Is assisted suicide right???
10 December 2008, 08:45 PM
#31
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A little more than a bad back at the time but I see your point.
I spent a little time during my illness trying to convince myself and others everything was going to be fine - or at least be constant. Since then things have moved rapidly and I am reduced to using voice control to use my PC when having to post text. I have no use left in my legs and limited neck and arm movement. This too will diminish to nothing. I have a beautiful and loving family that face an ugly future caring for me. I am not willing to let that caring become a chore.
I spent a little time during my illness trying to convince myself and others everything was going to be fine - or at least be constant. Since then things have moved rapidly and I am reduced to using voice control to use my PC when having to post text. I have no use left in my legs and limited neck and arm movement. This too will diminish to nothing. I have a beautiful and loving family that face an ugly future caring for me. I am not willing to let that caring become a chore.
10 December 2008, 08:49 PM
#32
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A little more than a bad back at the time but I see your point.
I spent a little time during my illness trying to convince myself and others everything was going to be fine - or at least be constant. Since then things have moved rapidly and I am reduced to using voice control to use my PC when having to post text. I have no use left in my legs and limited neck and arm movement. This too will diminish to nothing. I have a beautiful and loving family that face an ugly future caring for me. I am not willing to let that caring become a chore.
I spent a little time during my illness trying to convince myself and others everything was going to be fine - or at least be constant. Since then things have moved rapidly and I am reduced to using voice control to use my PC when having to post text. I have no use left in my legs and limited neck and arm movement. This too will diminish to nothing. I have a beautiful and loving family that face an ugly future caring for me. I am not willing to let that caring become a chore.
10 December 2008, 08:52 PM
#33
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Knowing someone who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease I'd say that yes, the individual should be allowed to choose in such cases. It should be up to them, since they are the one in a non-functional body. We can't judge, we aren't in that position.
10 December 2008, 08:59 PM
#34
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To be honest - I'm not sure I've met anyone who thinks allowing people to choose to die if they are terminally ill is a bad thing (Except religous nutters of course who fear they poor soul wont get into heaven if they don't suffer at th ehands of their god).
A much more interesting debate would be Assissting suicide where the person is unable to make their own decisions.
This throws up much more interesting problems.
Personally I see humans much the same as my poor old cat - Why let them suffer just because they are people - It seems insane to me.
If you're Ill and you have zero quality of life then you should be put out of your misery - If I were in a hopeless situation I hope someone would put me to sleep !
A much more interesting debate would be Assissting suicide where the person is unable to make their own decisions.
This throws up much more interesting problems.
Personally I see humans much the same as my poor old cat - Why let them suffer just because they are people - It seems insane to me.
If you're Ill and you have zero quality of life then you should be put out of your misery - If I were in a hopeless situation I hope someone would put me to sleep !
10 December 2008, 09:09 PM
#35
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If i was to end my life due to been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease or any other bad illness i would like my family to acknowledge the fact i would want packing with composition 4 and put in Iraq/afgan.So that osama bin laden
& his goat eating camel sandle rag headed fekkers go with me
& his goat eating camel sandle rag headed fekkers go with me
10 December 2008, 10:13 PM
#36
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iv'e been watching it,its a hard hitting programme..he makes sense though when he says these religious people who complain that assisted suicide is wrong and shouldnt be done,and yet nurses and doctors can play god in terms of premature babies etc
10 December 2008, 10:21 PM
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If i was to end my life due to been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease or any other bad illness i would like my family to acknowledge the fact i would want packing with composition 4 and put in Iraq/afgan.So that osama bin laden
& his goat eating camel sandle rag headed fekkers go with me
& his goat eating camel sandle rag headed fekkers go with me
What a childish and inappropriate post
10 December 2008, 11:37 PM
#39
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Look up Daniel James on goggle and the others.........yes trying to wipe out the most wanted person on this planet might be a bit harsh but thats my 2 pence
10 December 2008, 11:46 PM
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David is quite aware of Daniel James anyway considering he started the thread about him some weeks back now.
10 December 2008, 11:54 PM
#43
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Day by day I have less and less use of my body. Over the last few years I have gone from being a fit and active fellow to being a wheelchair bound lump. I have 2 children the youngest of whom is 4 and I have never been able to lift him up let alone kick a ball with him. I need assistance with every aspect of my life. The more time that passes the more I become less of a person and more a sack of entrails. Even now I know that I will choose death at some point in the future. It will be my choice, why should anyone be punished for assisting my will.
Jamie, shut up.
That post was totally uncalled for
10 December 2008, 11:55 PM
#44
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That actually made his reasons more compelling I thought. He didn't want to die but he didn't want to live and get worse. To go through with it shows it was nothing but a rational, hard, hard decision made that bit easier by his future prognosis.
10 December 2008, 11:59 PM
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11 December 2008, 12:01 AM
#47
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I did not watch the programme, was busy with other stuff.
No matter what anyone says, it takes guts to end your own life. We can all sit here, nice and healthy and think, I could never do it. That is because we are not in the same situation. Take a moment to put yourself there, seriously and see how you would feel then.
No matter what anyone says, it takes guts to end your own life. We can all sit here, nice and healthy and think, I could never do it. That is because we are not in the same situation. Take a moment to put yourself there, seriously and see how you would feel then.
11 December 2008, 12:24 AM
#48
Tbh, I don't think it's ever a situation a healthy person can put themselves in no matter how hard they try. Personally, whether it be down to illness physically, or a more depressive illness, I believe it is much harder to take your life than anyone outside that feeling could ever imagine. Apart from some, I can't imagine it's ever a decision taken lightly.
As for whether I agree with assisted suicide, I'm not sure. I don't know that I would feel right putting that pressure on someone I loved, even if they thought they could handle it. Then there is always the worry (depending upon the illness) that a cure could be found, how much guilt would a loved one carry if shortly after a cure/control measure was found. I don't know that I could take that risk, of someone having to live with that. That is just me though, so I admit, I personally don't know, but as I say, I think it is easy to say what we think we would do, but it could be totally different if faced with that sort of decision.
As for whether I agree with assisted suicide, I'm not sure. I don't know that I would feel right putting that pressure on someone I loved, even if they thought they could handle it. Then there is always the worry (depending upon the illness) that a cure could be found, how much guilt would a loved one carry if shortly after a cure/control measure was found. I don't know that I could take that risk, of someone having to live with that. That is just me though, so I admit, I personally don't know, but as I say, I think it is easy to say what we think we would do, but it could be totally different if faced with that sort of decision.
11 December 2008, 12:41 AM
#49
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from my point of view, I would say yes to the OP's original question.
If someone has a progressive and/or terminal illness they should be allowed to make the decision about THEIR lives without fear of their loved ones being held to account afterwards....obviously there needs to be formallised consent from the assistee and from the person taking their own life othewise imagine the scenerios which could come up. As long as this decision is taken and documented prior to the person becoming mentally incapable, then there should be no problems.
It is all about quality of life. As Lisa has said, unless you are in the situation where this decision may or may not be an option, it is hard to imagine what taking this step must feel like.
MagePaster.. I am humbled by your open honesty about your circumstances. I cannot even begin to imagine what living with your situation must be like, and I am moved by what you have written.
If someone has a progressive and/or terminal illness they should be allowed to make the decision about THEIR lives without fear of their loved ones being held to account afterwards....obviously there needs to be formallised consent from the assistee and from the person taking their own life othewise imagine the scenerios which could come up. As long as this decision is taken and documented prior to the person becoming mentally incapable, then there should be no problems.
It is all about quality of life. As Lisa has said, unless you are in the situation where this decision may or may not be an option, it is hard to imagine what taking this step must feel like.
MagePaster.. I am humbled by your open honesty about your circumstances. I cannot even begin to imagine what living with your situation must be like, and I am moved by what you have written.
11 December 2008, 11:32 AM
#50
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Les,
With respect, I can't see the link to the extreme of compulsory euthanasia. Possibly like the arguement that one canabis joint will have you hooked on crack cocaine?
It is a tricky subject. Having seen my grandmother spiral painfully downwards over 3 years with alzheimer's disease I thought I would be all for legalised assisted suicide but what would be the case say, if a year after an assisted suicide a cure was discovered?
I only know that I would rather go on my own terms when I'm ready.
With respect, I can't see the link to the extreme of compulsory euthanasia. Possibly like the arguement that one canabis joint will have you hooked on crack cocaine?
It is a tricky subject. Having seen my grandmother spiral painfully downwards over 3 years with alzheimer's disease I thought I would be all for legalised assisted suicide but what would be the case say, if a year after an assisted suicide a cure was discovered?
I only know that I would rather go on my own terms when I'm ready.
My point was that it is yet another relaxation of rules in this country, many of which have not been a good idea. If this was made legal then it is another step, however small, to a future totalitarian government instituting euthanasia for their own convenience.
As for that big jay, hopefully you understand what I was saying now..
Les
Last edited by Leslie; 11 December 2008 at 11:35 AM.
11 December 2008, 11:55 AM
#51
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It took about 8 years for Alzheimer's/Dementia to finish off my m-i-l which is about par for the course. Ghastly disease and you have to witness it to know what it is really like.
BUT, whilst she was a nightmare for everyone else in her family or her carers, she herself did not seem to be unhappy, as far as one could tell, or in any physical pain whatsoever. In the end she was sectioned and her heart gradually gave up; that was the only time when one might have wanted a generous jab to help her on her way to a peaceful and inevitable end.
It's this scenario where one would need to be particularly alert to relative's wishes which could well be swayed by the unenviable chores of caring. dl
BUT, whilst she was a nightmare for everyone else in her family or her carers, she herself did not seem to be unhappy, as far as one could tell, or in any physical pain whatsoever. In the end she was sectioned and her heart gradually gave up; that was the only time when one might have wanted a generous jab to help her on her way to a peaceful and inevitable end.
It's this scenario where one would need to be particularly alert to relative's wishes which could well be swayed by the unenviable chores of caring. dl
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