Is it terrifying because you think it’s bad if some people kill themselves with the program who otherwise wouldn’t have? Or is it terrifying that things are so bad in general that, once you give them more options, more will choose death?
If you mean the former – I really don’t share this judgment. Maybe you’re worried that sociopathic or act-utilitarian doctors will pressure patients – but these risks could be mitigated with safeguards, and they have to be weighed against the benefits (people being able to make informed choices about what they want and have their options increased).
If it’s the latter, then I agree. But I’m not surprised by this information, sadly.
Edit: And the same question to Zvi:
Richard’s core argument boils down to Yay Individual Liberty, and that there are a lot of people out there suffering quite a lot. These are important points. My main takeaway, however, was that yes the whole thing already, in its current state, seems rather terrifying.
What does this mean? What’s the implication for policies you would push for? Should other countries try to install something similar or would that be terrible?
I guess it’s reasonable to be like “I don’t know, seems like a tough call and terrifying either way.” But there’s a risk that, if one feels an impulse to shy away from contemplating some topic in depth because it seems “terrifying,” it leads to biased opinions.
Concerning MAID, if past trend are to be believed, the most terrifying thing is that these numbers will only get worse.
Is it terrifying because you think it’s bad if some people kill themselves with the program who otherwise wouldn’t have? Or is it terrifying that things are so bad in general that, once you give them more options, more will choose death?
If you mean the former – I really don’t share this judgment. Maybe you’re worried that sociopathic or act-utilitarian doctors will pressure patients – but these risks could be mitigated with safeguards, and they have to be weighed against the benefits (people being able to make informed choices about what they want and have their options increased).
If it’s the latter, then I agree. But I’m not surprised by this information, sadly.
Edit: And the same question to Zvi:
What does this mean? What’s the implication for policies you would push for? Should other countries try to install something similar or would that be terrible?
I guess it’s reasonable to be like “I don’t know, seems like a tough call and terrifying either way.” But there’s a risk that, if one feels an impulse to shy away from contemplating some topic in depth because it seems “terrifying,” it leads to biased opinions.