Or anyone else for that matter?
2006-12-13 07:26:02 · 18 answers · asked by Birdman 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The doctor has to consider his/her hippocratic oath, so it is not fair to ask them, and so probably not moral.
Ask anyone? Well, one would ask a doctor because they would know how to do it painlessly, but if morals prevent this, then would 'anyone' do?
Possibly, but the desperation involved is a question of dignity rather than pain - modern pain relief does offer comfort till the times comes naturally.
People who ask for assisted suicide generally do so because they cannot face the degeneration that comes with the last moments, weeks, months...
Is it pride? Is it fear not be loved any more but pitied instead?
Either way, it goes against my beliefs: Put yourself in your maker's hands and accept the path and the ending that He plans for you.
2006-12-16 23:01:03 · answer #1 · answered by Nini 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Moral is different than legal. Of course you have the right to ask. But, asking doesn't mean that the doctor can or will say yes. Even if a doctor believes that a person should have the right to die, he can't, by law, agree to help in that endeavor. So, actually, I think the correct question would be, "Is it fair to put a doctor in a difficult position by asking him or her to aid someone to die." Then the answer would be no. The only legal right to request to be allowed to die that there is is for the patient him or herself to request, either personally, by way of another party granted power of attorney or by a living will to request a DNR, or "do not resuscitate" and/or other actions or medications of life-saving value.
2006-12-13 07:33:15 · answer #2 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, of course not. You're asking them to commit murder.
By the same token, the dying person may not ask for an early death, under the law as it stands.
It's a tough area, with no easy answer, but I think it should never be legal for someone to ask a doctor or anyone to help someone else to die... NEVER. Think of the potential for abuse - a terminal patient who is kept comfortable and has no desire to die; a greedy relative who can't wait for the inheritance; all they would have to do is blather on about how the patient's dignity or standard of living is unacceptable to them, and convince the doctor to do the deed purely for monetary gain.
Think of another case - what if it were legal to terminate a life at the whim of a third party - it wouldn't be long before you'd see how cost-effective it would be to 'help' long stay patients on their way, rather than have them live out their remaining years in an institution.... even though those people may be very happy there.
The will to live - under any circumstances - is very strong in the vast majority of people, and they would not ever want it cut short by any amount or for any reason. We tend to project our own ideas of 'standard of living' onto some people, where in fact most patients cope with a lower standard of living enough to want to continue it.
No doubt, for a small number of people, death is better than what they perceive as a loss of dignity etc, but that is a very small number of cases indeed. While there are always a tiny number of probably deserving cases, where asking for assistance to die is justified, legislation must cover everyone in so far as possible.
A huge grey area like this one throws up massive ethical issues, and any legislation must always seek to avoid exploitation and loopholes.
2006-12-13 07:42:07 · answer #3 · answered by RM 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
People suffer daily and some do decide to end their lives. Aiding a person you love who is beyond doctors help may be wrong but the heart usually guides a person to know what is best for a loved one.
2006-12-13 07:34:14 · answer #4 · answered by ambi 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is morally right to ask a doctor for help to make the death of a terminally ill patient as smooth as possible, but do not ask the doctor to cause the death.
2006-12-13 07:41:38 · answer #5 · answered by AnnieD 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If someone is like terminally ill, or has a poor quality of life - beacause of old age. Then YES - Most people wouldn't want to live like that, so why should we force the frail to do so!!!
If it is just cos of avoiding criminal repercussions or something that does not fit above then NO.
2006-12-13 07:32:33 · answer #6 · answered by elephantemg83 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is it right to let someone with no chance of survival IE cancer on respirator for days or weeks filled with morphine for pain because of relatives wanting to sit and watch & fear of what do gooders think or say .If an animal cannot be saved it is compulsary for it to be put to sleep. Why should we be any different?
2006-12-13 07:40:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A doctor is there to help you and if you are suffering I see no reason why a doctor shouldn't give you extra morphine or whatever. I think they did this for my father.
2006-12-19 00:48:46 · answer #8 · answered by Curious39 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very fragmented subject... last year a doctor wanted to know how much life support to order in the even my mother became comatose. I told him her wishes "don't hook me up to a bunch of G.D. machines... let me die and box me" (her words). I related those words to the doctor who laughed and said "Thanks, you sure took a load off my shoulders." The next day mom died...
Now... who took the load off who's shoulders?? Some might say Mom committed suicide... (???)
2006-12-13 07:55:00 · answer #9 · answered by Gunny T 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
that is a very hard question
on one hand doctors have taken a vow to preserve life at all costs
on the other hand when someone is in so much pain that it is cruel for them to live then i think it is ok to help them along
2006-12-13 07:30:32 · answer #10 · answered by mel2430 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋