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jennifer1010 · Apr 8, 2009, 01:47 PM

I read an article today which I have included below. Talks about a Canadian couple who want to die together. The husband is terminally ill although the wife isn't terminally ill, they've decided to move to Switzerland and have the process done there because assisted suicide isn't illegal there. Anyway, read the article if you feel like it, if you don't want to don't. I just want to hear some opinions on "assisted suicide" .

Assisted Suicide

Thanks for reading!

Justwantfair · Apr 8, 2009, 01:51 PM

I don't think it is my place to stop someone's own choice for their life.

I believe that assisted suicide is beneficial to those who are terminally ill, because I have seen plenty of bodys still living without minds.

As far as the wife, it is her choice, as she loves her husband and isn't willing to face a life without him. I think that her choice is blinded, but the fact is it's her choice and it should be respected.

mudweiser · Apr 8, 2009, 01:51 PM

Justwantfair you always have the right answers.

In my own opinion on the issue: I don't know whether to say it's sweet or a little crazy.

MRS.S

spitvenom · Apr 8, 2009, 01:53 PM

I agree with justwantfair. If someone wants to die let them die it is their choice.

redhed35 · Apr 8, 2009, 02:08 PM

OK,he's wants assisted suicide and so does she,what I'm wondering is,if they both have the use of their hands why do they need assistants?

Assisted suicide on someone who is terminal and on life support,well its only a matter of time anyway.

Assisted suicide for someone in a lot of pain who dying anyway and is compus mentis,OK,ill go there.

But for this healthy woman to want someone else to KILL her and probably have to pay for it!

And did ye see the picture,big happy smiling faces, woohoo were going to die!

Crazy world.

speechlesstx · Apr 8, 2009, 02:18 PM

"I have a totally different attitude to suicide," Minelli said. "I say suicide is a marvelous possibility given to a human being."

That's disturbing.

artlady · Apr 8, 2009, 02:23 PM

Helping someone who is terminally ill and in pain is one thing but when it comes to a healthy person,I think that is going to far.Somehow it just seems wrong.Maybe its my Catholic upbringing.

At what point do we stop playing God?

Do we assist the chronically depressed and suicidal?These people have and that to me is totally outrageous.When there is clearly a way to help someone lead a productive life. Depression is curable or at least manageable.

When you begin to tread on this slippery slope,you have to ask who is next?
Parents who want to kill their severely handicapped child?
The disabled?

I think it sets a dangerous precedent and I say no,not for the sick at heart but only the terminally ill.

jennifer1010 · Apr 8, 2009, 02:35 PM

Justwantfair, eh, of course for the terminally ill it's all right. But for this healthy women.. I just don't know, even if it is her decision.

Mud, I'm going to say I think it's a little crazy and a little selfish. I mean there has to be others that truly care for this women and she's going to do this because her husband is dying! Selfish.

Redhead, I'm going to agree to that.

Speechless, I agree.

And I'm going to have to agree with you artlady. Okay if the person is terminally ill. As for this lady who just wants to die just because her husband is dying. Eh, I don't know. I think it's a little ifffy, probably just my religious upbringing, I don't believe we should play God as you said.

Justwantfair · Apr 8, 2009, 02:39 PM

I just feel if we are going to tell people the choices that they can and can not make then how is that different.

So we tell her "you have to live", she is going through pain as well and it is her choice. If she has family that she cares about and that cares about her, surely they will talk sense into her. She isn't going to listen to random people tell her it's not OK.

Where there is a will there is a way.

artlady · Apr 8, 2009, 02:58 PM

Re;The above mentioned article,the thing that I find reprehensible is this :

Minelli also acknowledged that his group helped some psychiatric patients commit suicide, BBC News said.

That is what I object to most fervently.

tomder55 · Apr 9, 2009, 04:25 AM

In India ,women would sometimes self immolate on her husband's pyre .It is called sati (or Suttee).Sati was supposedly voluntary also but there is a certain compulsion behind the women's decision. Often the crowd attending the funeral would "assist" the widow in her decision.It is outlawed today,but still occurs occasionally.

There was an incident in Oregon not long ago where assisted suicide is permitted . A woman was denied coverage for an anti-cancer drug because it wasn't in the formulary. She also received a letter informing her that she qualified for assisted-suicide benefits. Look at the cost savings to the nanny state!!
I'm sure health professionals in the cradle to grave world will not weigh that factor when advising patients about their options.

Ok ,I got on my soap box about socialized medicine ,where I think the issue could become a bigger problem when there is a cog in the bureucracy making the call .But even in private practice we have to be careful about what we permit.

Deathcultist Minelli is hired to advise on the person's best interests. But the problem is that he stands to make money from urging you to take a certain course of action. Your death is in his best interests. When he describes a suicide at his clinic as a “marvelous opportunity”, is he speaking simply from a sincere belief or is he speaking from an expectation of gain? What is the “marvelous opportunity”, the death... or the profits ?

The Swiss are investigating him for just that reason .

excon · Apr 9, 2009, 04:29 AM

Hello:

We're having this conversation as though what some people do with their body is our business.

It AIN'T - PERIOD - END OF STORY.

excon

tomder55 · Apr 9, 2009, 04:54 AM

My comments were on someone else being permitted to assist in the suicide ,not in the suicide itself .

speechlesstx · Apr 9, 2009, 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by tomder55

my comments were on someone else being permitted to assist in the suicide ,not in the suicide itself .

Bingo.

spitvenom · Apr 9, 2009, 06:04 AM

What I don't understand is someone said assisted suicide is like playing god. I don't disagree with this point. But isn't a Dr. doing a heart transplant playing god also? Why is it we accept people playing god if it is to save a life but we don't accept it when it is taking a life.

redhed35 · Apr 9, 2009, 08:07 AM

Doctors and nurses take a vow of 'first do no harm',they ARE as you say trying to save a life.. but taking the life of a healthy person,with or without their permission is morally,and legally wrong.

Is it really societys business what people decide to do with their life,i.e.assisted suicide..

The answer is yes. If we accept that a healthy person can decide to op for assisted suicide where does it stop? Disabled children? A minority group? Me,you!

Have we all become so accustomed to horror and afraid to stand up and say 'this is not right ' because its politally correct to say it's their choice!

We also have a choice... to say this is unacceptable in a world where millions of people are fighting for their lives,either through hunger,poverty or disease.

artlady · Apr 9, 2009, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by excon

Hello:

We're having this conversation as though what some people do with their body is our business.

It AIN'T - PERIOD - END OF STORY.

excon

I agree,it is all personal and should stay that way. But... there is always a but.
My objection is that when we enter into such a slippery slope there is always going to be the possibility of someone abusing the law.

Helping people who are mentally ill to kill themselves is akin to saying these people are hopeless and can never recover.

I have power of attorney for you medically and I think your depression is too much for you so I as your P.O.A. am going to sentence you to death.

I have a severely disabled child,I do not think they have quality of life,I am their POA so I get to say whether they live or die.

As the law is written today in this instance,the potential for abuse is too high.

These people are nothing more than glorified hit men.Their motives are not altruistic but rather pushing the envelope of the law and greed.

speechlesstx · Apr 9, 2009, 10:43 AM

Valid question, Spit. In my opinion and based on biblical principles, human life is sacred to God and healing affirms the sanctity of life. If we believe God created and is the source of human life - created in His image – it is proper to heal, but not kill for just any ol’ reason. And the Hippocratic oath, which I know is not obligatory, is still good policy:

I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath.

To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.

inthebox · Apr 9, 2009, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by jennifer1010

I read an article today which I have included below. Talks about a Canadian couple who want to die together. The husband is terminally ill although the wife isn't terminally ill, they've decided to move to Switzerland and have the process done there because assisted suicide isn't illegal there. Anyways, read the article if you feel like it, if you don't want to don't. I just want to hear some opinions on "assisted suicide" .

Assisted Suicide

Thanks for reading!

If someone is terminally ill - there is hospice care.

If someone is suicidal, they need mental health care, not someone to pull the trigger for them. I hope that, we as a society, will not reach the point where suicide is viewed as just another CHOICE, because right now I would wager that the vast majority view suicide as abnormal.

I think it would bring up all sorts of other ethical issues. For example, how about the dramatic break up, or divorce, or failed grade, or job loss? If any of these folks feeel so distraught that they feel like they want to die, do we assist them?

G&P

JoeCanada76 · Apr 9, 2009, 06:12 PM

Wow, this is quite the little can of worms.
This is a very tough topic and it has been debated for years.
In my own opinion all life is precious, but when you have somebody that is terminally ill. I can not sit here and say that no that person in that situation does not have a right to chose how they leave this life.

The thing is when something like this is opened up the many things that people fear would happen is that it will open up to the possibility of more cases of people trying to fight for their right to die no matter what the circumstances are.

Each case can be different but I think there is a fine line in these situations and how to limit the right in a way that is respectful to the person in that experience but also does not give a free ticket for anybody to do this.