol and smashes the toy to smithereens. Amol is hurt… but thats OK; the toy “can” be replaced.

Can you replace someone’s life? I don’t think gifts of mass-produced, perishable but replaceable goods come anywhere near the same ballpark as the gift of life!

What lead you to think your parent’s gift to you by the act of conception warrants them your life’s ownership?

I think life is an inalienable right. My life is mine and mine alone to do what I please with it — achieve Mt. Everest or end it.