Editor's Blog0 min ago
suicide. assisted or otherwise
26 Answers
I know this is a touchy subject but after reading about tht young rugby player and his parents I wondered what others had to say on the subject.
If like some you think all life is sacred does that include your own or should you, as an idividual, be able to decide what happens to you or someone else?
If you are in your right mind at the time and choose to leave a living will which states that in the event of you being unable to make the dicision and you are at the point were nothing else can be done, then you want it over with?
Should that not be your individual right?
Should there not be something in place so that those who choose to can have that choice?
Is it not possible to have a system where by people, wether young or old can decide for themselves. When your young you might want to decide in advance that if old ages comes and you are suffering then you have that choice and you are taking it. Lets face it none of us knows what the future may bring.
I just want to know what other people think and would they take the option if it was there?
Thanks for your time.
If like some you think all life is sacred does that include your own or should you, as an idividual, be able to decide what happens to you or someone else?
If you are in your right mind at the time and choose to leave a living will which states that in the event of you being unable to make the dicision and you are at the point were nothing else can be done, then you want it over with?
Should that not be your individual right?
Should there not be something in place so that those who choose to can have that choice?
Is it not possible to have a system where by people, wether young or old can decide for themselves. When your young you might want to decide in advance that if old ages comes and you are suffering then you have that choice and you are taking it. Lets face it none of us knows what the future may bring.
I just want to know what other people think and would they take the option if it was there?
Thanks for your time.
Answers
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I firmly believe in the right to choose. I admire this young man's parents' strength in their choice to help their son, and my heart goes out to them.
If you wait about ten minutes, you'll have someone on here saying that it's the 'thin end of the wedge' and the 'first step to mandatory suicide'. Seems that that's the only argument usually put up against it, with no proof to back the claim.
If you wait about ten minutes, you'll have someone on here saying that it's the 'thin end of the wedge' and the 'first step to mandatory suicide'. Seems that that's the only argument usually put up against it, with no proof to back the claim.
No I don't think it is one step towards mandatory suicide simply because the law would have to be absolutly fool proof with no exceptions other than the word of the individual involved.
I can't see as how any one else has the right to say how what another person should choose to do.
In the case of abortions a lot of councilling is involved to be sure this is the right course of action for the woman involved. If this can be done for some one to decide if they want to end the life of another on a legal level then surely we can do the same for those who are suffering.
Abortion is not the subject here and I am not saying it is right or wrong, I am just giving an example.
I also think that if it is now an offence to leave an animal to suffer then why, if we are all just animals, god given or not, do we not have that same right to end our own suffering. We are mentally advanced enough to be decisive about what is or isn't good for us.
Bit wierd that we can decide the fate of animals and other humans but not for ourselves.
I can't see as how any one else has the right to say how what another person should choose to do.
In the case of abortions a lot of councilling is involved to be sure this is the right course of action for the woman involved. If this can be done for some one to decide if they want to end the life of another on a legal level then surely we can do the same for those who are suffering.
Abortion is not the subject here and I am not saying it is right or wrong, I am just giving an example.
I also think that if it is now an offence to leave an animal to suffer then why, if we are all just animals, god given or not, do we not have that same right to end our own suffering. We are mentally advanced enough to be decisive about what is or isn't good for us.
Bit wierd that we can decide the fate of animals and other humans but not for ourselves.
Me too.
Someone I greatly admired but never knew personally committed suicide at 37. He wasn't disabled or terminally ill, but was depressed with very good reason. His death seems to have been pointless and I'm sure many around him - and those further afield - wish they'd intervened.
I know he was a catholic, but have no idea how devout he was and so could not say what inner wrestling went with his decision. But, devastated as everyone was, I believe he had the right to do what he did, despite the pain he caused his family and his admirers. I can't speak for his family, but anger at his choice is something I have never felt towards him.
It's a choice I would make too, if I felt that the rest of my life was to be lived in misery or pain.
Someone I greatly admired but never knew personally committed suicide at 37. He wasn't disabled or terminally ill, but was depressed with very good reason. His death seems to have been pointless and I'm sure many around him - and those further afield - wish they'd intervened.
I know he was a catholic, but have no idea how devout he was and so could not say what inner wrestling went with his decision. But, devastated as everyone was, I believe he had the right to do what he did, despite the pain he caused his family and his admirers. I can't speak for his family, but anger at his choice is something I have never felt towards him.
It's a choice I would make too, if I felt that the rest of my life was to be lived in misery or pain.
I think prehaps if depression is a factor in that decision then everything possible should be done to help that person.
It needs to be made clear that the option I'm talking about is for those who are ill to the point of no return or they feel, as in the case of this young man, that they can see no life for themselves.
As I said it is a dodgy subject and needs to be thought out on a level that should be a strict as possible.
It needs to be made clear that the option I'm talking about is for those who are ill to the point of no return or they feel, as in the case of this young man, that they can see no life for themselves.
As I said it is a dodgy subject and needs to be thought out on a level that should be a strict as possible.
I suppose so but my husband was a paratrooper before his accident.
He broke his neck but he's not in a wheel chair.....Yet.
He said he wants to make a diiference and he has dispite his abject pain somethimes.
But as I said it's about having tat right if you are absolutly sure you are in your right mind and you have had enough.
Who knows though what difference he could have made if he had choosen to go.
We won't ever know and it was his choice and no one elses.
He broke his neck but he's not in a wheel chair.....Yet.
He said he wants to make a diiference and he has dispite his abject pain somethimes.
But as I said it's about having tat right if you are absolutly sure you are in your right mind and you have had enough.
Who knows though what difference he could have made if he had choosen to go.
We won't ever know and it was his choice and no one elses.
In the case you mention, I full support the parents, and this young man in their decision, I think its right. but if you don't mind, i'd like to ask something, and hopefully everyone will come back on this,
If you have a child, age is immaterial, who cannot look after themselves, and cannot speak, cannot get over to you in any way what they want.
You have looked after this person, say 20-30 years, and there's no-one else who will take him/her on after youve gone, and you do not trust, with good reason, the local authorities.
What do you do?
Apologies Tigerliliy.
If you have a child, age is immaterial, who cannot look after themselves, and cannot speak, cannot get over to you in any way what they want.
You have looked after this person, say 20-30 years, and there's no-one else who will take him/her on after youve gone, and you do not trust, with good reason, the local authorities.
What do you do?
Apologies Tigerliliy.
It presents another side to the question put forward.
Where do you do you draw the line?
My husband had a cousin that was very disabled from birth, he could not see or hear and was completly paralised.
Where would he stand?
Just because he cannot communicate it does not mean that there is not a sound mind in there, just because he can't communicate the fact does not make it so.
Are we with-in our rights to decide for him?
I don't know.
More to the point if a disablitlty as bad as this is all it takes then what about some one like Stephen Hawkings?
Where do you do you draw the line?
My husband had a cousin that was very disabled from birth, he could not see or hear and was completly paralised.
Where would he stand?
Just because he cannot communicate it does not mean that there is not a sound mind in there, just because he can't communicate the fact does not make it so.
Are we with-in our rights to decide for him?
I don't know.
More to the point if a disablitlty as bad as this is all it takes then what about some one like Stephen Hawkings?
It's assisted suicide, not legalised murder. The person who will die must have chosen it, and those helping them must not be beneficiaries of a will or life insurance etc. This therefore exclude causing the death of people who cannot possibly decide they wish to die. Awful decision, but for some the ability to try has been taken from them and they want it.
My OH became mentally & physically ill. Soon after admittance to hospital the OH was in a coma, then on morphine and never recovered.
This is an example of 'assistance' of quality of life and dignity to the end which is apropriate for elders. A young person seeking similar assistance would need to be in a veg state with no brain activity.
This is an example of 'assistance' of quality of life and dignity to the end which is apropriate for elders. A young person seeking similar assistance would need to be in a veg state with no brain activity.
Thats one of the reasons for makng the living will in advance.
But how old would do you have to be to make such a will.
It isn't an subject on which rules can be easily made.
It would appear that it can be legal for those between 18 and say 65. ALthough that would be tricky for people like my mil whos is 84 and mentally as sharp as a tack.
You must be of very sound mind. You can make them in advance of your old age but with very firm stipulations on what constutes the limit on the individuals suffering.
This dicision must be made under the guidence of a counillor or professional trained in these matters but there must be no pushing from either the professional or fmily parties involved.
The problems lay in the fact that it is very hard to find people who are not, in some way thinking of themselves rather than those who's will is being made.
There will always be the unscrupules who would make a mockery of it all.
But how old would do you have to be to make such a will.
It isn't an subject on which rules can be easily made.
It would appear that it can be legal for those between 18 and say 65. ALthough that would be tricky for people like my mil whos is 84 and mentally as sharp as a tack.
You must be of very sound mind. You can make them in advance of your old age but with very firm stipulations on what constutes the limit on the individuals suffering.
This dicision must be made under the guidence of a counillor or professional trained in these matters but there must be no pushing from either the professional or fmily parties involved.
The problems lay in the fact that it is very hard to find people who are not, in some way thinking of themselves rather than those who's will is being made.
There will always be the unscrupules who would make a mockery of it all.
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