re: 20 year old sex abuse victim in Holland euthanized

You forgot the part where she chooses herself to die. The biggest part really.

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Your religious beliefs should never outweigh the patient's wishes

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I should have the right to refuse to be that patient's nurse and have someone else assigned to care for that patient if the care involves something that goes against my personal beliefs. I shouldn't be penalized for this. Especially since it likely would be nothing at all for someone else that doesn't morally object to care for the patient.

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The doctors said she was hopeless and the decided dying was best for her.

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No, they decided that she was competent to make her own decision.

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The girl wanted to die. The doctors said she was hopeless and the decided dying was best for her. After that, they killed her. End of story.

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Doesn't matter. It still her decision to make. She was found competent to make the decision. Not agreeing with her decision does not make her incompetent to make the decision. Doctors can disagree with stopping chemo or any other treatment therapy. They can think that there is hope and a "statistically significant likelihood" of improvement. It is still the patient's decision to make. Disagreeing with something does not make it wrong.

The doctors did not decide that dying was best for her. They decided that she was capable of making that decision and carried out her wishes. Quite frankly, that is the best that anyone should be able to hope for. That when given all the information, the patient makes an informed, competent decision and that decision is respected and carried out.

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but a terminally ill cancer patient, 80YO, facing a miserable death (or more miserable chemo) should have the right to end their life with medical assistance if they so choose.

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While I am more understanding of this decision, herein lies the beginning of the slope. How old is old enough? How sick is sick enough?

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You forgot the part where she chooses herself to die. The biggest part really.

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I have no issue with someone who wishes to die killing themselves, at least if they're of sound mind which is at best debatable in this instance. It's sad and tragic, but ultimately their choice.

The problem arises when doctors are involved in the decision and implementation.

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How old is old enough? How sick is sick enough

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How about let everyone decide for themselves? Why should you have to be sick if it's a right you have? It would actually help things.

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the mentally ill should be given the right to decide to end their life? What happens if their so mentally ill they can't make the decision for themselves and their doctors, as in this case, all agree there's no hope for a cure? Can the doctors decide for them? 

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She wasn't mentally ill before. She prob still cognisant of her actions.

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While I am more understanding of this decision, herein lies the beginning of the slope. How old is old enough? How sick is sick enough?

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agreed. My opinion is shaped by witnessing a coworker die from cancer- and the treatment intended to cure his cancer. After seeing that poor fellow's suffering and wretched physical/mental condition at the end, I suddenly became more open to the idea of doctor assisted suicide.

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The doctors did not decide that dying was best for her. They decided that she was capable of making that decision and carried out her wishes.

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In her case, it seems like asking a guy who just won a drinking contest whether or not he's sober enough to drive home. Mentally ill people making decisions about their physical well-being is not a very good method. Why do we take sharp objects away from mental patients in isolation? If they want to gouge their own eyes out, let 'em have at it.