Euthanasianists, do you believe that the severely depressed have a right to euthanasia?

Question

assuming they have no other illness except for the severe depression?

Just curious.

Don't worry Loka. I'm not!

Answer 1

Sadness is a part of life. I don't believe in depression, depression is a label. Chemical imbalance arises from something: a lost dream, a disappointment.

Some people are, to begin with, more prone to sadness than the others. Remember the Buddha, for example, great mystics, people with that extra sensitivity that make them vulnerable. But they also have great gifts (their compassion, spirituality, philosophical nature, kindess of heart)... Does it ring a bell to you, my dear?

I have given aura consultations for years (I don't see the aura - well, maybe a little - but have a computer-based program called the Aura Imaging system). The aura of such people (including myself, and YOU, I have no doubt about it) have a lot of blue (light, indigo) and violet (also light and dark, pink). Its just how we are born. If we allow our sadness to be branded by a clinical name, call it depression, then it will become a sickness. It is not. Its just how we are.

Oh,.and I forgot to say: these are the colours of the upper chakras. If in a good mood, they are lighter. If not, they are darker.
(I know this answer may go against the beliefs of many people but I still wanted you to know this point of view too. And it is not to say that you should stop trying to find a better therapist for yourself.)

Answer 2

No, I don't think so. I have battled with sever depression for most of my life and have finally managed to come out of it. If euthanasia were a readily supported option for depressed people I would have been dead a long time ago and would never have the chance at a happy life like I finally do today. As horrible as depression is to live with, the only thing you can do is survive through each day and try to keep faith that someday things will get better.

Answer 3

No. In general, euthanasia is illegal because the problems associated with determining that it is voluntary. That's why it is always referred to as "assisted suicide" rather than euthanasia in the press. And for any procedure (well, this is extreme, of course, but it IS a medical procedure) to be voluntary, there must be informed consent and the ability to consent. A person who is severely depressed lacks the legal capacity to consent.

Euthanasia is a term which needs to be distinguished from assisted suicide. It is not assumed to be for the benefit of the person killed, but for the society at large. The assumption is that we don't need "that kind." I am able to imagine that a society might decide to pass such laws if, for example, there was a DNA test for certain horrible sociopathic mental conditions; Freddy Crueger Syndrome, as it were.

Of course, it is illegal for a variety of reasons, but the most important one is that we do not have the right to decide, as a society, that any given individual is not valuable. And that's good even from the point of view of the society, because if we took on that responsibility, we'd undoubtedly kill off some people who are valuable in ways we did not anticipate.

I am not, in general, a euthanasianist, so perhaps you think it inappropriate for me to answer this question. But I feel all questions are open to someone who is able to see a question from the point of view of the group addressed. Moveover, I really think it's better if we do not address questions to a certain group, as it only invites their adversaries to jump on it and distort the entire process.

Answer 4

I believe everyone has a right to end their lives. I also believe that it's sad if they do so prematurely, but they do have that right.

With depression, if they have tried and tried, but found no successful means of alleviating their depression, suicide might be the only way out.

Let's face it. Depression is a crippling disease. People who are severely depressed are unable to do most everything that the non-depressed take for granted. Many who don't commit suicide simply don't because they are too depressed to come up with an effective way to do so.

Perhaps more suicides are found among the Bipolar individuals, and even among these, suicide doesn't take place when they are depressed. Usually they do so when they are normal or hypomanic, knowing that the depression is right around the corner.

Answer 5

That's a toughie for me, honestly. I've been in the darkest, most despairing states of depression one could imagine but am here because I refuse to leave my kids. I still sometimes have days where I wish I could just end it and they'd understand. If I didn't have kids, I'm sure I'd believe unequivocally that I have that right. But, on the other hand, who's to say there isn't a cure right around the corner? Or that everyone doesn't have their own 'kid solution'? Life is so, so precious. Everybody's life :)

Answer 6

Laptop Jesus is right, except that it's not always an easy fix. Anyone who is severely depressed should get professional medical treatment. Euthanasia is NOT the answer for depression.

Answer 7

No. I believe you can cure (or help to live a better life) a severely depressed person.

In some case I agree with the euthanasia, like terminal cancers or others long suffering dead.

I have family experience in both cases.

Answer 8

My thoughts on this question depend on how depressed I am at the time.

At the moment, it's certainly a tempting possibility. Depression, especially if it is resistant to treatment, causes untold agony to those who suffer from it, and treatment-resistant depression can last a lifetime.

If you're in the valley of the black dogs right now, here's hoping you find your way back to the light, even if it's only a little bit at a time.

Answer 9

I think each person has the right to make the choice of whether to live or die for themselves, and if they decide that they choose to die, they should be able to get assistance in making it as painless as possible if they so choose.

However, if the reason that they are choosing death is because of a treatable or curable illness, I would hope that they would seek treatment instead of euthanasia.

Answer 10

I think they have a right to treatment. Most depression is treatable.

I think if some one wants to end their life they can, I would hope the try treatment first.. I have a problem with other people doing though. I think the slippery slope argument has some validity.