Assisted Suicide (Euthanasia)

[Boneasse]

G'day all my fellow escapists.

I was reading an article for a project on the subject of euthanasia (which is assisting other people in commiting suicide).

And I was wondering, what's your take on the subject matter?

Basically euthanasia is;

Someone is terminally ill, in a lot of pain, and unable to kill themselves due to their health-problems. They wish to receive help dying, of their own free will, from either someone who specializes in assisted suicide, or from a family member.

Now the problems, with euthanasia is that people who are in an accident, for example being paralyzed from the neck down, can enter a state of great depression (who wouldn't?) which could cloud their judgement.

Euthanasia can also be used as an excuse for murder. It is easy to claim that someone "wanted to die" by their hand, and it is hard to check when a person is already dead.

Many legal systems these days also discourage euthanasia, as they firmly believe that life is sacred and should be protected at all costs. This has made it illegal in many countries, punishable by jail. In regard to this, many doctors do not condone euthanasia as well, as they also believe you should fight to keep your life.

Can people who are heavily affected by a disease, disability or depression be the judge of when it is the right time for them to die?

What's your take on euthanasia? When is OK? When is it not? Should it be legal in all countries, or is that a bad idea? And why?

 

[GothmogII]

If it's for myself, the only two words I have for anyone who would seek to deny me the right to die (though I'm well aware there is technically no such right legally where I am) start with an f and end with a u.

I do understand the difficulty faced in cases where incapacitation, debilitating injury or disease come unexpected, where a person can be considered 'mentally unfit' to make that decision for themselves, or indeed, when the person actually -is- mentally unfit. It's not an easy decision for either the caregivers or medical staff to make, and thus easier to stay on the side of law and what is considered 'decent'. But, what really gets me is I can actually make provisions, set up a do not resuscitate (DNR) order when I am a fully in charge of my faculties but that this same DNR can be over-ridden by my family's wishes without my own consent.

And in a further bit of amusement, if suffering an illness or injury that is likely to be fatal, I can actually refuse treatment. So, it's quite possible for me to lie in agony and not have medical attention but yet I'm not allowed actually end my own life or have someone else do it for me. It's baffling to say the least.

Maybe I ought to move to Switzerland or something when my time comes, though, I'm a Swiss citizen already, so that's not entirely out of the question. I don't intend to die until I have to, but if the choice comes down to slow death I'd much prefer it be by my hand, or a trained professional should that not be possible.

 

[Geekosaurus]

There should be some sort of medical process that allows it. But I have no idea how it would work. You'd have to have a valid reason to choose suicide - so who decides what's valid and what isn't? Some people may be unable to communicate due to their condition - how do we interpret their request to be killed? Some people might request suicide who are mentally unstable - do we still help them? There are so many more issues which means it's easier for it to just remain illegal. I think people should have complete control over their own lives, and that includes ending it.

 

[Tsaba]

A person who is a paralyze should receive the option, but, if they can move, they can slit their own damn wrists. Any other case from a person being paralyzed is pretty damn close to murder in my eyes. If someone can't take being in pain and don't want to take their own life, let them suffer for 24 more hours, there views are bound to change.

 

[Sethzard]

*snip*

Sorry, Just to correct your title, they are two different things, I'll give an example.
Lets say you had a gun and someone asked you to kill them, that is euthanasia, if you handed them the loaded gun and they killed themselves, that would be assisted suicide.

I am very supportive of assisted suicide, euthanasia has the problem that someone might not want to die, but they will be killed anyway etc. I think that in certain cases I support it.

 

[Slick Samurai]

Such an odd world we live in, isn't it? All the popular religions go on about how the afterlife is such a fantastic place to be, and then get so shocked when people off themselves to get there.

Anywho, help the poor guy kill himself. Actually, you'd be kind of a dick NOT to kill him. He's obviously suffering and wants it to end, you're just extending his suffering by not obeying his wishes. If it's someone who has a permanent condition, help them kill themselves if they ask for it. If it's someone with a terminal disease, help them kill themselves if they ask for it (seriously, who wouldn't? He's going to die anyway, it'd just be cruel to extend it).

People need to get over the moral hurdles of suicide and help people when they ask for it instead of ignoring them.

 

[FamoFunk]

This is something I'm on the fence with.

I think if someone is a serious pain, horrible health and see's no reason for living, I think they should have the choice to die.

But, what gets me is, a lot of people in this situation cannot really think for them selves, what if they get pushed into by a relative or they retract what they said and it's too late.

I love foward to seeing reason for both sides of the argument.

 

[Je Suis Ubermonkey]

The crazy contradiction here is that vets kill animals because they are in pain without the animal's consent, but if a person in pain ASKS to be killed they are denied. The fuck is up with that?

In case you hadn't noticed, I support euthanasia. And I think you should be able to say to a doctor "kill me in such a way that you can harvest all of my organs and tissue afterwards, because I won't need it and if you let someone die by not taking it I will come back from the dead and END YOU."
I also support organ donation and think it's stupid how few organs they can take.

Ah well, at least as crap as it often is the NHS is (sort of) free.

I love Switzerland.
Am I rambling?

 

[Exterminas]

The crazy contradiction here is that vets kill animals because they are in pain without the animal's consent, but if a person in pain ASKS to be killed they are denied. The fuck is up with that?

You have to keep in mind that someone has to "pull the trigger". Do you want to burden your doctor with killing you? He became a doctor so save lives, not to take them away.

 

[Radeonx]

The crazy contradiction here is that vets kill animals because they are in pain without the animal's consent, but if a person in pain ASKS to be killed they are denied. The fuck is up with that?

That's probably because a vast majority of people would say that animals are inferior to humans, so it doesn't really matter if the animals consent.


OT: I'm against euthanasia fully unless used in extreme conditions (I.E. Incredible amounts of pain/being a vegetable or something).

 

[Nimcha]

I don't see why not. I also think everybody should be an organ donor.

 

[Hashime]

The problem is where one "draws the line". I am against euthanasia for the reason that I consider it giving up and that does not fly with me.

Back to drawing the line:
DNR: Perfect, you have a condition that will kill you, you do not want to be artificially supported long term. Now, if the condition is curable and would only require a short stint on life support a DNR should not (and I believe it does not) apply.

Refusing treatment: You have terminal lung cancer from say a lab accident, you will die from this, and treatment would only waste resources: Cool, that works. Again, if it is treatable with a reasonable chance of success, or significant life extension it should be perused.

I am fine with the above two ways of dying, that is naturally.
Euthanasia laws are tough because one changed word and we get the abortion fiasco again, that is instead of (paraphrasing a ton) "Mother's life in danger" it was "Mother's lifestyle" in danger.
Imagine if Euthanasia was legal if "Patient is going to die" or "Patient suffering"
Everyone is going to die, and what defines suffering?

I can not support something for which no standard can be universally set.

 

[Boneasse]

*snip*

Sorry, Just to correct your title, they are two different things, I'll give an example.
Lets say you had a gun and someone asked you to kill them, that is euthanasia, if you handed them the loaded gun and they killed themselves, that would be assisted suicide.

I am very supportive of assisted suicide, euthanasia has the problem that someone might not want to die, but they will be killed anyway etc. I think that in certain cases I support it.

Ah yes, that's true! Euthanasia is basically a "mercy kill".

 

[Wintermoot]

shouldnt this be in R&P?
I,m pro euthanasia its just wrong to let somebody "live" who is in a state in wich he/she can no longer realy live, is in a great deal of pain or cant be cured usualy people who are refused euthanasia do stupid things like refusing medication or go on a hunger strike (in cases where in the patient can still move they usualy commit suicide)

 

[OniaPL]

You know, the times are rather depressing when a human, who wants peace of the grave, cannot get it.

However, there should be at least a couple weeks between the request for euthanasia and the actual euthanasia, to prevent sudden decisions caused by depression or mood swings.

 

[Rakkana]

I could never ask someone to do that to me. No matter the pain.

However if asked I doubt I could refuse if they were in enough pain.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Provided all legal issues are resolved then I don't have a problem with Assisted Suicide. Euthenasia is slightly different though, I don't really have an opinion about it yet.

 

[OniaPL]

Actually, since we are on the subject of death, why can't death row members be executed with a single shot to the head? I find it a lot more humane than the chair or lethal injections.

DISCLAIMER: As far as I know, this isn't a real video. However, you may want skip the video if you suspect you might not feel comfortable watching this.



We cool? Great.



As I already said, as far as I know this isn't a real video as his head isn't even shaved. However, I do think it paints a picture of this "humane" way to execute someone.