This may sound awful to some but if a person is in wretching pain and the end is near, they can snip the spinal cord. If I was in the end stage of anything and in horrible pain, I would do it.

I agree, I believe that if a person was in such pain that I would grant their wish and grant them a quick, humane death. As humane as I could get it with the resources at hand anyway. Were I in such a position I would want the same done for me. Letting this person continue to live in such agony would be what I would call a "cruel mercy"

It's assinine isn't it? The anti-compassionate death lobby, is nothing but a blight on humanity.

I'll kill them both with one punch

+ Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia + As Christians, we believe that human life is a sacred gift from God to be cherished and respected because every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). In heeding God’s command, "Thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13), we recognize that we cannot end of our lives or the lives of others as we please. We must respect and protect the dignity of human from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. Both euthanasia and assisted suicide violate God's commandment not to kill. Euthanasia occurs when a doctor or medical staff person administers a lethal dose of medication with the intention of killing the patient. Assisted suicide occurs when a doctor or medical staff person prescribes a lethal amount of medication with the intent of helping a person commit suicide. The patient then takes the dose or turns the switch. We also recognize the need for the proper management of pain. Modern medicine provides effective treatments for pain that guarantees that no one will suffer a painful death. No one needs to escape pain by seeking death. Suicidal wishes among the terminally ill are due to treatable depression similar to that of other suicidal people. If we address their pain, depression and other problems, then there is generally no more talk of suicide. Repercussions of Assisted Suicide + The patient seriously, possibly completely, damages his or her relationship with God. + Anyone assisting a suicide gravely endangers his or her spiritual, psychological, and emotional well-being including family members and medical professionals. + Corruption of the medical profession: whose ethical code calls on physicians to serve life and never to kill. The American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and dozens of other medical groups argue that the power to assist in taking patients’ lives is "a power that most health-care professionals do not want and could not control.” + Society will more and more disregards the dignity of human life. Possible Corruptions + Exploitation of the marginalized: The poor, the elderly, minorities, those who lack health insurance would be the first to feel pressure to die. + Cost control: Patients with long term or expensive illnesses and considered economic liabilities would be encouraged die. + Rebirth of historical prejudices: Many able-bodied people, including some physicians, say they would "rather be dead than disabled." Such prejudices could easily lead families, physicians, and society to encourage death for people who are depressed and emotionally vulnerable as they adjust to life with a serious illness or disability. Jesus uttered the words of faith that continue to inspire and to guide the Church’s teaching in this mystery of Christian death: "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again" (John 10:17). For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 2270 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art5.shtml#2270 http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0897.asp + Capital Punishment + From a Catholic point of view: Jesus, John 8:1-11, spares a women guilty of adultery whom the Mosaic Law said should be stoned to death. If the guilty person's identity and responsibility has been fully determined then non-lethal means to defend and protect the people's safety from the aggressor are more in keeping with the common good and the dignity of the human person. The Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives. However in today's modern society, the capability of rendering the offender incapable of doing harm - without definitively taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically non-existent. For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 2267: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art5.shtml#2267 With love in Christ.

I leave it to God to decide such things....but (speaks in a whisper) what did the criminal do?

(Ecclesiastes 9:11) I returned to see under the sun that the swift do not have the race, nor the mighty ones the battle, nor do the wise also have the food, nor do the understanding ones also have the riches, nor do even those having knowledge have the favor; because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all. The 'god' of this system does not care...it is Satan... (2 Corinthians 4:4) among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through. This scripture shows that to think that the term 'god' refers to ONLY Almighty God is wrong. "god" is simply a title... To be very specific, it is required that the TRUE God is addressed by His NAME... (Exodus 6:3) And I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them.

The old woman. If she wants to die, why should I have the right to stop her? If she wishes for a quick and humane death, then she should be able to have one. If the criminal wants to die also, then sure, he can die also. However, if he does not want to die, I don't see why I have the right to end his life.