re: #353 McSpiff

If every time someone walked into an operating room they died, I’d highly suggest people stop walking into operating rooms.

I’ll also give you this argument: If you, Bagua personally decide that having surgery is an unreasonable risk, or that flying in planes is an unreasonable risk you can choose to not partake in that activity. This is true for literally everything in America, assuming the draft is not reinstated. You are totally allowed to sit at home, order pizza from the internet and never leave your house. Assuming you have the money to do so.

Any risk you take on is purely that of your own doing.

However, you can be wrongfully convicted and executed based on no personal wrong doing. There is no way to take personal responsibility. That to me is a key difference.

PS: I realize in some situations you can be given medical treatment without consent. But I still stand by my overall argument.

Any consent to medical treatment is not a consent to malpractice. One can be misdiagnosed and needlessly submitted to incorrect medical procedures. But no, they are not identical, yet very valid to illustrate the question of personal liability for others mistakes.

It also illustrates the mistaken concern people have. On the once case, a very rare and unusual mistake, a wrongful execution. On the other, a very common and prevalent mistake, medical errors resulting in deaths.

Personally I’m not that bothered by rare events that affect very few people, and very concerned about the prevalent mistakes that affect hundreds of thousands.