assisted suicide

[Monica02]

As I've been told by a number of anti-aborts, legal status does not define the morality of something.

No it does not necessarily, however this is one case of enforcement of a law also being moral.

 

[fillerbunny]

No it does not necessarily, however this is one case of enforcement of a law also being moral.

In your opinion.

Obviously, some disagree.

Some years ago, a close friend of mine chose to end his life after enduring years of terminal illness. He'd neglected to go to the doctor when he first realized something was amiss, so by the time it was detected, the cancer had already spread throughout his body. Chemotherapy was ultimately ineffective. Surgery was not an option. Eventually, it spread to his spinal cord- resulting in excruciating pain and partial paralysis. It reached the point where he was unable to derive any enjoyment from life. He wasn't living anymore, he was existing- and his existence was a horrific one. In my opinion, I see absolutely nothing even remotely moral or redemptive about forcing him to endure several more months of laying in bed in horrendous pain waiting for his body to give out.

Physician-assisted suicide, had it been legal, would have allowed him a far more peaceful passing than the means he was ultimately forced to choose. IMO, it is incredibly unfortunate that it was not an option.

Why is it that we consider it perfectly acceptable- moral even, to force a human being to remain alive (against his / her wishes) in a state of suffering we would not subject our own pets to?

 

[gwenmead]

I think physician-assisted suicide is just fine even if the person seeking it is in perfect health and simply wishes to die.

 

[KittyPryde]

I think physician-assisted suicide is just fine even if the person seeking it is in perfect health and simply wishes to die.

I would question if this person is psychologically fit to make such a decision. Antidepressants and therapy could change this person's mind.

 

[Soul Searcher]

Is it ok to be assisted by someone in the Medical profession to end your life if you know beyond any doubt that you will be dead within six months from a degenerative and possibly mind-altering disease?

I would have to say yes. A person should have the right to request and carry out such a thing. I'm not even sure that there would be the restriction of x number of months to live. When someone is suffering and there is no hope of recovery they should have the option.

We hear so much about right to life now a days but if we really have the right to life does that not give us the right to end it as well? As far as we know we do not request to be born and yet are sometimes forced to live even in the most horrific of circumstances. Those who try to take thier own life and fail are locked away for thier own protection and it seems that no one even cares how much they may suffer along the way.

 

[Soul Searcher]

Perhaps we should make it a capital offense?

LOL Problem is it may take 40 years on death row before they carry out the sentence.

 

[shye]

I think assisted suicide is ignorrant. If someone want to die so bad they should do it themselfs. Its easy, run infront of a moving trian, shoot yourself in the head, hang yourself, drown etc......

 

[Gomez]

I think assisted suicide is ignorrant. If someone want to die so bad they should do it themselfs. Its easy, run infront of a moving trian, shoot yourself in the head, hang yourself, drown etc......

Ummmm. Someone who's slowly dying and is in pain stuck in a hospital can't exactly move that easy. So running in front of train, shooting themselves in the head, and drowning isn't much of an option. Not to mention assisted suicide is painless.

 

[SimplyMe]

Ummmm. Someone who's slowly dying and is in pain stuck in a hospital can't exactly move that easy. So running in front of train, shooting themselves in the head, and drowning isn't much of an option. Not to mention assisted suicide is painless.

Further, it's guaranteed. Just throwing yourself in front of a train does not guarantee death, many people have ended up alive by with brain damage or with severe physical damage. Some who have attempted shooting themselves in the head don't kill themselves but instead blow away portions of their mouth and skull while missing the brain or only damaging the brain. If you attempt to poison yourself, often someone shows up and calls emergency before you can die.

The worst part of suicide, however; is that it typically ends up being family that find the body, and even if they don't find it they still have to come and identify and claim the mutilated body.

Assisted suicide helps assure the person committing suicide is not dying because of a temporary mental episode and allows them to die with dignity, not to mention being far easier on loved ones who are left behind.

 

[justanobserver]

Further, it's guaranteed. Just throwing yourself in front of a train does not guarantee death, many people have ended up alive by with brain damage or with severe physical damage. Some who have attempted shooting themselves in the head don't kill themselves but instead blow away portions of their mouth and skull while missing the brain or only damaging the brain. If you attempt to poison yourself, often someone shows up and calls emergency before you can die.

The worst part of suicide, however; is that it typically ends up being family that find the body, and even if they don't find it they still have to come and identify and claim the mutilated body.

Assisted suicide helps assure the person committing suicide is not dying because of a temporary mental episode and allows them to die with dignity, not to mention being far easier on loved ones who are left behind.

well said. especially about the families being "in the know".