Euthanasia

[spiny norman 0]

After looking at the Death Penalty thread below, I thought I might bring up a similar thread for people to just offer their opinions or arguments. And, what with President Reagan recently dying of Alzheimer's, I thought I may as well bring up the issue of Euthanasia.

 

Should it be legal? If so, in what cases? Should AIDS sufferers be able to get such a thing, or Alzheimer's sufferers? Stroke victims left as vegetables? How should it be decided who should be killed and who should not?

 

My personal opinion is that it should be a possibility. Have the case presented to a court and have the patient (or whomever if the patient is not able to do so) tell why it would be better for them to die than not to. After all, hospitals often just take it on themselves to take the patient out of their misery or hasten the process of their inevitable death (eg. morphine overdoses etc).

 

I'm just asking on everyone's take on this issue, because it's an incredibly divisive one. While I disagree with it on a personal level and obviously some doctors will refuse to partake in it and should not be denied that right, I think people who are in too much pain and suffering too greatly to go on should be allowed the choice.

[Guest Anglesault]

I don't really have a firm stance, but I do think there is a point where disease can make life so miserable and painful that it's no longer worth living.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

This is a good topic. As for me, I believe that in the case where the patient is in unbereable pain or suffering which will only get worse, then the it should be a patient's right to end their life and achieve an end to the pain. Also, when the remaining part of a patient's life is only going to be one filled with bed ridden pain, then euthanasia can serve a purpose. I know that seeing the ones you love suffer in unbereable pain can really be a hard thing to go through, especially on the family. When you are so weak and have deterioted so much, this can be so heart wretching. Now I don't think it should be available to everyone and the decision can only be made by a mentally stable patient who understands what will happen. It should be in the case of a uncurable medical condition which will leave those afflicted in unbereable pain and there is no cure, nothing to ease the pain, and nothing that can be done to save the patient. And I do see how some might consider it assisted suicide, but I consider more of a act of mercy.

 

I know that if I had Alzheimer's, or a disease where I was going to die in, for example, one year. And that last year was going to be filled with unbereable suffering. Where my loved ones could only watch me die, I would want the option of Euthanasia. I wouldn't want my loved ones to suffer with me, and yeah it would be sad to see me die an year early, but at least there wouldn't be any suffering on both ends. And I don't want to have my last years be ones where I can't remember who my parents, kids, and wife is (which happens in Alzheimers, and old age unfortunately). So I am for euthanasia in some cases.

[Zorin Industries 0]

Yes, I find it shameful that someone who wishes to end their life because of a dehabilitating and painful illness is denied their request because it offends the sensibilties of a few. It is not their life and thereofre not their decision. If a person has no quality of life, and it will not return, then I see no reason for them not to have the right to die

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

If someone wants to kill themselves, let them -- more air for me...

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I have no problems with suicide, but it's nothing anyone else but the patient should ever be allowed to decide or act upon. The hippocratic oath prevents doctors from doing this, actually. I'm pretty sure they can't serve as executioners in prisons, either.

[Guest croweater]

"Above all do no harm" is the fundamental point in the hippocratic oath. Though, it's not really an oath as a basic guideline, and is relatively open to interpretation depending on what harm is. Sometimes limiting harm is best and helping the patient die will prevent more harm than it causes.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Should AIDS sufferers be able to get such a thing, or Alzheimer's sufferers? Stroke victims left as vegetables? How should it be decided who should be killed and who should not?

 

If the person is able to make a decision then i have less of a problem with it. but if someone has Alzheimer's they're likely unable to make an informed opinion.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

And that's why people should prepare documents while they're of sound mind and body telling those close to them that when they can no longer think/care for themselves to "pull the plug" on them...

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Maybe but like a Law and Order episode told me, they could change their minds at the last second and not want to die which would make it murder.

 

Jack McCoy knows all and sees all.

[Highland 0]

Leave it to the terminally ill patient to decide.

[Guest MikeSC]

The only concern I have with permitting doctors to do this would be that doctors could influence a patient to end it all, even if it is not 100% necessary.

-=Mike

[Highland 0]

Not to mention the lawsuits.....

[Vyce 0]

I say let it be done.

 

Only there's a catch - the only legal method to perform euthanasia would be a bullet to the head, execution style.

 

If people still want it after that, then let's give it to them.

[Highland 0]

I hear the Chinese bill the family of the executed the costs of the bullets and execution fee..

In anycase, a bullet to the back and to the head is reserved for traitors, not terminally ill patients. If I wanted to die and was too debilitated to kill myself I'd rather die of an OD or lethal injection. There's just something undignified about being shot, especially execution style.

[Dr. Tom 0]

People deserve the right and the chance to die with dignity. If someone would rather have the plug pulled than end up existing as a vegetable, then more power to him. Nowadays, it makes sense for people to draft living wills, with explicit instructions about what to do in the event they become terminally ill, comatose, etc.

 

Having seen several situations where I wished there were a plug to pull, I know I'd rather go out with some dignity left than end up a vegetable.

[Vyce 0]

I hear the Chinese bill the family of the executed the costs of the bullets and execution fee..

In anycase, a bullet to the back and to the head is reserved for traitors, not terminally ill patients. If I wanted to die and was too debilitated to kill myself I'd rather die of an OD or lethal injection. There's just something undignified about being shot, especially execution style.

See, I’ve never bought into this whole “dying with dignity” bullshit. IMO, there is NO dignity in death.

 

Doesn’t matter how you die: car accident, illness, dying of a heart attack while on the shitter. Dead's just dead. Nothing romantic or dignified about it. Some deaths are just more painful and / or embarrassing.

[Highland 0]

Getting killed in a car accident or dying on the toilet are relatively quick deaths. I'm refering to a long, wasting terminal illness where you will not recover, but your death will be extremely slow, agonizing and painful.

Also, you can't predict when you'll have a heart attack or die in an accident, but if you're terminal with sometihng like cancer, then you know you're going to die soon and the option to end your own suffering with some dignity should be available.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Suicide isn't illegal, although I do consider it morally wrong, if they want to kill themselves, it is their own choice. Just don't drag other people into it.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Suicide IS illegal.

[Guest Hero to all Children]

I'm moe or less for it.

Dying with dignity is truly a bit of a stretch though. When you die your bowels empty themselves, as does your bladder and what not. It isn't pretty or dignified in any way but I believe that people should always have the liberty to decide their own fate.

 

Like .. if someone asks for it give them that gun with the little cross you put on the tip of a bullet with a rattail file to it splits open like a dum dum bullet along those lines. If they don't have the strength anymore to pull the trigger then you give them something else.

 

But don't give doctors the right to euthanize people actively, even with their written consent. Why? Old folks homes. You need to free a bed? Forge a note of consent, get your own lawyer to make it and have an insane old bat sign it. Or their next of kin who're paying $3000+ a month to keep a sack of flesh alive that has none of the old personality of their parents/uncles. Free beds don't stay free for long.

 

If you don't want life support that's fine. But off yourself as long you're still capable of doing it yourself. Don't be a slacker.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

CWM is right, it IS illegal. (at least, it is in the United States)

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

CWM is right, it IS illegal. (at least, it is in the United States)

Unless it has been changed, it never used to be in Canada. It is assisting in helping someone commit suicide or counseling someone to commit suicide that are illegal.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

If suicide is illegal, then how would they charge you, seeing as how you're dead?

[Guest MikeSC]

If suicide is illegal, then how would they charge you, seeing as how you're dead?

Well, I guess if you fail, they give you a really kick-ass life as punishment...

-=Mike

...Which explains Marc Anthony...

[Vyce 0]

I'm moe or less for it.

Dying with dignity is truly a bit of a stretch though. When you die your bowels empty themselves, as does your bladder and what not.

Yes.

 

There is no dignity in death.

 

Regardless of whether you're religious or not - if you believe in the soul, if you believe that upon death whatever it is that makes you, well, you, departs for whatever lies beyond the veil of this mortal coil, the fact of the matter is: we're all flesh, and we're all gonna rot in the ground. Nothing dignified about it.

 

Call it for what it is! This has absolutely NOTHING to do with "dignity" and everything to do with just not wanting a death that's painful and spread out over an extended period of time.

[Highland 0]

And what is wrong with not wanting a long, lingering death? Just because the body decomposes whether you blow your brains out or slip in the shower invalidates anyones right (and to me it is one of the most fundamental of rights. I find it appaling that a government or relgious agency, or anyone for that matt has more jurisdiction over my body than me) to choose the manner of thier passing?

Edited June 8, 2004 by Naibus

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

It's mostly for if you fail, I presume.

[Guest MikeSC]

It's mostly for if you fail, I presume.

If you fail a lot, do they sentence you to death?

-=Mike

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I wonder how many people die each year from slipping and falling in the shower. I've never heard of an occurance, personally. That'd be an odd way to go, unless the person was elderly.