Discussion thread - the right to choose life

[NicoleLJ]

I was watching an episode of SVU and came across this idea for a great discussion. My DH and I just had a very good one about it.

Should we have the right to choose life or death when seriously ill? If you know you have an incurable disease and we are at the point where all you feel is pain, nothing helps, and all enjoyment of life is gone and all that is left is suffering. Should you have the right to choose to die instead of waiting for the disease to prolong your life and suffering?

Personally for me I think we should have the right with restrictions. When we find out about the disease we should have to talk to a psychiatrist about it. SO they can decide if we are making this decision based on a healthy mind and expectation. So say I am diagnosed with an incurrable disease that is going to steadily destroy me(mind and body). We should be able to make a decision about at what point I should be able to self terminate my life. But I have to decide this with a proven healthy mind.

For me I see it as we have more compassion for our pets because we are allowed to choose that for them and end their suffering but yet for people(whom we should love just as much) we are unable to make this decision and instead have to wait till the body gives out even if the mind was gone a long time ago.

There is no wrong answer. Please do not condemn others that might have a differing opinion then you. So what is your thoughts.

 

[Laura2919]

Its hard really. I think that people should be given the right to decide but at the same time people will abuse that and think it relates to just general problems in life. I dont think someone else would be able to really understand so seeing a psychiatrist probably wouldnt work, but who knows.

 

[leeanne]

I am going to relocate this to the News and Debates section as I think it better suited for that area

 

[Miss Wright]

I think we should have the right in certain circumstances. I don't think it's faïr to keep people alive against their will when all they feel is pain and have no hope of recovery x

 

[PeanutBean]

I certainly think we should but it would need to come with conditions and safeguards. But it must be because of terminal illness or incurable illness where quality of life would be so deteriorated as to be unbearable. There need to be safeguards around firmity of mind of the sufferer, medical opinion on the likely effects or outcome of the illness and for assisted suicide checks to prevent abuse. We don't need people thinking they are a burden on their family and so going in for euthanasia. We also don't need unscrupulous people who will financially benefit.

But at the end of the day our life is the one thing we really own.

 

[coccyx]

My life , so I should be able to chose when I end it. Have worked in palliative care for many years and have seen some people really suffer when dying, awful for them and friends and family.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

I believe that anyone of sound mind should be able to end their own life when pain and suffering becomes too much to bear. I do think there should be professionals available to discuss it with and psychiatric evaluation done. As a manic depressive there have been times I have wanted to end my life but i am glad i didn't. Having said that, I don't believe mental illness should mean you don't have the option.

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

I believe that anyone of sound mind should be able to end their own life when pain and suffering becomes too much to bear. I do think there should be professionals available to discuss it with and psychiatric evaluation done. As a manic depressive there have been times I have wanted to end my life but i am glad i didn't. Having said that, I don't believe mental illness should mean you don't have the option.

https://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x188/dazzadub/hammare.jpg

 

[polo_princess]

I certainly think we should but it would need to come with conditions and safeguards. But it must be because of terminal illness or incurable illness where quality of life would be so deteriorated as to be unbearable. There need to be safeguards around firmity of mind of the sufferer, medical opinion on the likely effects or outcome of the illness and for assisted suicide checks to prevent abuse. We don't need people thinking they are a burden on their family and so going in for euthanasia. We also don't need unscrupulous people who will financially benefit.

But at the end of the day our life is the one thing we really own.

WSS, i 100% agree with all points mentioned

 

[Tiff]

I did a report on Dr Jack Kevorkian when I was in high school. I personally believe in euthanasia, and agree with the points mentioned above how we should have the freedom to chose, but have stipulations in place... (ie -suffering/terminal illness).

Although that brings me to thinking, what about people with mental illness who commit suicide? Would they be allowed to do this as well? As someone in my life who chose suicide to end their lives it brings a new perspective into it. How far do you gauge someone's suffering? Because mental suffering can't be seen, can it be classified in the same way?

 

[BlackBerry25]

I certainly think we should but it would need to come with conditions and safeguards. But it must be because of terminal illness or incurable illness where quality of life would be so deteriorated as to be unbearable. There need to be safeguards around firmity of mind of the sufferer, medical opinion on the likely effects or outcome of the illness and for assisted suicide checks to prevent abuse. We don't need people thinking they are a burden on their family and so going in for euthanasia. We also don't need unscrupulous people who will financially benefit.

But at the end of the day our life is the one thing we really own.

I agree.

 

[PeanutBean]

I think the complications arise with euthanasia and assisted suicide. Where someone is able to do it themselves it's a different issue. In an ideal world we would have such amazing mental health care that any suicides that do happen couldn't have been prevented iykwim.

 

[NicoleLJ]

Someone just informed me of this:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/forms/DWDA_2009.pdf

Washington State actually has this law passed. It is called Death With Dignity Act. The link above is the report of 2009 when it came into effect. It is only allowed for those that are terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live. They are given a set of pills to do it with. I am so glad to see that at least one place has passed something like this.

 

[Blue_bumpkin]

I believe that anyone of sound mind should be able to end their own life when pain and suffering becomes too much to bear. I do think there should be professionals available to discuss it with and psychiatric evaluation done. As a manic depressive there have been times I have wanted to end my life but i am glad i didn't. Having said that, I don't believe mental illness should mean you don't have the option.

So what about non physical pain that is too much to bear? Genuine question.

I mean where would we draw a line?

I do not think we should have the choice of when to end our own life.

 

[PeanutBean]

I thought this might be of interest: https://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/oct/03/right-to-die-assisted-suicide

 

[Dopeyjopey]

BB, i think if your mental health is at the point where you have no quality of life and is not improved with medication then you should have the option. But a full evaluation should be done beforehand.