Comments for Showdown in Montana at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 2 out of 2 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Wed, 22 May 2013 05:48:45 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/showdown-in-montana.html#comment-2939 The key phrase in the Montana decision appears to be "competent terminal patient." If depression or mental illness renders one incompetent, then, presumably, they would not be able to exercise their "right" to assisted suicide. Personally, I don't believe there is or should be any such right. Once the right is established for the terminally ill, I wonder what would prevent a court from expanding it into a general right of suicide for all "competent" persons, terminally ill or not. - crazylikeknoxes Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:16:13 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/showdown-in-montana.html#comment-2938 Palliative care vs. euthanasia is often confusing.. Euthanasia is the willful termination of one's life for whatever the cause, be it money or a deemed poor quality of life. Palliative care is helping reduce the agony of the dying process already under way, although medication may be used which may depress respirations in either case. For example in one whose lungs have been destroyed by terminal cancer, turning off his respirator and making inevitable death comfortable is not euthanasia. - Willie Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:44:41 +0100