Euthanasia

[Davetello]

Discuss...

[Netkeeper]

Better be legal by the time I'm old enough to want it. :x

[Leo656]

I'unno about this thread. Honest? I think some of the Usual Suspects are gonna start calling people crybabies and telling them "life ain't so bad" and everyone is gonna argue about what "real problems" are and it's just gonna be a big to-do.

Frankly I think everyone has the right to write their own ending, but I don't see anything good coming from this one. Just knowing the way people around here tend to act.

[Davetello]

This isn't about me. I don't want to be euthanised. This is for general debate. My moaning in other threads and the timing of this topic is purely coincidental.

So yeah, it's more about if you think others should have the right to end their own lives, not about you guys yourselves.

[snake]

This thread is a train wreck waiting to happen.

[Leo656]

Oh, I get ya, but you know how folks are around here.

Like I said before, personally I'd like to see everyone Make It but I think nobody has the right to tell anyone else how their story ends or should end. And there's times it just makes sense, like people who have terminal illness with no hope of recovery. Like, if I god forbid got cancer, there's really nothing I could do about it, since I don't sh*t gold bricks I couldn't afford to do anything about it, so it'd already be a death sentence. Were that the case, I'd prefer not to linger, I'd settle my worldly affairs and move on. That, to me, just makes sense.

[Netkeeper]

Yes, I'd rather not my final moments be remembered as ones of great suffering or something like Alzheimer's [which my grandfather had in his final years]. If I start showing any signs of the latter, just take me out back. I would also not want to burden anyone close to me with having to constantly care for me in old age. In general, I just don't want my elder years to be miserable. I'd rather die young, myself, but I also don't count on that happening.

But hey, who knows. I'm relatively healthy in the physical department, so I might age just fine. Both my grandmothers have.

[IndigoErth]

For humans? Yes, I think it should be well controlled and primarily available to cases of terminal illness, etc, but very legal.

I find it terrible that we will put an end to an animal's suffering, yet we won't do the same for other people. Instead they're kept alive as long as possible, suffering and letting a hospital rack up the bill.

I mean really, sometimes people are already helped along as it is via slowly increasing the morphine they're receiving or whatnot. That was done for my grandmother. So...

[Prowler]

Pretty sure a subject like this isn't allowed to be discussed here, but whatever.

I'm for it. If someone is suffering badly and wants to die then might as well do it safely instead of committing suicide by jumping in front of a train or off a bridge. But I can understand if a doctor objects to do it.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

What this thread is gonna become:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/img.ultrasignup.com/events/raw/6a76f4a3-4ad2-4ae2-8a3b-c092e85586af.jpg

[snake]

What this thread is gonna become:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/img.ultrasignup.com/events/raw/6a76f4a3-4ad2-4ae2-8a3b-c092e85586af.jpg

That's MY joke. :P

[BubblyShell22]

You know, as long as the family is informed of it and the person in question requests it in case of an illness that can't be cured, I'm all for it. I also agree that if it's deemed okay to put an animal down with an illness that can't be cured or to put an animal down simply because it can't be found a home, then I don't see the problem with someone choosing to die by euthanasia if they want it.

[Leo656]

This keeps making me think of the "Terri Schiavo Musical" from that one Family Guy episode. :lol: That was terrific.

"...Most expensive plant you'll ever see..." :lol: Swear to god I almost pissed myself.

[slashpieturtlemix]

I believe that this will be a possibility in about twenty years. The only real thing that is stopping it is religious politicians. Does any country actually do it? I assume that Japan would.

[BubblyShell22]

I think I remember that episode. Yeah, that was great.

Believe me, if I had to go through what my grandpa's going through right now, I'd want to die quickly instead of suffering needlessly.

[plastroncafe]

It's legal and regulated Oregon.

[BubblyShell22]

Really? I never knew that. Cool.

[Netkeeper]

Interesting how so far most of us are in agreement on this topic.

[plastroncafe]

http://www.deathwithdignity.org/access-acts

Oregon voters approved of their law in 1994 and confirmed their support in 1997. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act went into effect in 1997. The voters of Washington passed their law in 2008 and it was implemented in 2009 after no credible legal challenges. In 2013, Vermont lawmakers enacted their assisted death law—the first passed through legislation. - See more at: http://www.deathwithdignity.org/access-acts#sthash.Rk40VsUf.dpuf

[slashpieturtlemix]

http://www.deathwithdignity.org/access-acts

lol this was the only moment when the Pope disappointed me was with that girl in Oregon. He condemned the girl's decision. I guess not all his decisions can be awesome.

[BubblyShell22]

Well, Catholics are all about preserving human life, so it doesn't surprise me.

[Powder]

I'm for it. Folks should have the right to make their own choices.

[Metalwolf]

It depends. I don't really like the idea because it has the potential to be abused quite easily, plus 'dying with dignity' can be pushed on someone if their condition costs too much, made to be a burden on their family, or are heavily disabled.



I have found several physicians that disagree with it, and they raise very pertinent reasons why.

http://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/signed-stevens-aff-9-18-12-as-filed.pdf

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2012/10/paliiative-care-assisted-suicide

And here are some folks trying to rationalize allowing suicide for mentally ill:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/03/12/can-suicide-ever-be-a-rational-choice-debate-over-the-greatest-of-harms-increasingly-heated/

Here is an argument against 'rational suicide:'

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Protected/Articles/000/000/011/044zghkm.asp?page=2

[pennydreadful]

I'm for it. I have two immediate family members who work/worked in aged care, and another who worked in the intensive care unit of a general hospital. I've heard enough to know how I'd rather go out with some dignity, instead of lying in bed not knowing what's going on, having my body manhandled by orderlies and not being able to look after myself.

[TheCanadiandrome]

It depends. I don't really like the idea because it has the potential to be abused quite easily, plus 'dying with dignity' can be pushed on someone if their condition costs too much, made to be a burden on their family, or are heavily disabled.

exactly right. nothing should ever be forced upon anyone

[Cure]

Well, Catholics are all about preserving human life, so it doesn't surprise me.

Don't speak about things you have no idea of.

[Leo656]

I was raised Catholic. All families are different, obviously, but her educated guess wasn't really far off. At least from how I was raised.

[BubblyShell22]

Don't speak about things you have no idea of.

Actually, I do have an idea because I was raised Catholic and according to the Church, suicide is considered a sin just as abortion is considered a sin. So stop acting like I don't know what I'm talking about when I was raised in that religion.

[Katie]

I'm for it. I have two immediate family members who work/worked in aged care, and another who worked in the intensive care unit of a general hospital. I've heard enough to know how I'd rather go out with some dignity, instead of lying in bed not knowing what's going on, having my body manhandled by orderlies and not being able to look after myself.

I'm neutral on the subject, but this popped a question to all into my head.

If euthanasia was legal, and let's say you had an elderly relative with dementia. Not really Alzheimer's, so not really terminal, but the person is unable to care for themselves.

Would you consider euthanasia for this relative? It wouldn't be a decision they could make for themselves. You would be deciding it on their behalf. Is this any different to anyone than choosing to end your own life?

Personally, I'd be uncomfortable with this scenario but might entertain euthanasia for myself if I was terminal.

[BubblyShell22]

Well, if the person in question had requested such a thing when they were of sound mind and body, then I'd be all for it because it was their last request. But if they didn't, then that would be a hard thing to consider since they didn't request it. I know my BF's grandma requested they pull the plug on her if she got bad because she didn't want to end up in a nursing home, and they did just that.

[Leo656]

That is a sticky wicket. That's why some people encourage others to have that uncomfortable discussion well in advance, while they still have their faculties. Like, "IF you ever can't make the decision for yourself, but you're clearly suffering, what would you want me to do?" My Dad was pretty clear that if it ever came to that, we should just end it.

It runs in my family on my Mother's side. I've told my wife if I ever lose it and I'm having a ton of physical stuff going on as well, and my mind is just shot, just let me go. Like, some people go visit their parents/loved ones or whatever, and... they tell them to go away, leave them alone, accuse them of trying to hurt them, they sincerely don't remember them or recognize them... I don't want to do that to her. If I'm ever in that place, I'd just be lingering. And I wouldn't want my last words to her to be "leave me alone, you f*cking stranger" or something like that.

This also might sound selfish, but I hope I go before she does because I can't bear to live without her.

[Candy Kappa]

I'm for it, and it should be a decision made by that individual. If a person have a terminal illness and medication do not ease the pain, I see no wrong that that person should have the ability to end their life without others getting into trouble helping them.

It's up for each individual case and should be well regulated.

[TheCanadiandrome]

It's up for each individual case and should be well regulated.

but you know it won't be

[BubblyShell22]

That is a sticky wicket. That's why some people encourage others to have that uncomfortable discussion well in advance, while they still have their faculties. Like, "IF you ever can't make the decision for yourself, but you're clearly suffering, what would you want me to do?" My Dad was pretty clear that if it ever came to that, we should just end it.

It runs in my family on my Mother's side. I've told my wife if I ever lose it and I'm having a ton of physical stuff going on as well, and my mind is just shot, just let me go. Like, some people go visit their parents/loved ones or whatever, and... they tell them to go away, leave them alone, accuse them of trying to hurt them, they sincerely don't remember them or recognize them... I don't want to do that to her. If I'm ever in that place, I'd just be lingering. And I wouldn't want my last words to her to be "leave me alone, you f*cking stranger" or something like that.

This also might sound selfish, but I hope I go before she does because I can't bear to live without her.

Dude, that's not selfish at all. That's very noble of you to think that way because it shows you hold her in high regard. Don't beat yourself up for wishing that. I feel the same way.

[Leo656]

It's kinda selfish though because then she's the one alone. :ohwell: It always breaks my heart when two people who care about each other are suddenly split, and the one who survives just kind of lingers like a ghost, because they lost the best piece of themselves.

That's partly why I'm in favor of the Euthanasia thing. If couples who want to do so can arrange that they go out together, take their last breath together, hand-in-hand... that's just so beautiful, and I think they should have the option to make that choice.

[BubblyShell22]

Maybe, but the fact that you love her so much that you can't bear to think of her dying and you being alone without her is still a pretty noble thing. And I agree that couples should be allowed to die together if they want to. That would be awesome.

[Leo656]

I can't think of a better way to go. Just curl up together... "Love you, darlin'..." and just go to sleep. That's how I'd wanna go if I had a choice.

[BubblyShell22]

Yep, same here. I'd love to do that with my BF, too. Best way to go out is with the one you love.