If an elderly has an incurable disease that is killing him/her very slowly and is quite painful and wanted to die, would it be such a bad choice?
I understand about Resuscitation Orders but what about other cases where the person is miserable?
Who is to say he or she cant and they would benefit because? First and foremost, the family members would benefit with the comfort their loved one is sitll alive and secondly, society looks down upon it. But in the US, would that not be violating a persons personal rights?
Let me hear your thoughts but I implore that no one answer with "God condemns such actions..."?
2006-09-18 17:25:01 · 12 answers · asked by leikevy 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I wanted to be more detailed and say that I am asking for medical cases and not any other cases of suicide. Why am I getting thumbs down, seems like most people that have posted so far have been decent about answering lol.
2006-09-19 03:45:52 · update #1
Good answers, I dont want to say which opinion is correct by voting so I'll let other vote.
2006-09-19 17:27:44 · update #2
I'm totally for someone wanting to commit suicide for extreme pain! Ive worked in Nursing Homes for over twenty five years and seen how bad people looked when suffering in acute pain and its just awful to see. Nobody should have to die that way! I think life is painful enough without the added measure of pain leaving this earth.
2006-09-18 17:29:58 · answer #1 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
This is one of the "grayest" area of life.
Sure one has all the right to decide what is pain and suffering for the self and does what one could to avoid those feelings. However, it is an entirely different thing to involve other people in the process -- besides the professionals such as doctors and nurses. We are talking about feelings of families and friends, with assorted opinions. We are also affecting the social and cultural view of the world around us.
My opinion is that it could only be done privately and must stay within the laws. Otherwise it is just a political stun.
2006-09-18 21:45:17 · answer #2 · answered by : ) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I completely understand the concept of suffering - and that it can be very painful for the patient and the family. What I do know is that when someone is in this position - there are drugs that they give the patient so that they feel no pain and are basically unconscious till they die. Therefore what is the point of assisted suicide. The only thing I can see - is that assisted suicide is to people that are still vital and they have time to live and appartently want to give up before their time has come. Animals die when they die - humans should die when there bodies are ready to die. We are not like other species on this planet, but we have to live by the laws of nature. As a hurman we grow emotionally, we grow mentally, we love forever - therefore I cannot say that taking a human life is acceptable. We should live till our bodies die on their own - just as the way nature intended.
2006-09-18 17:38:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
is it to the consent of the person who wants suicide? and why term it with suicide when you are already living a life that is similar to death (sick of an incurable disease that might even be infectious to others)? do you still call that suicide or an escape to be with God and give your family on earth a peace of their mind (rid of caretaking and expenses of a sickness that is INCURABLE!)
Besides, not everyone can afford expenses of medicines and treatments in hospital (even for the sake of sustaining life). Likewise, it's hard to afford seeing someone die day after day. It's like a prolonged death. Likewise, a criminal jailed for all his life could have wanted a stop in a long pain of what is emotionally and physically and psychologically distracting and socially and economically affecting (family, money etc).
let them live all they want if they are happy in being sick and they can afford constant medication...
if they are no longer happy on being sick and they have become a really big burden and they have chosen an easy way out- then there is a justification perhaps...
2006-09-18 21:13:49 · answer #4 · answered by ♬müsic-to-yoür-ears♬ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I ever get inoperable/incurable cancer that would be my choice-enjoy my life with my family while I can then check out when it gets too bad. We call it humane to put our pets to sleep when they are suffering why the hypocrisy for our own kind? I do not think it should be allowed impulsively but should be an option with the help and counseling of physician and family.
BUT because of the lunacy associated with and surrounding the abortion issue it will never happen. same argument same theocracy same stalemate
2006-09-18 17:36:13 · answer #5 · answered by rwl_is_taken 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hospitals take people off their feeding tube every day. That is not assisted suicide, it is murder. If they can legally do that, I fail to see why it is illegal to help end the pain of a loved one.
The problem lies in the people who would "assist" when the person wants to still live. Also, while there is life, there is hope.
l
2006-09-18 17:43:58 · answer #6 · answered by lcmcpa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am not sure how i would feel but i would hope that i would be able to help the person out depending on the circumstances.... to me it would seem almost just as bad to let the person to live like that....but then again..... sorry if i was no help.....its kinda hard to answer mainly i think you should to what your heart and mind tell ya too.... good luck and god bless.....
2006-09-18 17:33:24 · answer #7 · answered by elaine k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the person is miserable .why not.? i do know what its like to see someone in so much pain that i even ask god to give her peace and then i left it in his hands .but my heart goes out to family that are going to a pain of there own.//////hang-in there he know best
2006-09-18 18:03:29 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i agree with you. the current laws regarding this are so confused. under the law its ok to allow the person to die, even though this is a drawn-out process that usually involves them dehydrating, or starving to death. but its not ok to give them an injection to let them die painlessly. Our entire moral system is so screwed up on this issue. Its all based on the silly idea that its wrong to kill, but its ok to let die, even when letting die results in even more pain and loss of dignity for the person involved.
mightyt10...: there are drugs that can ease pain, but there are many cases where the pain is so bad that the person would have to be totally knocked out in order not to suffer. even when they wouldn't be totally unconscious, they would likely be too drugged to be able to function in any manner. don't they have any say at all if they want this to happen to them? forcing people to live on in a drugged state when they will never regain consciousness or lucidity is a total slap in the face to our ideas about personal dignity and privacy. why should a person be forced to spend their last days unconscious and unaware of their surroundings? i for one would prefer to go out lucid, saying goodbye to everybody. and i think a lot of others would too. "humans should die when their bodies are ready to die"? so no extraordinary medical care then i take it? no keeping people on life support even if they had wanted to be? if a person can be aware and conscios, but needs to be kept on life support in order to live (and they wanted to be kept on life support) we should instead just allow what nature intended?
2006-09-18 18:49:00 · answer #9 · answered by student_of_life 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I would pray for him and his pain so that he would suffer less, but I would not help him die.
2006-09-18 17:50:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋