Not euthanasia, but assisted suicide. My information is limited to the Canadian Policy, which is that it's illegal, and was thoroughly fought by Sue Rodriguez... My question is Assisted Suicide.. yes?, No?, on the fence? other opinions?
2006-10-21 05:08:38 · 5 answers · asked by Kristina 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
This is splitting hairs! The person (victim) is the same. It should be the right to decide to terminate one's own life, no matter the reason. If people make that choice and are convinced that they need to end their lives, the law can not change it, and they will find a way. It is wrongful to fault people that assist others to depart from this world. However many people with cancer and other intractable pain are denied a quiet and peaceful termination of their suffering. I am a physician, and I remember two patients...one with irreversible brain damage because of a motorcycle accident...there was no chance for him to recover and he was on life support and would have been a major financial burden to the family. If the man could have answered, I am certain that he would have begged me to end the tragedy....it was a long time ago but I still get tears in my eyes but I cut off the respirator. The second was a young man, 17 years old, he was shot and it seemed that God wanted him to die. No matter what I did, a new problem occurred, he had TB, ulcers, wound infection, bladder infection, just everything....The day before Christmas, I bought him a silly stuffed Santa doll and gave it to him. The look in his eyes told me that he forgave me and wanted to end it. God it hurts us so much but I understand why. The pain and suffering is just too much. It is almost as bad for us that remain. I am not an emotional person but I can't stop the tears in my eyes or the hurt in my heart.
2006-10-21 05:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by Frank 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that assisted suicide is the last option, BUT if there were a way to regulate it, I'd deal.It is your life, BUT I do feel that it should be a system as in... You go to the place, see a psychiatrist, you have a few sessions with them, then I think you should be convinced to at least inform your family, that is not the type of thing that you want them to come upon, I think that they should be told what you are planning to do.
Strangely enough, I'm against abortion and on the fence (mostly against because of the horror stories I've heard) about the death penalty.
I have thought about it a few times(would never go through with it, just a passing thought), and I know other people who have. I am not terminally ill, just depressed. I do believe that if families were involved and everyone could discuss there feelings, less people would make that decision. Especially once they realized how many people loved them.
Specific instance:
My uncle killed himself in May, he was a victim of Huntington's Disease. He did not make the decision in sound judgement because The HD had shrunk his brain and it had pressure on it. Some HD patients do make the decision before symptoms get that bad.
Carol Carr was a mother of grown boys with the disease, and they had told her before they "got bad" that they wanted to die.The story is below...
I watched the Snapped story on her.. Although I knew of her before (my father has HD, as does my cousin, and I am "at-risk")
Although none of the links below mentions it. For the trial they had witnesses that had talked to Carol and her sons (when they were well) about it. They didn't wnat to suffer like they had seen their father and grandmother do.
2006-10-21 05:41:22 · answer #2 · answered by redheadf21 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's quite a fine line between euthanasia and assisted suicide, so if the context of the latter was basically to achieve euthanasia, it would do well to be simply treated as such.
You would really have to look at the case, and judge, if the outcome was to relieve suffering, then how can justice be served by creating more hurt and pain?
2006-10-21 05:14:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
technically helping anyone who wishes to die is assisted suicide.
euthanasia is basically a different word for circumstance to why someone wishes to die. If one choses to die to circumstances to maintain dignity, or to releive suffering caused by age or disease then yes why should not one have the choice, and if the are unable due to age or disease, why can't one help someones right to choose.
We put down animals when they are sick, or vicious, or abandoned.
A persons right should be to choose. That is why we need less government.
Ironnic one can be charged for attempted murder of self, if they fail to succeed in a suicide attempt.
2006-10-21 05:31:10 · answer #4 · answered by tordor111 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I FEEL IF A PERSON WANTS TO COMMITT SUICIDE THEY SHOULD NOT INVOLVE ANOTHER PERSON
EUTHANASIA IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THING.AND I APPROVE.
2006-10-21 05:11:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋