like if they have cancer and it can't be treated or dementia
2007-07-20 04:08:29 · 15 answers · asked by xx-coolkat-xx 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
This should be a personal choice. If someone is suffering there should be the option for the person to end it in a humane manner. However, if the person is no longer mentally capable to make such a choice, it should fall to the family to decide. With all the advancements in medicine we have VERY comfortable ways for people to die. Often a little assistance is needed in severe cases and thus a doctor or nurse will need to be attending. But if the person has chosen to end it, they should not be denied thier last wishes.....it is inhumane to sentence them to a life of even more suffering until the body finally gives out on it's own.
As a side note, I do not think euthanasia should be used as means of genocide for the elderly, sickly, handicapped, etc. If so then we've adopted Nazi mentality and that just doesn't cut it.
2007-07-20 04:16:57 · answer #1 · answered by Lucy The Dog 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe in it ONLY at the persons request. Unfortunately that does leave out people with dementia as they cannot consent.
I was reading an article about places where this is acceptable and apparently they have had problems with doctors and other family members actually PUSHING euthanasia on people. As in, "are you ready to go?" "do you want to stop the pain?" etc. This is outrageous and care should be taken that this does not happen.
I also think that if the doctors in the U.S. would be better with pain management, many people would be happy to stay alive and spend time with their families rather than dying. It is the pain the debilitates so many people and then they cannot enjoy being alive. A few weeks before he died of lymphoma, my dad was in the hospital (he had surgery). He was taking pain pills and was having trouble with constipation. He talked to the surgeon about it and the surgeon suggested they stop the pain pills. Give me a break! The man had just had surgery and had cancer to boot. My father's oncologist started up the pain medicine again so at least he was out of pain until the end of his life.
2007-07-20 04:33:38 · answer #2 · answered by Patti C 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yeah I do. But really the decision should only be made as long as the person that's requesting euthanasia is of sound mind. My Grandma suffers from dementia and she isn't really aware of what's going on around her and doesn't always recognise family and friends or gets us confused with other people, so really I don't think that she could really make an informed decision. If I had her quality of life though I would probably request euthanasia because it seems such a lonely and futile existence. Though, you never know yourself until you're in that situation I guess.
2007-07-20 04:17:41 · answer #3 · answered by Fabz 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I do believe in euthanasia but only if the person has the capacity to make a well informed decision or made the decision while being competant to do so. Many people with dementia are happy and still enjoy parts of their lives, but most importantly, they do not have the capacity to make a decision about ending their life. I don't think that a person has the right to make a decision about ending another person's life. It must be the sole decision of a competant person.
2007-07-20 04:18:50 · answer #4 · answered by Social Worker 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No. I have lived long enough to see enough remarkable recoveries to be opposed to killing people simply because they have what we call a terminal illness. Science continues to move forward, and who knows that a person won't live long enough to be able to utilize scientific discoveries or new treatments.
My son and daughter were both born with a terminal disease (cystic fibrosis). At the time my son was born, the average life expectancy was 8 years. However, do to advances in medicine and science he lived to be 22 and had a wonderful life even though it was short and involved much time at hospitals. He worked, went to college, and had a huge impact on his community.
My daughter, born 2 years after my son, is now in her 30s and has a child (a grandson we never expected to have.)
Life is precious and should not be lightly relenquished. I know many think killing someone to stop their pain and suffering is justifiable, just as some think killing a fetus is acdeptable if it is inconvenient or has been show to have some defect. To me, those people are just dead wrong (no pun intended).
2007-07-20 04:23:55 · answer #5 · answered by ghouly05 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I believe if the person who is sick has expressed a wish that in the future stages when they can't take care of themselves, can't move or take pills, is continuously in pain even with the pain killers then Yes. But if they are told we can;t treat you you have blah amount of time. I don't believe in it because there are second opinions and every day could be the day they find a cure for whatever.
2007-07-20 04:20:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I believe in euthanasia but, only for terminally ill people who are considered mentally sound.
My grandmother died a horrible death from Emphysema. The last weeks of her life were horrendous, she was constantly in pain and wanted it to be over. There was 100% no doubt that she would pass away but, yet we got stand by and watch her beg us to put her out of her misery. It is the worst feeling ever for a person...you could only imagine how she felt!
We act like someone is a monster if they don't put a beloved pet out of their misery but, when it comes to a human then the rules change. WHY?
2007-07-20 04:21:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes I do belive in it - My Aunt and Uncle helped set up the Euthenasia society of victoria (in Australia) only my uncle then got Cancer and didnt want to kill himself he wanted to be with my Aunt until the end - He died 6 weeks after he found out he had Cancer - My Aunt broke ties with the society as they kept wanting to know why she didnt euthenase him which kind of leads me to your next example of dementia I dont believe in euthenasing these people as they can no longer make the decision for themselves so this really would go beyond my beliefs in the issue - my uncle didnt want to die early so he didnt - a patient with dementia cant make the decision for themselves so this to me isnt right.
If a person had terminal cancer was in extreme pain - had only a few weeks or days to live and couldnt be made comfortable with paliative care and in good sound mind decided they really just wanted it to end then yes I believe they should be able to do it - personally I dont think I could help someone do it though it just isnt in me to kill someone but if the laws were different and a loved one was in this situation and just wanted it all to end and there was no hope for curing them or making the remainder of their lives any better I would search out help for them.
2007-07-20 04:17:42 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Kazz♥ 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
We already kill babies before they even have a chance to life outside the womb. Why not?
I mean that sarcastically but I seriously think we'll move in that direction someday. Doesn't make it right.
I work with the elderly on a day to day basis. They have cancer, severe diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer's, amongst other problems. Even with all that, they still have a desire to live- even if they aren't in their right minds!
Comparing a dog and cat to people are like comparing a watermelon and a potato. . . It just doesn't make sense to make that comparison.
2007-07-20 04:13:14 · answer #9 · answered by Chick-a-Dee 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Dr. Kevorkian is a great man!
euthanasia is legal in very few U.S. states.......people should have the choice if they want to die slowly by the sides of medical Dr's or quickly by being euthanized.
we are animals and that is what a majority of people do to their dogs and cats when they get deathly ill, as humans we love our animals that much to end their pain and suffering humaninly, why is it so hard to do the same for our fellow man?
2007-07-20 04:14:18 · answer #10 · answered by tonis the menace 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋