Assisted Suicide.

[Threx]

Afternoon Escapists

First off I'm going to try and do something like this every two days. Were I bring up a very important topic that's getting a lot of attention at the time via the news, radio and internet like this weeks assisted suicide. Please tell me if I should continue these or if I should quit before I get my hopes up.

Now the first time this had ever entered my mind was during English class, we had just finished reading of mice and men.

Spoiler: Spoiler Alert!!

For those of you who have read it George kills Lennie a more human way than Curley and them had planned on doing it

Well this sparked a class debate on assisted suicide. Well the next day in class we went to the Mac Lab and looked up some articles on the World Wide Web and you wouldn't believe how many articles there were about assisted suicide, and the controversy over it is unbelievable. What it really comes down to though is the fact that through the process of assisted suicide a human being has to loose there life. Now I ask you Escapists what do you think of this topic. Are you completely appalled by this or do you think that they shouldn't have to go through the pain of cancer or MS.

What do you think?

Threx out!

 

[blankedboy]

1. We're 'Escapists'
2. If you're going to post things like this regularly, e-mail the staff and make them articles.

I don't actually have an opinion on the subject, just throwing that in there.

 

[dagens24]

You should have ultimate say over your life; if you want to end it that's your business.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Assisted Suicide is a form of murder...while the victim want it to happen to them the fact remains that another person is committing the act. It does upset me but i'm not completely appaled by it.

 

[The Mehster]

I think that assisted suicide is fine, as long as the person has a terminal illness.

 

[manaman]

A person can refuse treatment at anytime. But intentional harm goes against Doctors in the US's oath.

So there are a lot of factors that are up for debate, should a person who will die without treatment be allowed to refuse treatment, and if so on what grounds?

For me they should be able to refuse treatment on any grounds they damn well wish, unless the state can show they are not of sound mind. Then they no longer have the mental capacity to decide that for themselves, and a caretaker, or guardian should not be able to decide for them.

Doctors following their oath should not intentionally harm patients. But does assisted suicide fall under that?

The only people I believe should be involved in an assisted suicide are doctors, nobody else would have the emotional detachment to judge if their truly is not hope for the person, and the medical skills to perform any kind of painless procedure. But that should only come into play when a person is to sick to do it themselves, cause that's how I feel about assisted suicide - do it your damn self, unless you are to sick in which case a doctor should be able to determine that you are of sound mind, and your health is to the point where it is hopeless, then they should if they wish be able to help you shrug off life.

 

[BonsaiK]

What do you think?

Despite being generally not legal, assisted suicide happens all the time in the medical profession. It just happens in ways that people don't realise. Having watched cancer patients dying and the unbelievable amounts of pain and lack of dignity involved I can only say that it's a good thing if that's what the patient wants. It doesn't really matter whether people approve of it or not. It's always going to be present in society.

 

[fun-with-a-gun]

Assisted Suicide is a form of murder...while the victim want it to happen to them the fact remains that another person is committing the act. It does upset me but i'm not completely appaled by it.

Not quite true... The other person is usually there just to make sure it ends the right way, not to actually "pull the plug" themselves.

I think that this is a pretty good way for you to get yourself recognized on this site, and once you're recognized things tend to happen.

 

[SmartIdiot]

If existence is suffering, then amplifying and prolonging that suffering is inhumane. People should have a right to end their lives in a situation where they are unable to cope and there's no way back. Even if it requires the help of someone else. As long as they are of sound mind I do not see the problem.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Assisted Suicide is a form of murder...while the victim want it to happen to them the fact remains that another person is committing the act. It does upset me but i'm not completely appaled by it.

Even if the only thing that the other person is doing is signing a form and preparing a shot, and the 'victim' in question has total and utter control over the whole process?

THere's always exceptions and i'm just making a general statement there...i didn't add all the holes.

 

[DkLnBr]

I think every human being has the right to die as they wish, provided they are of sufficient mental capacity to choose so. I have asked my family that if I am rendered brain dead or trapped in my own body, that they should kill me. I think I would much prefer to die with dignity than waste away painfully.

I believe it should be a total right in all civilized nations.

I agree, there are worse things than death, such as becoming a vegetable.

 

[Vaccine]

I think every human being has the right to die as they wish, provided they are of sufficient mental capacity to choose so. I have asked my family that if I am rendered brain dead or trapped in my own body, that they should kill me. I think I would much prefer to die with dignity than waste away painfully. And If I get terminal cancer or similar, I'll probably find some way to end my own life.

I believe it should be a total right in all civilized nations.

I think this pretty much hit the head on the nail, but overall this is a topic that is totally situational and can't apply to such a broad amount of people, there is no "it's right" or "it's wrong" answer.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

THere's always exceptions and i'm just making a general statement there...i didn't add all the holes.

Ah. Fair enough.In general though, you would consider it murder?

Not really...it could be considered that way by others.

 

[floppylobster]

I would happily give someone who wanted to die the means by which to kill themselves, but I would not do the act myself.

 

[Flight]

People should be allowed to die, if that's what they choose. Personally, I'd rather have a quick and relatively painless death, rather than a long, drawn-out affair due to illness or accident or something like that; the latter appears to hurt everyone involved much more than it needs to. It's not a matter of "right" or "wrong"; to me, it's a matter of the patient's wishes.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Not really...it could be considered that way by others.

Erm.... So what are you saying exactly? Sorry, it's just a bit difficult to make out what you're trying to get at.

If i were to just hear a story of this calibur my thought's would point towards murder. But as facts are presented to me and i hear more details then my opinion would change.

 

[Naheal]

In a technical sense, assisted suicide is murder. However, there are points in time where such is humane.

Also, is murder involuntary assisted suicide?

 

[Threx]

Also, is murder involuntary assisted suicide?

No there are to key words assisted definition=help suicide=the act of killing your self

Murder doesn't fit either of these definitions so no it isn't.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

I think if someone wants to REALLY kill themselves and has thought it through and whatever, that you should help them do it (if they come to you seeking help to kill them)

 

[Pariah87]

All I can really say is what I would wish to be done were I in a situation. I already decided long ago that if I were to get a terminal illness I would go out on my own terms, the earlier the better. In many ways it makes sense, less taxpayer money being spent keeping me alive a few months more, another hospital bed open for someone who has a chance of recovering etc.

If I were to become say, completely paralysed, or end up with severe brain damage I would expect someone to end my life. But that could be due to being stubborn and proud and the idea of dying doesn't bother me as much as the indignity of having to be bathed and fed and dressed by most likely a stranger untill my body finally decides to give out.

Could I help another end their life though? If a family member when terminally ill asked me to sign a form that allowed doctors to humanely end their lives then yes I feel I could. I'm not sure I could perform the act myself.