Euthanasia/Suicide

[Huathe]

Katie,

You are probably so right. Making the decision to terminate someone's life would be a tough decision to make. Even if you think it is the right thing to do.

[Owlion]

Euthanasia is a hard choice, because you have to decide for someone who you care about. It's hard to take life from a person even if you do it on mercy. But what concerns suicide, I believe each person has a right to do this, and no one should blame anyone for commiting this. It's a personal choice. By default you should live whether you want it or not, so one must be really strong to take such a decision. It's hard to kill yourself even when you think you can't bear the pain of life.

[paikea]

How do you define Euthanasia? In NL it would be a Dr giving drugs to terminate a patients life but only on the request of the patiens (and a lengthy process beforehand) I think its important to seperate the 2 patient requested euthanasia and parent (or other member) requested euthanasia.
Also suicide it depends on the situation. My mum has terminal cancer, she had life extending treatment and is currently doing well but we also had a discussion for that time that it will come back it will be aggresive and horrible. She doesn't want to bother anyone with her death, for her its her Karma and not something she wishes to pass on so she has talked to me about what she would do. I know that this is what she wants and I know that it not something she will do because she feels alone or stuck or depressed or whatever reason that could potentially be fixed with apropriate help.

For me right now if it is an adult who is mentally capable of making such a decision and they have a terminal disease I feel we need to support that decision and ensure that family who is already mourning doesn't get prosecuted and harrased.

[Phyto]

I've acted as a carer and also had close contact with those with terminal but debilitating diseases that cause, close to the end stage, lots of pain, confusion and so on (and held the dying). My own stance does not rely on religion (because I don't have one) but even so I don't have all the answers as I think each case is so individual.

I don't see any religious reason not to allow euthanisation. However, I am aware that it needs a very tight framework to ensure it is used appropriately. I also know from veterinary sources of mine that euthanasia is often very hard on those who have to administer it, regardless of how bad an animal is suffering. It is given under appropriate circumstances but many vets still find it traumatic to take a life; they know the circumstances under which it is necessary and do not want to prolong pain but still feel for the death, the loss. Therefore, although many want euthanasia options for human beings, one still has to consider that putting it in place could lead to emotional distress to the doctors who have to administer it (and that may also have association with each individual's religious and moral belief systems).

Usually with animals, we do not put them to sleep when they no longer have their "personality" (unless they turn very aggressive) but usually it relates to their physical issues - pain levels through injury or disease and their quality of life relating to a more physical aspect. With human beings we also have that but we also have decisions on whether or not the person, the being in the body, is still there - have the brain centres become so damaged through disease or injury that the "personality", the thing that makes the person who they are, is no longer present? It's also the individual's frustration as they know less and less of the "who" is with them until it may even have gone.

I have no idea what my decision would be for myself or a loved one other than I wouldn't be against it but it would have to meet certain criteria (pain levels, their wishes, possibility of recovery - given medical leaps, levels of suffering, is there a way not to euthanise but to give substantial pain relief, how much time is left before a more natural death would occur anyway).

It's one of those huge, vast areas and I don't think "one size fits all" can apply very easily.

[Twyrch]

I found a solution for myself... that is a living will and a DNR order. I stripped the POA of the ability to countermand my choices as well, when it came to end of life decisions, so I will have the final say... well, me and my maker.

[merryb]

The Writer Terry Prachett put the arguement for Euthanasia very movingly in his film on the subject. This a Review of the film in the UK paper Telegraph. There are also links to counter arguements.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... eview.html

This is a further interview Terry Pratchett http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13758286


I am not sure how I feel about the subject - I am on the fence and do not know which way to jump.

Merryb

[Whitemane]

In the case of a dementia like Alzheimer's, when do you die?

Is it when the disease finally affects the autonomic systems? Or is it when all the knowledge and memories and magic that are you are destroyed by the spread of amyloid plaque?

If I should go this way, I'd rather be put down than be kept alive as a husk of a person.