Assisted suicides

[OpenMind]

This article was in the news today and I sympathise with this couple.

Debbie Purdy 'ecstatic' as she wins House of Lords appeal over assisted suicide
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy has won a landmark court battle that campaigners fear could lead to more people ending their lives in foreign "suicide clinics".

Debbie Purdy 'ecstatic' as she wins House of Lords appeal over assisted suicide - Telegraph

But what of those people who have not had the foresight or the chance to commit suicide with their spouse's or close partner's help.
I think that if, for instance, I lost my intellectual abilities, and needed constant assistance to continue to live a meaningless life, I would want to be 'put down'.
What are your opinions?

[mrsK]

I would like to think that if I was no longer capable of much that I could do something to solve the problem.
Probably won't know for sure till the time comes.

[kazalala]

I think you can have what they call a living will stating your wishes if ever you get to that stage OM,,, I suppose if you are not ill and have no idea you may one day be in that position, it wouldnt be thought of as an option though What im thinking here as well is,,, what about the people who cannort afford to go to switzerland and do this,, did you ever watch the film, "a short trip to Switzeralnd" i think it was caled or something similar with Julie walters,, it was based on a true story and covered the trials and tribulations of this scenario.

[oscar]

If you have ever watched anyone truely suffer you will agree with assisted suicide. After my father had died, my mother revealed that he was on the point of asking me to help him over-dose. He told her that out of everyone, i would be the only one who would have the courage to do it and stand by my convictions. That was in a strange way a huge compliment from my father but i'm not sure i could have done it. Like many, i wouldn't have given a toss about the law and what happened to me afterwards, but could i have done it to my father? I don't know. I suppose i'm relieved, he never actually asked me.
It's very easy to comment and for those to disagree with it if you have never been in that situation.
We would not keep a dog alive the way my father suffered yet we have this stigma over assisted suicide.

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by kazalala

I think you can have what they call a living will stating your wishes if ever you get to that stage OM,,, I suppose if you are not ill and have no idea you may one day be in that position, it wouldnt be thought of as an option though What im thinking here as well is,,, what about the people who cannort afford to go to switzerland and do this,, did you ever watch the film, "a short trip to Switzeralnd" i think it was caled or something similar with Julie walters,, it was based on a true story and covered the trials and tribulations of this scenario.

No, I didn't see the film. I read about the film.
It wasn't that long ago - some time in the last century - that attempted suicide was illegal.
I don't think we have 'living' wills in the UK.
It's a convoluted and emotive subject. We generally know when someone is better off dead as such, but assisting suicide is tantamount to murder in the eyes of the law. Care and caution has to be exercised in case a someone wilfully murdered their partner and put it down to assisted suicide. But I think that a person should have the right to end their partner's or dependent relative's life when that life becomes meaningless or unbearable without any hope of recovery.
On the other side of the coin, even where, as in the posted article, the court's permission has been obtained, the final act should still be ordained by court with recommendations by doctors and solicitors to protect an individual from reckless 'assisted suicide'.

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by oscar

If you have ever watched anyone truely suffer you will agree with assisted suicide. After my father had died, my mother revealed that he was on the point of asking me to help him over-dose. He told her that out of everyone, i would be the only one who would have the courage to do it and stand by my convictions. That was in a strange way a huge compliment from my father but i'm not sure i could have done it. Like many, i wouldn't have given a toss about the law and what happened to me afterwards, but could i have done it to my father? I don't know. I suppose i'm relieved, he never actually asked me.
It's very easy to comment and for those to disagree with it if you have never been in that situation.
We would not keep a dog alive the way my father suffered yet we have this stigma over assisted suicide.

The difference between an animal and a human being 'put down', as it were, is religious, I believe. Despite our apparently irreligious society, we still have moral codes based on centuries of religious doctrine. Afer all, it is mostly through religious moral codes that we have become a 'civilised' society. Don't laugh. Most people do live by a moral code. And it is repugnant to us to coldly murder someone, even if they are not a close relative.

[oscar]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

The difference between an animal and a human being 'put down', as it were, is religious, I believe. Despite our apparently irreligious society, we still have moral codes based on centuries of religious doctrine. Afer all, it is mostly through religious moral codes that we have become a 'civilised' society. Don't laugh. Most people do live by a moral code. And it is repugnant to us to coldly murder someone, even if they are not a close relative.

I agree with you. Not sure i could have helped my father. Even when all are saying there is nothing more to be done, you still hold out for a miracle.

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by oscar

I agree with you. Not sure i could have helped my father. Even when all are saying there is nothing more to be done, you still hold out for a miracle.

To be honest, I am not in a position to say. Both my parents have been gone for over a decade now and required no assistance.
Yet, it must be the greatest act of love to perform this act for your beloved. Nonehteless, I would not wish this act to be placed upon my daughter at any time. Unless she expressed to the relevant authorities that she could and wished to do it, I would expect to be euthanised by a properly qualified doctor.

[oscar]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

To be honest, I am not in a position to say. Both my parents have been gone for over a decade now and required no assistance.
Yet, it must be the greatest act of love to perform this act for your beloved. Nonehteless, I would not wish this act to be placed upon my daughter at any time. Unless she expressed to the relevant authorities that she could and wished to do it, I would expect to be euthanised by a properly qualified doctor.

I can see that if it were made legal, some would exploit the law and open up a can of worms in legal cases being brought.

[kazalala]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

No, I didn't see the film. I read about the film.
It wasn't that long ago - some time in the last century - that attempted suicide was illegal.
I don't think we have 'living' wills in the UK.
It's a convoluted and emotive subject. We generally know when someone is better off dead as such, but assisting suicide is tantamount to murder in the eyes of the law. Care and caution has to be exercised in case a someone wilfully murdered their partner and put it down to assisted suicide. But I think that a person should have the right to end their partner's or dependent relative's life when that life becomes meaningless or unbearable without any hope of recovery.
On the other side of the coin, even where, as in the posted article, the court's permission has been obtained, the final act should still be ordained by court with recommendations by doctors and solicitors to protect an individual from reckless 'assisted suicide'.

I dont think it should be just "allowed" to assist in suicide without proper supervision, rules etc.. I mean the ones now that go to switzerland have to sign forms etc,, the "assistance they need is probably assistance in actually getting there,,and of course the asistance from proffessional doctors to aid in the final process.
It would have to be done i suppose while the person still has enough faculties to make it known its what they want,, and maybe when it is proven that the act is only bringing on the inevitable in a more controlled way.