Discussion thread - the right to choose life

[Alysser]

It's awful that people need to endure such suffering when they know what they want. Granted, it's not a decision made lightly, but I for one know a few instances where I would not want to live anymore. I think people should be allowed to choose between life or death, especially if death is the only outcome of the situation. It isn't fair to subject people to endless pain, especially if they're going to die anyway. I recall a case where a french women with some type of cancer sued many times over to be euthanized, she unfortunately did not win any of the times but she was obviously suffering a great deal and finally died after 2 years of enduring alot of pain.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Nicole, I like what you said here:

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.

I agree with what you said about the patient talking with and being evaluated by a psychiatrist before they are allowed to make any decisions. What you said about us being to make the decision on weather or not we euthanize animals, well, a big part of that is they cannot make the decision themselves (obviously). I'm sure some patients suffering from an incurably illness/disease would be grateful if this were a choice that they could make.

[Marigold2]

This might fall under living will as well. Yes for me and for many I know when pain is unbearable, a cure is not forthcoming and I cease to enjoy life and to make those I love happy it is time for me to go.
Let the money be used for someone else, let me go to where ever I am going.
Death will come to all. There is no escaping it. So if one can end ones life on a positive note, say their goodbyes and pass along some joy and wisdom yes it is time to go.
Why wait for what more pain and agony? Let me slip away in the company of loved ones..............
Actually most people if they are at home and have access to simple over the counter meds can take matters into their own hands.
As the French say "Sleep a little death"

[Asiel]

Euthanasia should not be legalized. It is by no means a solution to human suffering. Though euthanasia is a controversial subject, it is evident that it only disrupts the normal pattern of life and leads toward creating a more violent and abusive society. Life is a gift and not a choice and practices such as euthanasia violate this vital concept of human society.

I have to wonder why such a stupic topic is discussed on what is supposed to be a pet forum???

[NicoleLJ]

Euthanasia should not be legalized. It is by no means a solution to human suffering.

We each have our own opinions on this topic and all opinions are valid

Though euthanasia is a controversial subject, it is evident that it only disrupts the normal pattern of life and leads toward creating a more violent and abusive society.

Could you please provide evidence that this is true because I do not see how you come to this conclusion

Life is a gift and not a choice and practices such as euthanasia violate this vital concept of human society.

Agian could you please explain how you come to this conclusion

I have to wonder why such a stupic topic is discussed on what is supposed to be a pet forum???

To me this is not a stupid topic. Obviously it is an important subject to many. Just because you do not agree with how people feel about this topic is no reason to insult it. And that is why also it is posted in the general secion and not the pet section.

[NicoleLJ]

Someone just informed me of this:

http://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.

[Grace]

Someone just informed me of this:

http://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.

The State of Oregon passed a Death With Dignity Act in October of 1997. It was passed in a public referendum.

Nicole, this was not a stupid topic for you to post. If there are some who object to it, they can state their objections without raising a ruckus - or, better yet, just say nothing, and back out of the topic.

I am much closer to the end of my life than to the beginning, and I would hope that my wishes would be honored when the time is right. I often think I should get DNR tattooed on my chest. That stands for Do Not Resuscitate for those not familiar with it.

[wombat2u2004]

Euthanasia should not be legalized. It is by no means a solution to human suffering. Though euthanasia is a controversial subject, it is evident that it only disrupts the normal pattern of life and leads toward creating a more violent and abusive society. Life is a gift and not a choice and practices such as euthanasia violate this vital concept of human society.

Oh Asiel.....stop being a fuddy duddy. Of course euthanasia it is a solution to human suffering. Who cares about what it does to society ??? What, are we communists ??? Every life is precious, sure, but at the same time, we all have our own opinions and expectations etc etc. Why on this earth would we want laws or churches to make decisions for us based on what they think is right ??? What are they going to do next ??? Tell us exactly when to eat breakfast ???
Tell me.....how do think it would affect society if someone wanted to end their own life....sick or not ????

[Bonny]

There are choices to be made. When you are terminally ill. Living wills can extend your life or end them. Both hospitals & rest homes have residents sign a paper saying they either want to be revived or left go. My mom signed a legal document while in a home not to be revived. They went over the consequences of being revived. It was a sad time. She contracted the flu & only lasted 5 days in the home after having a stroke. Really you just never know how it is going to end for you till it ends.

[Asiel]

Euthanasia gives physicians, who are only humans-the right to murder. Doctors are people who we trust to save and cure us, we regard them as the people who have been trained to save our lives but euthanasia gives doctors the opportunity to play God and most seize this opportunity. A perfect example of an opportunist would be Dr. Jack Kevorkian, better known as "Dr. Death" who took advantage of his patients' sorrows and tragedies and murdered them. In fact, Kevorkian has helped more than 100 people commit suicide and not all of his patients were terminally ill. In addition, in the late 1980s the lunatic created a machine for murder, it was a "suicide machine" that allowed a person by pressing a button, to dispense a lethal dose of medication to himself or herself. Later, Dr. Kevorkian was sentenced to ten to twenty-five years in prison for second-degree murder for providing lethal injection to a seriously ill patient. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, however, is not the only example of a doctor who tried to "play God".

There is a big difference to making a living will and asking not to be kept alive by machines..a No Ressuscitation makes sense and everyone should have a living will IMO. As for playing God and just deciding who should live and who should die that isn't up to us.
Many terminally ill patients choose to wait until their bodies give up on their own and I respect that also. What if Christopher Reeves had committed suicide instead of working till the end trying to find a cure for brain and spine injuries? And what about Terry Fox? Was that all in vain? Those are the people I admire and respect..they can accept the good with the bad and help others regardless of their own suffering. To me thar's a life worth living.

[Marigold2]

I know your pain, I do......
To have to stand next to the person you love most on this earth, who loves you the most and watch them die...............
It is a pain so deep so all consuming.......
To let them suffer and continue is a living hell.............
I love my children too much to let them go through this......

There are choices to be made. When you are terminally ill. Living wills can extend your life or end them. Both hospitals & rest homes have residents sign a paper saying they either want to be revived or left go. My mom signed a legal document while in a home not to be revived. They went over the consequences of being revived. It was a sad time. She contracted the flu & only lasted 5 days in the home after having a stroke. Really you just never know how it is going to end for you till it ends.

[cassiesmom]

I saw a piece on the news, I think it was on "60 Minutes" about the high number of older adults who receive care in the ICU that really doesn't prolong or improve their quality of life. There were several reasons for this including- that young doctors aren't given a lot of training on how to have end-of-life discussions; that sometimes the ICU doctor doesn't know the patient very well and might not be familiar with their wishes; that there is a mindset in American medicine that everything must be done/tested/evaluated in case the patient/family later take legal action. If I'm ever in that situation don't prolong my life, but don't deliberately end it either.

[Marigold2]

You are right Wom,
If you believe God gave us life. He gave us life, what we do with it, how we live it, end it, well that is totally up to us.
We can decide to be good or evil, kind, thoughless, hardworking, lazy, giving, a taker, it is OUR life to decide. And if we want to end it because the pain is too great, well we have that choice.
What happens to peoples souls if they have one is their concern, not mine, nor is it any of my business.
Budda, Hindu, Jew, Jehovah Witness, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic they all have their own ideas on what happens in the after life and they are entitled to it. It is their right................ I would no more tell a Jewish person or a Buddist that their belief is wrong then I would a Lutheran or Christian Science. Not my call, not my business, not my soul.
God gave us life what we make of it is our OWN choice. No one should have the right to tell one person that their belief is better or correct.
If I am in pain and my body is wrecked with cancer only I can decide when the pain is too great and when I am done fighting. It is MY CHOICE, my soul, my pain, my life.
Having respect for anothers religion is the greatest gift we can give to God.

Oh Asiel.....stop being a fuddy duddy. Of course euthanasia it is a solution to human suffering. Who cares about what it does to society ??? What, are we communists ??? Every life is precious, sure, but at the same time, we all have our own opinions and expectations etc etc. Why on this earth would we want laws or churches to make decisions for us based on what they think is right ??? What are they going to do next ??? Tell us exactly when to eat breakfast ???
Tell me.....how do think it would affect society if someone wanted to end their own life....sick or not ????

[Asiel]

Oh Asiel.....stop being a fuddy duddy. Of course euthanasia it is a solution to human suffering. Who cares about what it does to society ??? What, are we communists ??? Every life is precious, sure, but at the same time, we all have our own opinions and expectations etc etc. Why on this earth would we want laws or churches to make decisions for us based on what they think is right ??? What are they going to do next ??? Tell us exactly when to eat breakfast ???
Tell me.....how do think it would affect society if someone wanted to end their own life....sick or not ????

Legalising euthanasia and/or assisted suicide will have a great impact on society and will affect everyone in one way or another.

Having personal autonomy in end-of-life decision making does not mean that family members and friends will not feel guilt, anger or bitterness
The process of medical research to find cures for diseases may be threatened.
Many of the German doctors who participated in the T4 euthanasia programme did so initially for reasons of compassion.
There are fears that hospice and palliative care programmes will be a casualty of legalised EAS.
In the Netherlands voluntary euthanasia has led to non-voluntary euthanasia.

[Catty1]

Ask a nurse you know well how much "euthanasia" actually goes on in hospitals today. You'd be surprised.

Medical research wouldn't be able to find cures???? I am talking people who are about to DIE, who are terminal. Trust me, they are NOT the research subjects...and research will still be supported as most people do not want to die of a certain ailment.

Look up Sue Rodriguez. She wanted to die as she had ALS and it was only getting worse. Her appeal went to the BC Supreme Court - and was denied.

She was physically unable to administer any type of suicidal agent...she finally got her wish via an anonymous physician.

Can you document the apparent "fears" of hospice and palliative care units?

Just because assisted suicide becomes legal doesn't mean everyone will choose it!

And BTW - families and friends feel enough grief and guilt about someone that dies of natural causes. It would be best if a doctor administered the injection (or whatever).

Asiel, I hope you can back up what you said...is this stuff you have "just heard/read" or stuff you can provide links or proof to?

You might find some here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_die

Here's a link to the Right to Die Society in Canada
http://www.righttodie.ca/