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Euthanasia and assisted suicide

Should a person have the right to choose death?

  • Yes

    Votes: 53 94.6%
  • No

    Votes: 3 5.4%

  • Total voters
    56
Wanting people to be responsible is one thing.

Not being bothered if millions and millions of people drop dead tomorrow is quite another.


Have a nice day.


...and if people want to drop dead by their own volition is none of your business.
 
If you please? Calm down?

I was replying to DA60

In a public forum where anyone is welcome to respond. There are private messages for a reason.
 
Not being bothered if millions and millions of people drop dead tomorrow is quite another.

Actions have consequences. Deal with it.
 
Actions have consequences. Deal with it.
Already have.

The difference is it bothers me when millions drop dead...even if they brought it on themselves.

With you, it apparently does not.

I am done with you for the time being.


Have a nice day.
 
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As a libertarian, I value personal responsibility above many other things. Euthanasia is asking someone else to kill you. I personally think it's more responsible to do it yourself, rather than insisting someone else take on your own responsibility.

Not to mention the legal, social, psychological and emotional ramifications and/or burdens assumed by the one who acts to end the life of another.
 
Not to mention the legal, social, psychological and emotional ramifications and/or burdens assumed by the one who acts to end the life of another.

Exactly. When my dad was dying last summer, I had some time to think seriously and personally about the issue of euthanasia. I asked myself if I would, or could, give him something to kill him quickly, rather than letting nature take its course. Part of the answer was based on my knowing the man and how he felt about suicide, which he had some serious objections to, as it was against his personal code of ethics for living. Part of the answer was in the question of whether or not dying is to be looked at as wholly unnatural or somehow an oddity, which it is not. So many of us spend much of our lives trying to avoid confronting the issue of death and dying, as if it's somehow a taboo subject that we do not want to face with sobriety. Dying is every bit as natural as birth and living, and my father realized that. It seems to be generally believed that there is no psychological or personal value in the process, but I tend to believe that the process aids us in resolving some psychological issues that we may have been carrying around for a lifetime, and it is not my wish to artificially end that process for anyone, especially someone I love.
I wanted to be there for him, and let him know that I loved him more than words can say. I wanted to comfort him in his time of need, and let him reconcile all that his life had been and die with some peace of mind. These are the things that make a life worth living, and a peaceful resolution when the end of it arrives.
 
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As a libertarian, I value personal responsibility above many other things. Euthanasia is asking someone else to kill you. I personally think it's more responsible to do it yourself, rather than insisting someone else take on your own responsibility.

The second person serves as compassionate sounding board, to validate your state of mind.

The second person also serves as a medical expert--to make the procedure as medically sound and painless as possible.

The second or third person can also be a loved one comforting you in the final moments.


If a person does this alone, how do we validate their state of mind?
 
Exactly. When my dad was dying last summer, I had some time to think seriously and personally about the issue of euthanasia. I asked myself if I would, or could, give him something to kill him quickly, rather than letting nature take its course. Part of the answer was based on my knowing the man and how he felt about suicide, which he had some serious objections to, as it was against his personal code of ethics for living. Part of the answer was in the question of whether or not dying is to be looked at as wholly unnatural or somehow an oddity, which it is not. So many of us spend much of our lives trying to avoid confronting the issue of death and dying, as if it's somehow a taboo subject that we do not want to face with sobriety. Dying is every bit as natural as birth and living, and my father realized that. It seems to be generally believed that there is no psychological or personal value in the process, but I tend to believe that the process aids us in resolving some psychological issues that we may have been carrying around for a lifetime, and it is not my wish to artificially end that process for anyone, especially someone I love.
I wanted to be there for him, and let him know that I loved him more than words can say. I wanted to comfort him in his time of need, and let him reconcile all that his life had been and die with some peace of mind. These are the things that make a life worth living, and a peaceful resolution when the end of it arrives.

The "natural" argument goes out the window when you consider that nearly every single one of us is alive due to medical technology.

We do not live natural lives. Therefore, most of us do not die natural deaths. We die of extreme, unnatural old age, slowly, due to extremely unnatural complications of extreme old age. Or, we die slow unnatural deaths due to life-extending treatments to unnaturally counteract lethal diseases.

Some of us do pass quietly and quickly, but most do not. Most of us live artificially for years or decades.

If someone would like to die "naturally" they are certainly in their right to die however they like. However, it is not somehow lesser for a person being artifically kept alive and plunked in a motorized chair to want to die unnaturally. He is living unnaturally.
 
Already have.

The difference is it bothers me when millions drop dead...even if they brought it on themselves.

With you, it apparently does not.

I am done with you for the time being.


Have a nice day.

By all means, go hide. The inability to deal with things you don't agree with, especially since you cannot come up with a reason you don't agree with it beyond base emotionalism, is very telling.
 
As a libertarian, I value personal responsibility above many other things. Euthanasia is asking someone else to kill you. I personally think it's more responsible to do it yourself, rather than insisting someone else take on your own responsibility.

What if you cant do it? I mean physically or mentally? Having a Dr's assistance can help ensure it goes painlessly, more efficienty and probably more effectively with much less mess.
 
What if you cant do it? I mean physically or mentally? Having a Dr's assistance can help ensure it goes painlessly, more efficienty and probably more effectively with much less mess.

Personally, that's a part of my problem with it. These decisions are better made when the ill person is still mentally and physically functional, so that the family and doctor have no doubts about the wishes of the individual, should they become incapicitated. Killing someone should be wrought with indecision and doubt, imo, as it is about the most serious undertaking one can participate in. I realize that I am likely the exception to the rule, concerning the issue of dying, but I don't want someone to put me out of my misery out of some misguided belief that dying is something to fear and dread. When it is my time to die, I want to go through the process without a bunch of fretting and worrying about whether or not I'm suffering. Of course there is suffering involved in most cases. So what? Can people not face even the reality of death, much less that of life?
 
Exactly. When my dad was dying last summer, I had some time to think seriously and personally about the issue of euthanasia. I asked myself if I would, or could, give him something to kill him quickly, rather than letting nature take its course. Part of the answer was based on my knowing the man and how he felt about suicide, which he had some serious objections to, as it was against his personal code of ethics for living. Part of the answer was in the question of whether or not dying is to be looked at as wholly unnatural or somehow an oddity, which it is not. So many of us spend much of our lives trying to avoid confronting the issue of death and dying, as if it's somehow a taboo subject that we do not want to face with sobriety. Dying is every bit as natural as birth and living, and my father realized that. It seems to be generally believed that there is no psychological or personal value in the process, but I tend to believe that the process aids us in resolving some psychological issues that we may have been carrying around for a lifetime, and it is not my wish to artificially end that process for anyone, especially someone I love.
I wanted to be there for him, and let him know that I loved him more than words can say. I wanted to comfort him in his time of need, and let him reconcile all that his life had been and die with some peace of mind. These are the things that make a life worth living, and a peaceful resolution when the end of it arrives.

The permanence and gravity of these decisions bring about entire lifetimes of memories, quality if life issues and we, as children, are put into a position of deciding what is in the best interests of our parents. The greats act of love could be to ease their pain and if I had to decide, no matter what the law in my state dictates, I would end my mother's life if circumstances where ripe for this act.
 
The permanence and gravity of these decisions bring about entire lifetimes of memories, quality if life issues and we, as children, are put into a position of deciding what is in the best interests of our parents. The greats act of love could be to ease their pain and if I had to decide, no matter what the law in my state dictates, I would end my mother's life if circumstances where ripe for this act.

Knowing my dad's beliefs about life and death, I could not, in good conscience, end his life before it's natural point of conclusion. He did not believe (as I don't believe) that there should be no suffering. My dad was a purist in most facets of his life, as am I. He was a strong man who did not back away from a challenge, no matter how difficult it was. This is why I felt strongly that euthanasia would have been strictly against his wishes.
 
we should at least have the right to not suffer that a pet has.

the only sticking point i see is that we probably shouldn't extend that right to suicidally depressed young people. doctor assisted suicide is for the terminally ill. i'm not saying i wouldn't support it for some adults who have suffered through many years of ineffective treatments for some mental illnesses. i'm simply pointing out that we would have to plan for (technically adult) college kids who lose the love of their life and can't see past it. i've been there, and the motivation to end it all is very strong. on the other side, you realize what a terrible mistake it would have been.

Most states now have 'patient self determination acts' which allow the patient to refuse medical care. That may not apply in instances of psychiatric evaluation and treatment, but when it comes to medical treatment, with some very narrow exceptions, the patient can refuse treatment.

Anyway the OP is about a Brit.
 
Knowing my dad's beliefs about life and death, I could not, in good conscience, end his life before it's natural point of conclusion. He did not believe (as I don't believe) that there should be no suffering. My dad was a purist in most facets of his life, as am I. He was a strong man who did not back away from a challenge, no matter how difficult it was. This is why I felt strongly that euthanasia would have been strictly against his wishes.

That is the way it should be, respecting the wishes of those we love. I have not broached the issue with my mother. However, since I am her executor, I get messages regarding her demise .....a lot more often than I want...:(
 
The permanence and gravity of these decisions bring about entire lifetimes of memories, quality if life issues and we, as children, are put into a position of deciding what is in the best interests of our parents. The greats act of love could be to ease their pain and if I had to decide, no matter what the law in my state dictates, I would end my mother's life if circumstances where ripe for this act.

This is why everyone should have an advance directive for health care. So their children will not be in this position. Most states have their own form in their patient self determination statute.
 
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This is why everyone should have an advance directive for health care. So their children will not be in his position. Most states have their own form in their patient self determination statute.

An advanced directive was a condition for me agreeing to be her executor. I have siblings, but, I am the "go to" guy ......unfortunately........
 
An advanced directive was a condition for me agreeing to be her executor. I have siblings, but, I am the "go to" guy ......unfortunately........

I got the job by default, as I am the oldest of 4 girls, and the one who can keep my cool under great pressure, and not waiver in carrying out whatever needs to be done. Fortunately, my family is not highly dysfunctional, and we all have a wonderful relationship with each other.
 
I got the job by default, as I am the oldest of 4 girls, and the one who can keep my cool under great pressure, and not waiver in carrying out whatever needs to be done. Fortunately, my family is not highly dysfunctional, and we all have a wonderful relationship with each other.

I am the hapless fool who thought getting an education and being responsible were good ideas..........:doh
 
It's your life, do with it what you can or want, even if it is dying. Just don't depend on me to keep you alive though.

I think it is a human tragedy that people with terminal illnesses cannot "choose death." Maybe someday, I hope.

A serial killer who kills 25 people can get out of this life easier than I can. Where is the justice in that??

Life is a terminal illness, nobody has become immortal yet, or did I miss the memo?
 
It's your life, do with it what you can or want, even if it is dying. Just don't depend on me to keep you alive though.

Life is a terminal illness, nobody has become immortal yet, or did I miss the memo?

No, but you missed the memo that I can't just do what I want with it. That's sorta' what the thread's about.
 
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