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Although it is our prerogative to decide whether we should endure the torment of a terminal illness, pain is an emotion like any other, capable of distorting our judgement. People who are depressed go on benders, others go out and shoot up public facilities. I would say being euthanized is ethical if and only if one gives themselves enough time to weigh the opportunity cost of giving up. If someone is diagnosed with a fatal disease and immediately requests death, I would assume that person to be ignorant in the sense that they haven't given the slightest bit of time to decide whether it is the right choice. There have been many cases in which people have overcome purportedly "fatal" illnesses, as well as others who have come out of three-decade comas. Jack "Dr. Death" Kevorkian once put a person to death who was misdiagnosed with a fatal illness. The person would have lived a normal life, had they not requested Kevorkian's "Death Machine." The death machine, might I add, is a horrible, malfunctional contraption that once put a person through more suffering when their veins collapsed and ceased to circulate the toxins. Kevorkian improvised by grabbing a pillow and smothering the person to a convulsive death. Slightly off-topic, I know, but I just thought I'd bring that up.
Proponents of euthanisia may take into consideration the explicit monetary costs of having someone on life support. To me, that is very sad if someone wishes to live, but simply can't afford the life support. However, at any rate, I don't think anything under a year's time is sufficient enough to determine whether assisted suicide is the right choice. I cannot speak accurately for everyone since I've never been through crippling pain as such, but principally I stand by a longer period to think things over. Who says we have to accept the situation? After all, once you are dead, there is no turning back.
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