What do you all think about Euthanasia?

[loanwizard]

Is not God really the one who pulls the plug? Job 1:21

Quote: Absolutely! However, Man and technology seem to try to control God's hand on the plug.

The poster above has it right. If you're religion prevents you from it, then that is wonderful for you.

However, that doesn't give us the right to infringe upon another's freedom.

Liberty, freedom to choose.

 

[chickened]

I really think euthanasia should be legalised. Then it would be up to the individual what they want to do.

We would think it wrong if someone had a pet, such as a dog or cat, and they were letting it suffer for months or years knowing there was no cure or help for it. We can see the kind thing to do is let it go peacefully with no more suffering. Why is that different for people?

My own Grandmother was terminally ill from cancer and she was bedridden and in great discomfort for over 2 years before she died. She wanted us to help end her life - she was ready to go after having a wonderful life. But, of course, we could do nothing. It really felt so wrong.

I know if I was every suffering like that and knew the end would be months or years away it would be like torture to me. I would want a peaceful and quick death.

It seems the main reason people are against it is for religious reasons. But this should not be a problem because if the religious people don't think its right due to their beliefs, then they simply won't do it. We are not talking about making euthanasia compulsory.

Other people with different beliefs and religions should be able to have the right to choose for themselves what they want to do.

Government sets the laws... is it really the governments role to interfere with one's religious rights either way?

People learn from their suffering. Some actually come to a different understanding of life from suffering.

Like I said PAS is more for the living than the dying. If someone wants to take their own life they do not need help in most cases. The world is full of survivors of terminal illnesses who have been healed. I know one personally.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I think there are many people out there who would have chosen euthanasia if it was an option. The way the laws are written in most places, a family member assisting someone's death is committing murder. You have to be completely willing to sacrifice your life to assist a loved one in dying. Personally, I would far rather face euthanasia than a life in an iron lung. While this is not a huge issue these days, there are people who wish to die, and cannot do it themselves.

As for myself, if I had an Alzheimers diagnosis, I would enjoy the time I could spend with my family while I was still relatively healthy, prepare them for my passing, and end it before the disease progressed to its natural end. I wouldn't want to feel the dissolution of my personality, and leave only ugly memories for my family.

I think good pallative care, counseling and support are necessary for those suffering. In many cases, pain management and counseling can change a person's outlook on death and dying. It is not always the terminally ill who wish to end their lives, but those whose chronic suffering, with illness and disability who can't face the life they must lead. However, in the US at least, we aren't very good at getting counseling for those who need it, and we distrust pain management because it is so often abused. If we were better at dealing with the anger, frustration, depression and desperation of the chronically and terminally ill, we probably wouldn't be discussing PAS or euthanasia.

That being said, a person in their right mind should be able to end their own life. If they cannot do it themselves, they should be allowed to sanction another person to do it.

 

[Stacykins]

You also have to remember, that not everyone in the world believes in the Christian God, or any God or Gods at all. So really not a big factor with euthanasia. And if the Christian God is supposed to be all loving and forgiving, then committing suicide is a 'sin' but won't affect your eternal status in Heaven. At least, that is how this Heathen interprets that bit of religion.

 

[hemet dennis]

I think there are many people out there who would have chosen euthanasia if it was an option. The way the laws are written in most places, a family member assisting someone's death is committing murder. You have to be completely willing to sacrifice your life to assist a loved one in dying. Personally, I would far rather face euthanasia than a life in an iron lung. While this is not a huge issue these days, there are people who wish to die, and cannot do it themselves.

As for myself, if I had an Alzheimers diagnosis, I would enjoy the time I could spend with my family while I was still relatively healthy, prepare them for my passing, and end it before the disease progressed to its natural end. I wouldn't want to feel the dissolution of my personality, and leave only ugly memories for my family.

I think good pallative care, counseling and support are necessary for those suffering. In many cases, pain management and counseling can change a person's outlook on death and dying. It is not always the terminally ill who wish to end their lives, but those whose chronic suffering, with illness and disability who can't face the life they must lead. However, in the US at least, we aren't very good at getting counseling for those who need it, and we distrust pain management because it is so often abused. If we were better at dealing with the anger, frustration, depression and desperation of the chronically and terminally ill, we probably wouldn't be discussing PAS or euthanasia.

That being said, a person in their right mind should be able to end their own life. If they cannot do it themselves, they should be allowed to sanction another person to do it.

Just a thought but what about someone that's not in their "right mind" if they also have a painful illness would they just have to suffer with it ? Or could someone decide for them ? Who would be allowed to decide ? Would that person have a right to a DNR order ? Or do they need to be on life support as a veggy ?
Would a prisoner doing life without parole be allowed assisted suicide ? Or could the state offer their family say $50,000 if they chose to end there life ? Think of the money the state would save.

These are just some of the worms that are in that can when you want to start making life and death laws.

 

[chickened]

I think there are many people out there who would have chosen euthanasia if it was an option. The way the laws are written in most places, a family member assisting someone's death is committing murder. You have to be completely willing to sacrifice your life to assist a loved one in dying. Personally, I would far rather face euthanasia than a life in an iron lung. While this is not a huge issue these days, there are people who wish to die, and cannot do it themselves.

As for myself, if I had an Alzheimers diagnosis, I would enjoy the time I could spend with my family while I was still relatively healthy, prepare them for my passing, and end it before the disease progressed to its natural end. I wouldn't want to feel the dissolution of my personality, and leave only ugly memories for my family.

I think good pallative care, counseling and support are necessary for those suffering. In many cases, pain management and counseling can change a person's outlook on death and dying. It is not always the terminally ill who wish to end their lives, but those whose chronic suffering, with illness and disability who can't face the life they must lead. However, in the US at least, we aren't very good at getting counseling for those who need it, and we distrust pain management because it is so often abused. If we were better at dealing with the anger, frustration, depression and desperation of the chronically and terminally ill, we probably wouldn't be discussing PAS or euthanasia.

That being said, a person in their right mind should be able to end their own life. If they cannot do it themselves, they should be allowed to sanction another person to do it.

I would agree but not a doctor. They take an oath and those that want to kill people should rescend their oath.

 

[chickened]

You also have to remember, that not everyone in the world believes in the Christian God, or any God or Gods at all. So really not a big factor with euthanasia. And if the Christian God is supposed to be all loving and forgiving, then committing suicide is a 'sin' but won't affect your eternal status in Heaven. At least, that is how this Heathen interprets that bit of religion.

A true Christian puts thier trust in the Lord which includes life AND death.

One more time... PAS is for the living not the dying they are dead already.

One thing about dying and knowing it is most people do think about God regardless of thier former thoughts. Most doctors will not kill thier patients.

 

[Souperchicken]

Yes for animals,
No for humans.

For the same reasons as others have stated.

 

[mom'sfolly]

PAS is for the dying.

Why bring criminals into the discussion? Talking about physician aided suicide does not open up any windows for convicted prisoners to opt out. If a convicted prisoner wanted to kill themselves, I'm sure there are plenty of ways to do so.

This discussion is about terminally and chronically ill people, who might not be able to end their lives without assistance.

As I mentioned, good pain management and counseling have been shown to reduce suicidal thoughts in those with severe illness. This option should always come before anyone can opt into PAS. And the whole point of DNRs, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney are to insure that end of life decisions are made in the way the dying person would choose.

In terms of the mentally ill, mentally incompetent, etc, they cannot make that decision for themselves. Allowing someone else to make that choice is indeed murder, unless the choice has already been made by the afflicted person. That means that some one in a persistent vegetative state who can no longer make their own choices, but has a living will and a PoA would be allowed to do as they previously have chosen, and die as they prefer. It also means that the state cannot order mentally retarded children to have treatment withheld, or the incompetent elderly to be "suicided".

This is a legal issue. We shouldn't be basing our laws on anyone's religious views; Christian, Neo-Nazi psuedo-Christian, Hindu or Moslem.

 

[hemet dennis]

PAS is for the dying.

Why bring criminals into the discussion? Talking about physician aided suicide does not open up any windows for convicted prisoners to opt out. If a convicted prisoner wanted to kill themselves, I'm sure there are plenty of ways to do so.

This discussion is about terminally and chronically ill people, who might not be able to end their lives without assistance.

As I mentioned, good pain management and counseling have been shown to reduce suicidal thoughts in those with severe illness. This option should always come before anyone can opt into PAS. And the whole point of DNRs, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney are to insure that end of life decisions are made in the way the dying person would choose.

In terms of the mentally ill, mentally incompetent, etc, they cannot make that decision for themselves. Allowing someone else to make that choice is indeed murder, unless the choice has already been made by the afflicted person. That means that some one in a persistent vegetative state who can no longer make their own choices, but has a living will and a PoA would be allowed to do as they previously have chosen, and die as they prefer. It also means that the state cannot order mentally retarded children to have treatment withheld, or the incompetent elderly to be "suicided".

This is a legal issue. We shouldn't be basing our laws on anyone's religious views; Christian, Neo-Nazi psuedo-Christian, Hindu or Moslem.

What I was bringing up is how careful any law would have to be written.

For example the teacher in Texas that was convicted of having sex with students that were over 18 years old. The law says a teacher cant have sex with students. Now I think everyone will say that's a good law. But that means as an over 50 year old if I went and took a class and me and the teacher hit it off and dated and had sex she could go to jail for up to 20 years. The law should say with underage students.

Good laws can be poorly written. And many are. You cant just write a law that says it's OK for doctors to end a persons life.