Assisted suicides

[Odie]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

Did you know beforehand that a 'miracle' might happen?

no, how could we know?

-nurses and doctors were completely in shock.

[Victoria]

Suicide was a criminal offense in the UK until 1967.


While you do hear of miricle cases lets remember thats what they are, one in a million, the rest die in agony or so doped up they dont know who they are anymore thats not life thats a living death.

As I now live in the netherlands where euthanasia is legal I have known people who have chosen to leave rather than carry on in agony.


A 27 yr old man who had suffered cancer since the age of 13. He had had operations to remove tumors chemo and radio therapy and at 25 was declared cancer free but he wasnt, it had got into his spine and the pain was agonizing. For him there was no cure, no miricle waiting to happen so he choose to end his suffering.
He gave a big party for all his friends and family and two days later he went into hospital and died.

The rules here are
you must be terminal,
you must have exhausted every medical option,
you must prove you are in pain and have no resonable quality of life,
you must be of sound mind and not in depression
Two doctors must independantly assess and agree the above terms are met , then and only then will you be allowed euthansia.

Doctors say they cant play God but thats what they do everyday by not letting people go, by forcing them to stay alive they are determining when its time to die..
My life = my choice.

[kazalala]

Excellent post Victoria,, and thanks for contributing here as you are in a country that allows it

[OpenMind]

That looks like a fuss-free simple set of parameters, Victoria.
I wonder what our Government would tack together.

Debbie Purdy case: MP David Winnick pledges to launch Bill calling for assisted suicide to be legalised in UK



Debbie Purdy case: MP David Winnick pledges to launch Bill calling for assisted suicide to be legalised in UK - Telegraph

[Victoria]

It is a clear set of guidelines with safeguards. For example someone with alzhiemers or a sickness which will render a patient unable to communicate can make a sort of living will called a declaration of euthanisa in which they lay out exactly what they do and dont want as regards treatment and at what point they want a doctor to help them end thier life..
Yet the UN are challenging it, quoteing 'the right to live'
but surely by taking away someones right to die we are not 'giving' them a right to live, we are just forcing our will on them?

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by Victoria

It is a clear set of guidelines with safeguards. For example someone with alzhiemers or a sickness which will render a patient unable to communicate can make a sort of living will called a declaration of euthanisa in which they lay out exactly what they do and dont want as regards treatment and at what point they want a doctor to help them end thier life..
Yet the UN are challenging it, quoteing 'the right to live'
but surely by taking away someones right to die we are not 'giving' them a right to live, we are just forcing our will on them?

I wouldn't stake my life on it but, I believe these arcane laws derive from religious beliefs where suffering was considered to be good for the soul.
I believe that some suffering is good for the soul but there is a point beyond which suffering depletes a person's spirit.

[Accountable]

I don't see how we can conscientiously prohibit a person's right to determine his own death or wishes upon incapacitation, if he decides to. I think suicide or assisted suicide should be permitted, but decisions on euthenasia should be set up by the individual well ahead of time. One of our Gardeners has been at least close to such a decision. Many others might have chosen mercy killing if it was an option. I wonder what I would want, what I would choose.

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by Accountable

I don't see how we can conscientiously prohibit a person's right to determine his own death or wishes upon incapacitation, if he decides to. I think suicide or assisted suicide should be permitted, but decisions on euthenasia should be set up by the individual well ahead of time. One of our Gardeners has been at least close to such a decision. Many others might have chosen mercy killing if it was an option. I wonder what I would want, what I would choose.

The only thing I would question of what you have said is '...but decisions on euthenasia should be set up by the individual well ahead of time.'
For instance, if a young adult may not have got around to setting up a provisions for euthanasia. If said person had a bad accident that rendered their life intolerable, pointless, or worthless, etc., then there needs to be a process whereby the matter could be taken to court.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

I agree and the example exemplifies the complexity of the issue.

There's a "flip side" to the argument, too - consider capital punishment.

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by Bill Sikes

There's a "flip side" to the argument, too - consider capital punishment.

As the law stands at the moment, capital punishment is not an option in the UK. I think this is just as well as their can be an element of doubt on any guilty verdict given.
On the other hand, it may be appropriate for someone who is absolutely known to to be a danger to the public - a psychopath for instance or someone who repeatedly murders. It would be the lesser of two evils. Better that one person is killed 'humanely' rather than two horribly.