California Enacts Right-To-Die Legislation

[sandyRoe]

http://news.yahoo.com/california-governor-signs-hard-won-die-legislation-194359768--politics.html

I think this is a good and courageous piece of law making. Do you?

[Jackdaw33]

No

[SirOracle]

Sandy....I tend to disagree with you here,and side with Jackdaw.

I worry that this could be the thin end of the wedge, leading to euthanasia to the benefit of avaricious relatIves etc.

[Jackdaw33]

Let us not forget that until 1961 attempted suicide was a criminal offence in the UK, and people could, and did, go to prison for it.

[stuey]

I do not see any relevance, JD, regarding a UK law prior to 1961 and a law, or proposed one, in California in 2015.

[Jackdaw33]

Don't you?

[stuey]

Of course not: that's why I posted it. We can sign a declaration of "Do Not Resuscitate" and that, stretching it slightly, is a form of suicide. And sending people to prison because they attempted to take their own life because of insufferable pain...That was really sensible.

[bunkmoreland]

For heavens sake we're not living in 1961 era! We have to challenge and move and question the times! I agree with this latest American change. To my never ending horror,I remember my lovely mum explaining that we couldn't let our dog continue his life in pain,and the kindest thing was to put him to sleep. I couldn't do the same for my mum and have never forgotten how it was right to stop a cruel death for my dog, but my mum had to suffer every pain and indignity her death involved!

[stuey]

Anyway, talking about this subject is akin to discussing religion, politics, hunting, the right to bear arms, and how to cook the perfect soft-boiled egg: everyone has an opinion and will not change it.

[bhg481]

I believe that the ONLY thing which truly belongs to me is my life; I should have the right to terminate it when I please.

[douglas9401]

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. :-)

[mikey4444]

sandy....I couldn't agree more !

[Cloverjo]

I agree with SandyRoe. However, I don't know why the law doesn't include depressed or "impaired" people. Why shouldn't they have a right to die, too?
One thing that does bug me about this argument is that some say if we don't have it then people will die in pain. There is no need for this at all. When my mum was nearing the end of her life, she had a morphine pump keeping her pain-free. However, she was desperate to be released from a situation that she would never recover from.

[Old_Geezer]

They are the fourth state to do this, I believe, and others have similar in the pipeline: so they had precedents.

I would hope it was inevitable that all civilized countries get to pass 'right to die' legislation before too long.

[janbee]

Sandy, I agree with you. It's a good step forward.

[youngmafbog]

It's a step forward and at this point I think it's good to stop where it has.

Small steps forward on this one and get it right as there are potential issues with it.

[Svejk]

It's less than a month since Parliament voted 3 to 1 against this sort of thing. So don't hold your breath. (unless you want to expire)

[ToraToraTora]

No. silly, dangerous.

When does the Obligation to die legislation come in?

[ToraToraTora]

when does www.weoffanygranny.com start up?

[ludwig]

Of course it should not be illegal to take your own life. It's ludicrous to suggest otherwise.