Should people suffering from prolonged illness be allowed Voluntary Euthanasia with a doctors assistance?

Question

I am talking about people with severe chronic illnesses having to right to choose their own departure time. No religious replies please

Answer 1

I think if a person is suffering then no measures to prolong life should be done, no CPR, no tube-feeding, an IV only if wanted for medication. They should be medicated until comfort is achieved but should not be killed.

Answer 2

Absolutely yes! I think it is important that each of us state in a living will or something similar what type of medical intervention we want or don't want and whether we want the right to choose to end our life or have it ended under particular circumstances.
My mum is 86 years old and in an aged care facility. She is immobile and has dementia to a degree. She is okay for the moment because she is not suffering too much physically but there are many residents ( including one lady in mum's room) who are like vegetables. They lay in bed and are fed mush. they can't speak or smile or laugh or engage in any communication with loved ones. This is not life and it is a shame that they were unable to choose when they have had enough.
Recently a long term family friend aged 89 who had been suffering with bowel cancer and living with a colostymy bag decided he had enough and hanged himself in his home. His poor son found him. Should he have not been able to say I don't want to suffer any more and he could have died with his loved ones around him.
There was recently an interesting debate on this topic. The show is called "Insight" and is on the Australian TV channel SBS. If you go to the website, the transcript of this program may already be available.

Answer 3

You know, I have often thought about this...I used to think, "sure go ahead, it is your choice after all" but now I am not so sure...My husband fought for 3 years with cancer. We were told he was terminal,, but I saw him fight with every ounce of courage and never even once complain. I see my sister who has MS and no use of her right hand or leg not complain or give up...So what right would I have to let these family members down by not being as courageous as I could be. I'm not sure I would have it in me. So I guess my answer is not an absolute...It would depend on each person and therein lies the problem. It is not just the person suffering that goes, it is all those left behind to suffer what one does. Sure puts a lot on each of us doesn't it?

Answer 4

Well, don't you think this question has been asked before? Anyway, I don't garee with your rejection of 'religious answers'. They are as valid and as worthy as anyone else's, and religion is, at heart, an ideology just like any other, based on pretty similar principles (from the participant's point of view) to any other ideology. So you can't claim that religon has no place in these questions.

But, to answer the question... yes. But it must be formally approved and controlled by the state, to prevent any abuses of the legislation by (potentially wealthy) heirs etc. etc.

Answer 5

Euthanasia has the potential of abuse. People may feel pressured to take that route even if they had not considered it for themselves. We have elder abuse in our society and sometimes they have no voice, but for someone who claims to be a caregiver. How can we be sure that the person "claiming to want to die" is really who want this wish? How can we make sure they were not pressured? The answer is... sometimes we wouldn't.

I don't want society to take that road.

Answer 6

Yes. It's an accepted practice in parts of Europe. Check out hemlocksociety.com.

Answer 7

i could consider the premis that one that has a terminal disease could desire to be allowed to compliment how and while they die. the issue with people who've an incurable psychological ailment is they could be not likely to be waiting to offer recommended consent, and that i could not, consequently, help that concept. i've got continually supported "loss of lifestyles with Dignity" rules and could proceed to accomplish that. i've got worked (at multiple situations in my lifestyles) in elder care and in look after the terminally sick, and that i've got seen the end results of the state forcing human beings to proceed long while they wanted to bypass on.

Answer 8

IMHO, YES, AFTER ALL THE BUSINESS IS TAKEN CARE OF. UNFORTUNATELY, UNLESS YOU ARE JACK KEVORKIAN THIS WOULD NOT OCCUR EASILY.

Answer 9

It has to be their own decision and not from someone else.