Discussion of the Week: Euthanasia

[taylovesthebeatles]

I've noticed over these past few months we've had several discussions here about important ethical/moral issues in our society, which I personally have really enjoyed participating in. I thought I would start a weekly thread with a different topic and put it up for discussion so we could talk about things we haven't discussed yet, if anyone is interested. I've randomly and arbitrarily decided the first topic up for discussion will be Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide. I'll post my thoughts in response to yours if I see fit and in another post of my own, but I wanted to get the introductory post out there first. If any of you have something you'd like to discuss in an upcoming thread, send me a PM and we'll see about doing it!

[eejit101]

God, time to ramble, ive entered into this post instantly and with no specific thoughts, im just gonna type as i think it, so be prepared.

Euthanasia is complex. Its also illegal in most countries, frowned upon in some, and welcomes in others.

Now, firstly, you gotta look at the legal side. Is it legal to kill someone? No. You get life. But killing someone if they ask you? How about if they beg you? How about if it causes them so much pain to live then dying is the best thing they can look forward to?

Im not gonna take this off topic, but im gonna write this. If there was a way to die that was painless, preparatory, and everything else, id take it. Im not gonna go into detail, but it makes sense right now. There isnt this option though, so all in all its a pointless musing.

As is euthanasia. Killing a loved one with an injection of whatever the hell it is they use these days may be, honestly, the best thing you can do. The fact is if they want it so much, they should be allowed it. All i know is its legal in 5 countries, and 2 US states (Oregon and Washington).

Im completely for it to be honest. I know if i was in serious pain, or just that tired of fighting for my life on a daily basis, id love the chance of the release of death. My family (pfft) would be prepared, theres a chance to say goodbye, so what you need to do, then just let go and "pass on". This, IMO, is completely "human" and should be allowed.

As an "atheist" i dont believe i will go anywhere when i die. Ill just stop. Which would be nice. So once its over, theres nothing. Its not as if your gonna be bored when you die or worry about new people likeing you or any of that crap, it just ends.

So as a final thought - What exactly is the point of living?


(done now, havent read it back, gonna wait for someone to criticise/agree)

[BnLM5]

I am unable to express my thoughts on or about this subject at the moment...Reason unknown... To many thoughts to ponder right now for me.


However I have a new nick name for you Eejj it's Eeyore!

Funny he's the unbelievably lovable donkey

who is dismally gloomy in spirit

most every time you see/hear him. :

[eejit101]

Eeyore101.

NDN - change it up babycakes

[GloBug]

well im all for it. thats what i want for myself. my wife is against it so it might be tough unless i am in alots of pain. i think it should be legal. but thats me good luck it getting past the senate if they tried to legalize it. poker has a better chance then that. lol

[freeringo]

What is living good for?

Too have fun and be happy.

As far as the topic goes.

Euphanasia is legal, its called drug overdose.

The baby boomers are getting old and you will hear about alot of people ODing in the years to come.

Make sure you got your affairs in order and your family taken care of and
enjoy the ride.

It's hard for me to believe or even listen to any debate about how you won't get into Heaven if you take your own life.

How can easing your pain and wanting to enter into the spirit world be a sin?

This coming from someone who went to Catholic school for 6 years.

[navuta]

I would like to die in the same way as Aldous Huxley


His wife inject him a large dose of LSD...
so... people should just do what they whant with their life...as long they dont disturb others...
Long life for freedom...

[taylovesthebeatles]

Okay. So. Euthanasia. It's a tricky subject for me to really be satisfied with a clear position on it for myself, as I'm generally in favor of life, as I'll explain further in my response to the abortion thread and as I've already explained somewhat in my response to the earlier discussion on capital punishment. This most may be a bit of a nonsensical ramble, so for that I apologize ahead of time.

I should also add a disclaimer that my views have a somewhat religious basis, in that I believe in a God who values all human life, which has been made in the image of that God. So take that for what you will.

Having said that, basically I don't think that humanity should be able to "play God" as it were and decide who lives and dies. Additionally, I don't really think humans should be in control of deciding when a person "deserves to" or "should" die, for whatever reason, be it committing a crime or being an "inconvenient burden" or whatever, like an unborn baby.

However, I also believe that everything in life happens for a reason, and if a person feels that God's method of ending their suffering is to provide them with the ability and circumstances to end it with euthanasia, then there may be some merit to that. I don't know really. I do know that suffering from something beyond your control sucks, and I can only imagine what that pain and toil would be like for someone who was so severely affected by it that it completely took their quality of life away. In these types of situations, which is something I'd probably want euthanasia limited to, or at least I'm going to for the sake of argument, I don't think that assisted suicide is by any stretch of the imagination an "easy way out", and is (hopefully, at least) never a decision that is come to lightly.

At the same time, I know that I and I'm sure many others do wish that my death would coincide with that of my beloved, as that way neither of us would have to live without each other and we would die in each others' arms. But that's probably wishful thinking, and it seems like the only way to ensure that would happen is through some means like assisted suicide, which as I've said I'm not entirely morally comfortable with the idea.

So in the end, I really don't know where I stand on the issue. I guess that at the end of the day, I'm still very much in favor of life over the option of death, but I don't personally feel it as equated and black and white as my views on the importance of life when it comes to abortion or the death penalty.

[0maxpower0]

Man, some heavy topics here on NDN...this euthanasia one defiantely takes the cake. Fact is, how can anyone, particularly an established government, tell you what you can and cannot do when it comes to your body?!? If youre not hurting anyone else with you actions, how can they even get away with it. I equate it to abortion; yea its something people might not agree with, might not understand, not do themselves, but ya know, its your body its your life. As for the subjective implications like heaven and afterlife and all that; all i can say is it would certainly suck if the doctor that assissted you in easing pain went to hell because of it :-p. Or that you went to purgatory because of your decision. Im not really that religious, and i kinda agree with EEj in the sense that i think nothing spectacular happens when u die, u just stop being conscious. I think that no one can really judge the amount of pain someone goes through everyday, its hard to transfer yourself into someone elses life, so its pretty hard to judge. I think the underlined arguement in this discussion is, does an individual have the right to do what they wish of themselves, as long as they dont harm anyone else. Fact is they do have the right, so i think its absurd that this kind thing is illegal, despite the obvious regressions that come with the thought.

[Pokerkitty6]

I feel Euthanasia should be legal. We are very humane about our animals when they suffer and I feel we should be just as humane when a human suffers. Some people want to die with dignity, instead of suffering, wearing a diaper, and tubes for food. My uncle passed away last year and in the end he asked me just to shot him, end it. He fought in a war and yet I'm seeing him with no control over his own body. I told him I would take him to a better place and contacted Hospice immediately. Many family members were upset with me because they thought I had given up on him. Never would that happen. I knew he was going to die and I didn't want him to die in a diaper, screaming in a hospital where they could do nothing else for him. The night he was transferred to hospice he passed away at approx. 2am. The family was called and we spent many hours with him. I sat on his bed with him and told him how good he looked. They had bathed him and shaved him the minute he got to hospice. He had comforable pj's on. He looked comfortable as he passed away with his diginity in tact. I gave him a kiss, told him I loved him and said goodbye. He suffered for at least a month before all of this happened. If he or I could have ended it legally, we would have, no doubt. I have a senior friend who also fought in the war. Back then they would give you one cynide (spelled wrong) pill in case you were captured by the enemy and didn't want to be tortured for information, you could take the pill to end it. I'm not sure if they did this for everyone, but they did it for this man. He still has the pill and has told his kids, in the end if he is suffering, he will take his pill. His pill, his choice.

[freeringo]

Okay. So. Euthanasia. It's a tricky subject for me to really be satisfied with a clear position on it for myself, as I'm generally in favor of life, as I'll explain further in my response to the abortion thread and as I've already explained somewhat in my response to the earlier discussion on capital punishment. This most may be a bit of a nonsensical ramble, so for that I apologize ahead of time.

I should also add a disclaimer that my views have a somewhat religious basis, in that I believe in a God who values all human life, which has been made in the image of that God. So take that for what you will.

Having said that, basically I don't think that humanity should be able to "play God" as it were and decide who lives and dies. Additionally, I don't really think humans should be in control of deciding when a person "deserves to" or "should" die, for whatever reason, be it committing a crime or being an "inconvenient burden" or whatever, like an unborn baby.

However, I also believe that everything in life happens for a reason, and if a person feels that God's method of ending their suffering is to provide them with the ability and circumstances to end it with euthanasia, then there may be some merit to that. I don't know really. I do know that suffering from something beyond your control sucks, and I can only imagine what that pain and toil would be like for someone who was so severely affected by it that it completely took their quality of life away. In these types of situations, which is something I'd probably want euthanasia limited to, or at least I'm going to for the sake of argument, I don't think that assisted suicide is by any stretch of the imagination an "easy way out", and is (hopefully, at least) never a decision that is come to lightly.

At the same time, I know that I and I'm sure many others do wish that my death would coincide with that of my beloved, as that way neither of us would have to live without each other and we would die in each others' arms. But that's probably wishful thinking, and it seems like the only way to ensure that would happen is through some means like assisted suicide, which as I've said I'm not entirely morally comfortable with the idea.

So in the end, I really don't know where I stand on the issue. I guess that at the end of the day, I'm still very much in favor of life over the option of death, but I don't personally feel it as equated and black and white as my views on the importance of life when it comes to abortion or the death penalty.

Humans are hunters by nature.
There for we are animals.
Animals choose who lives and who dies.
If you can't keep up with the herd you die.
If you are week you die.
Governments have no say in it and religion has no say in it.
Nature takes care of itself.

[Pokerkitty6]

Only the strong survive...

[navuta]

also in poker... only the strong the luck survive..
...
See you at the tables...lol...
I agree with Eutanasia... People jump off the bridges and nobody cares...why would they care if u whant to die in peace on your bed???
I really don get it..
Have u seen that movie? bridges????
nice one...

[targetguy1]

Dr. Jack Kevorkian is the first thing that comes to mind when i read the this thread. There are so many differen types of euthanasia. I for one say leave it up to the person that is suffering. Give them the drugs they need and let them do it if they want. I understand it could be considered it suicide but if this something that really want then they should do it to themselves instead of having help.

I dont agree with people helping other commit this. i consider that to be muder. I understand they give them permission to do it but still i think if the person really want to stop suffering and die then they will end their life on there on. They dont need help or assistance killing themself. By letting doctors get away with this we are letting them act as if they were god. They are not god and just humans like we all are. A doctor that is involed in such action shuld be held respondsible for his or her actions. Doctor are supposed to help heal the body not shut it down.

Anyways i am not for this but if the person insist that it must be done then let them kill themselves and not have any help a for i see that as muder.

[PANAMHIEST]

I dont really have any views on this subject. I think if a person is in a state

of mind where dying is better than trying to live, and they have sufficient

medical evidence to back that up, then if they want to end it, so be it. The

grand ol government lethally injects perfectly healthy criminals convicted of

crimes everyday, or almost everyday. They(government) are just a bunch of

hypocrits when it comes to this subject, and the fact is they would rather

see a terminally/medically person suffer than go peacefully, as opposed to

letting a caged criminal legally die peacefully, instead of letting them suffer

from their crimes. This doesnt really makes alot of sense does it? I may go off

the subject a little here, and go so far as to say that the government makes

it perfectly legal to kill a innocent little baby in the state of texas as long as

the child hasnt reach the 6 month term yet. The child has a heart beat,

he/her can laugh smile or cry, is usually perfectly healthy, but yet this is

legal. Does that make sense? Where is the justice in that? what happened to

morals? does anyone even give a f@#k?