If your someone were suffering from cancer, such as bleeding from eyes, mouth, etc. from spreading cancer, and you knew they were going to die in matter of hours, they weren't on life support or anything, would it be illegal to put them to sleep (lethal injection) so they wouldn't have to suffer longer?
2006-09-11 16:12:40 · 9 answers · asked by nicholas_stevens21 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
i feel like crying reading ur question but i got ur point, why prolong somebody's suffering... it's called euthanasia and it's not legal in all states...ithere are states where it is legal
read more about it.........link below
2006-09-11 16:31:13 · answer #1 · answered by ♦cat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When someone is terminal and the patient themselves or Health Care Proxy along with the doctor determines that they don't want extraordinary measures taken to prolong someones life the focus of the care then changes to comfort care. The Dr. may order strong narcotics to ease the suffering such a morphine. These drugs may indeed cause the patient to breath more shallow which in turn may shorten the life of the patient. However, the purpose of the morphine was to make the patient comfortable. If a medical professional injects a patient with a drug with the intent to kill it is homicide.
2006-09-11 16:24:32 · answer #2 · answered by Brad 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Assisted Suicide is legal in Oregon. There are very strict criteria, including an opinion from two separate physicians that your condition is terminal, and you probably have less than 6 months to live.
For any other state, administering medicine with the INTENT to "put someone to sleep" is definitely illegal. However, administering pain medicine to keep a dying patient comfortable, which may (and usually does) hasten their death is perfectly fine and done every day. The key is enough medicine to keep the patient comfortable, and if that means they won't live as long, so be it. As long as they are not suffering.
2006-09-13 16:15:22 · answer #3 · answered by Becca 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A friend of mine died recently after a long illness. She was in a coma for a month, with no hope of recovery, so her family took her off the respirator. The hospice staff administered morphene, and increased the dose to hasten the process. She died in about 3 hours.
2006-09-11 16:20:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the US, it is illegal. However, life sustaining measures may be withdrawn and the laws on this vary from state to state. Some examples may include withdrawl from life support, removing a feeding tube, witholding CPR, etc.
2006-09-11 16:17:33 · answer #5 · answered by mistify 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it would be illegal.
Sorry for all the suffering, I wish there was an easier way.
But no, you can't just put someone to sleep. That is called murder.
2006-09-12 00:44:17 · answer #6 · answered by Char 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is technically illegal to CAUSE or hasten someone's death - considered to be murder even if they're terminal. That's why Kervorkian is in prison. However, I have seen this done on rare occasions, very quietly.
2006-09-13 04:07:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea I think so.
2006-09-11 16:18:03 · answer #8 · answered by Grandma of six 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if they hadn't consented to it, it could be considered murder
2006-09-11 16:15:10 · answer #9 · answered by iluvhipos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋