“This is such a divisive and emotive topic.......
I believe in euthanasia and the individuals right to die, a final act of kindness for someone or something.................
I could be wrong, I may be branded as a tree hugging, bleeding heart liberal. (For those that do not know me I can assure you I am not), however on this topic I prefer to be cautious, getting it wrong, even once could be fatal.....
”
Absolutely spot on Ray, what a cracking post. (and hope you had a glorious weekend) 
Its very easy for me to sit in my chair and pass judgement to the horrors of crime i fortunately have no knowledge of except what i'm fed by the media.
But I was assaulted many years ago, the culprit was found, charged, sentenced, fined and ordered to reimburse the cost of replacing the teeth he knocked out, but nothing for the pain, loss & suffering i went through whilst having the procedures to replace the teeth, for that yes i'm bitter but wouldn't have the guy shot. Public flogging maybe??? 
I too watched my father die, bloody cancer, but he didnt suffer too much as he went from diagnoses to death in 77 days! I think that one does have the right to "check out" when the pain becomes too much to bear, but could i/should i have made that decision for him? Maybe, but the Law didnt allow that conversation to take place.
Yet i can take my cat to the vets to be put out if its misery for the same condition. BUT if i didnt take the cat in, i'm classed as a monster for not caring!!! The Law has to change to allow people the same dignity as your pet.
I applaud you Ray for doing a job that many of us, couldn't/wouldn't do - to be fair i have no patience in that department, pretty much why i didnt follow the family tradition of teaching, just couldn't do it. I stand by my opinion though, but accept that each and every case needs to be tried on its own merits and only the very worst cases should see the death sentence.