Discussion thread - the right to choose life

[Marigold2]

This saddens me so............
To hear of this suffering for what purpose, what reason to go on living?
If you have ever heard the screams of a cancer victim in pain.
This is America land of the free. We should be free to choose our own time to die and we are indeed able to for no one stops us from ending it at any time. If you want to commit suicide because of mental issues that is different, you can and should be helped.
But if you suffer from a physical illness, no cure is available and you are suffering the Dr's should be allowed to end your life. It should be an act of mercy to end a man's life if the pain is great and he so wishes it.
This could be abused by greedy family members wanting inheritance so these things need to be put into writing well before the mind is effected, if possible. There should be therapy with the family and the patients wants and needs come first. If they still choose to end their life they should be able to make it as peaceful as possible with the loved one around them.
That is my wish for myself. Who else wishes this?
We hold our beloved cats, dogs and rabbits, birds, hamsters, horses when they are ready to pass, stroke their heads, calm them, tell them of our undying love and let them go to the eternal sleep yet with the people we love, we expect them to stay and suffer so we can have them longer instead of letting them go and letting the pain end.
I feel that is selfish.

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.

[Catty1]

Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Rodriguez

What does one do when the person is too ill to act on their own?

[Marigold2]

Perhaps this is something that a Dr should bring up and the family should be brought into early. Maybe it should become hospital policy.
Like deciding to become an organ donor, or when making out a will.
Making out a will should be the law, that includes a living will.