Following on yet again from my below questions - Euthanasia..

[missjef]

What are your views on euthanasia? I am think that if someone so wishes to commit suicide but they themselves cannot for whatever reason then they should be allowed to have someone help them. It is wrong that then the person who does the helping can then go to prison, to me it seems ludicrous.
My thoughts are that if someone does not wish to suffer anymore but cannot end it themselves then why shouldnt someone be able to help?
Probably a wrong thing to liken it to but i think that it is wrong that we can have pet's put down but then when people wish to have someone help them commit suicide there is a massive uproar surrounding it.
i believe that it is unfair to allow a person to suffer, knowing that if they were fully able to they would have committed suicide. it just seems wrong to me.

[4getmenot]

I guess if they have given enough proof, video diary, legal docs etc. then yes. But they shouldn�t make it legal for just anyone to do it as lots of people would get away with murder using that as an excuse. So I dont agree in it really

[missjef]

Yeah i see what you mean, because literally lots of people could technically get away with murder! which wouldnt be good! But i thought it was completely wrong in that case a bit ago with a lady i think called Diane who had given proof and her husband wanted to help her but the court ruled against it, i thought that was disgusting as it took away all her dignity and her wish.

[smudge]

Some more answers on this link missjeff:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion203232.html

[4getmenot]

yes missjef with legal papers and such I think they should be allowed. That was a sad story, didnt she go abroad and do it aswell?

[unruliejulie]

I think we should have the right to die if we wish. Who wants to live their last few days/months in pain and agony, just waiting for the inevitable. Obviously if it was legalized then it would have to be very heavily regulated. I dont think it should be left for the families to do and i dont think i could do it if a loved one asked me to. This is why it needs legalising.
The lady you are referring to misjef, was Diane Pretty, she had motor neurone disease. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1983457.stm It is very cruel disease, (i watched a friend of mine die form it, aged just 30) and the sufferers often end up choking to death because they have no muscle control left. Not a nice way to go is it? Put a dog down but leave a human to suffer and die in terrible pain, not only physical pain for themselves, but emotional pain for their loved ones who have to sit and watch it happen.

[smudge]

In case you were wondering, Gesso's sentiments were very similar to mine & others, but because her name no longer appears on that link, it might look a bit odd!

[idalovett]

Oh god missjef - are you having a profound deep thinking moment today? My views is I am all for it. I would choose to leave this life with a modicom of dignity and in full charge mentally of thought and wishes. I would not aid a person or allieviate their suffering because I am not in charge of them like I may be of a pet. Consider a dog who is ill - they fight but an owner knows when the time has come to make the decision because the dog simply tells you with its eyes - all my dogs have done this. Consider a human - we are not god. We can and should choose our own quality of life and how to end it but we should never decide to choose for another person as to when their life should end. Euthanasia and suicide are two different things. Ever seen a suicide? I unfortunately have seen two - totally different question to euthanasia.

[smudge]

I also asked the same question back in 2004:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion53666.html

(BTW, Wisebird was also known as Gesso, hence the similar sentiments there too).

[drchasuble]

I'm all for it so long as it was properly policed etc.

This may seem callous of me but if my either of my parents got alzheimers or an equally degenerative illness I would rather they died while I still knew them. I would hate to put them in a home and I know that I would probably start to resent them and see them as a burden. I would rather they went with all my love than with a sigh of relief. I feel you are not only stopping the sufferer's pain but also that of the carer.

This is something we have all discussed as a family and we have have all agreed that if ever anything like this happens we will do our utmost to help each other along.

[WendyS]

I do genuinely believe that those who are terminally ill or suffering from a serious degenerating illness should be allowed to chose the time of their death. I have seen some really distressing cases and felt so helpless that nobody has the legal power to do what the sufferer wants and that is to have a painless and dignified death.
I've heard all the arguments about the system being abused but if there was very strict legislation it could be policed. It just seems very strange to me that we are a society that in this respect allows our animals, which many regard as a lower form to life, to have more rights and dignity in their dying, than human beings.

[curlyfilm]

after seeing the pain and suffering that alziemers causes, loved ones, and the suffering of the person themselves, i whole heartly agree,

why should someone with a terminal illness, have to suffer and lose their dignancy, they should be allowed to go out with a bang and a smile