What is your opinion on "right to die" or "dying with dignity"?

Question

I'm taking a class in Medical Law and Ethics. One question I have to answer is what is my opinion of right to die. On one hand I think it's not up to a person to decide when to die and that a physician should only give palliative care (ease pain and suffering). But on the other hand, some people choose when to bring life into the world (family planning) so why can't a person choose to end their life?

Answer 1

I believe in the right to choose. When life has become such that there is no longer any quality and improvement is not a possibility, and the individual is ready to let go, that is their right. There is no point to purposeless suffering. My husband has cancer and when the time comes it will be his right to decide how long to continue. He may decide to hang on to life as long as possible or he may decide to end the struggle. It is impossible to know which he will choose until the time comes. But it will be his right to choose.

Answer 2

sounds to me like ur question is cut and dry regarding Medical Law and ETHICS. so, whether or not someone Chooses or Believes in their "Right To Die", so to speak.... it gives absolutely no freedom to a Medical Doctor or Nurse or ANYONE ELSE to end treatment.

i think if you really believe in ur own right to die, then fine. commit suicide. pull out the plugs yourself. but if u expect someone else to do it for you, already the responsiblity is being put on, or at least shared, by someone else. the question may not be whether or not people have a right to die or not..but if someone else can be held accountable if they assist. which they can, and will be held accountable, because a person can ALWAYS change their mind. they can always not plan a baby, but have one, and deal w/ the consequences. they can always plan a baby, but not have one. there are always choices, cause and effect. just because u may want to die right now doesn't mean u know what is Good and Right for urself. and even if u did, do not put the responsiblity onto other people. just cuz u asked someone to pull, the plug, doesnt' mean they're not going to have any repercussions mentally or emotionally from doing so.

Answer 3

I've had way too many friends and family die slowly of diseases that cannot be cured. They lie there suffering until the doctor gives them a massive dose of morphine, waiting for them to die on their own. But, if an animal is suffering, we have them put to sleep. Why? Because it's the humane thing to do, to end the suffering. And that, is without their consent.
Why should a consenting patient not have that right to avoid their own suffering of a terminal illness?

Answer 4

I think that as long as a person is not suffering from diminished mental capacity then he or she should be able to choose when to die. I believe it's wrong to prolong life simply for the sake of life itself, particularly if the person is suffering and wishes to end that pain. They should also be allowed to choose to die with dignity at a time and place of their choosing if they believe the alternative is unbearable. For example, I would choose to die rather than to suffer from a disease like Alzheimer's, which would slowly destroy me and cause a great deal of pain for my family.

Answer 5

I think you've got a very difficult question to answer, this is a very personal choice, as is abortion etc. If I was you I would answer it from a professional point of view, I personally would like to know that anyone in medical ethics would always choose to prolong life. As a person I believe I should have the right to choice, and to decide for myself, and no one involved in the medical profession should be involved in that decision, as I think it goes against their hypocratic oath.

Answer 6

The right to die with dignity should be in the Constitution. What right do doctors and hospitals have to keep you alive if your so sick or hurt that there is no possibility of recovery? Your family will be financially ruined. Everyones emotions will be frayed. And you will lie there day after day in misery. We would never allow a dog to suffer like that, so why do we do it to people?

Answer 7

You're getting into a touchy religious area. Many people have living wills where they don't want to be kept alive artificially when there is no hope of recovery. As to committing suicide, that's not up to me to decide when I die, it's God's.That's my own personal opinion. As for bringing life into the world, that's called the rhythm method with us Catholics.It's sort of a plan I guess.Just one person's opinion.

Answer 8

I saw my grandfather on his deathbed.
He weighed 87 pounds, couldn't go to the bathroom by himself, had to wear a diaper, was bathed by strangers, spoon fed, etc.

It was HORRIBLE. If I ever get to that point, I want to go right then and there. I don't want to live any part of my life embarassed because I'm laying in my own feces, or humilated because I'm no longer the person I was, the person I chose to be.

I'm definately in agreement with the right to die.

You could also look at it this way....

We decide about criminals, and which ones should be put to death.
Why can't we decide what we want to do with our OWN bodies?

Answer 9

A man hits rock bottom in his life... everyone he's ever known and loved is either now dead or gone from him. He was robbed of every penny he owned. He has succumbed to every evil imaginable, suffered untold miseries. Someone even ran over his beloved dog in the middle of the night.

All that's left for him is suicide.

He stands at the edge of a bridge. Looking out over the edge, he sees the cold, ocean water. He leans forward, ready to go out with at least one final splash: a swan dive. Until he's stopped, by a policeman grabbing onto his leg. With a little help from his deputy, they managed to get him in the cop car, and reminded him that suicide is illegal, and took him into jail, then off to the psychiatric ward to a checkup, and released him, determining that he was sane enough to go on without their help.

He relents, realizing, "Maybe it just wasn't my time to die". He decides to go on a few more weeks, seeing what might happen. He figures the only way it could get worse was by dying (an ever looming threat for those living on the street), and even then, that'd be brief. So, from here, it could only get better.

...you finish the story.

Given the chance, everyone deserves to live. A *good* doctor does not neglect the man who's just been in a car accident for the man with the upset stomach. No, he puts the EXTRA effort in, to save that man, for he has yet a lifetime to live. Why should it not be so with the man who has been unconscious for untold years?

Answer 10

To each his own.I dont belive I would want to live is such a state as to be a burden on anyone but if there was a glimmer of hope that I would get better, but not a garrantee I just dont know what I would do,hmmm points to ponder.