Assisted Suicide

[rosieposey]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4251894.ece

What is your opinion on assisted suicide? And what do you think of this particular example?

Whilst I agree with euthanasia (in certain situations), I disagree with assisted suicide. I shall explain my reasons later.

[EmmaGallen]

I think that witht eat woman it was ok what he did. She wanted to die an pretty much did it all, just she wanted to make sure she did it right and only had to do it once.

The thing is, in years to come we won't have cases liek hers cos he can just look up guarenteed methods of suicide on the itnerent.

I think if you can hear me say "I want to die. Let me die" the I should be assisted. I agree witht his far more than turning of life switches. But I know that it could become tricky with the whole "is htis murder or assisted suicide"

[Marcus89]

The only difference I see between the two is that; Euthanasia is normally committed when a patient, suffering from terminal and painful illness(es) is under no or little control of the process.

Assited suicide is just someone giving the means of a patient, who is under total control of the process, to die.

Taking the patient into consideration, I'd say Assisted suicide is more ethical than the two.

I personally think both would be difficult to legislate, it would open up the floodgates.

[mo .R.]

i agree with euthanasia but not this!! if they want to die do it yourself!

i dont think they should be assisted to die why not have therapy show them that they have a life to live and it can be happy!
but i dont believe in letting healthy people kill themselves!

[Marcus89]

There would have to be extremely strick regulations on either for it to be in any way 'sucessful' and I use that term loosely. It can open up the floodgates of Homicide.

[rosieposey]

The reason that I disagree with this case is because this woman was healthy. Yes, she was worried about leaving her home; but it was this man's responsibility as the person whom she had confided in to reassure her, and seek out a good quality care for her. He could at least have persuaded her to wait and explore her options in further detail, rather than jumping at the chance to help her kill herself!

[Marcus89]

The reason that I disagree with this case is because this woman was healthy. Yes, she was worried about leaving her home; but it was this man's responsibility as the person whom she had confided in to reassure her, and seek out a good quality care for her. He could at least have persuaded her to wait and explore her options in further detail, rather than jumping at the chance to help her kill herself!

He had NO legal responsibilty. AT ALL.

Article 232c allows for a one- year jail sentence for failing to assist in an emergency - ie, when a prospective suicidal person loses consciousness.

He wasn't in the room at the time of her losing consciousness etc, therefore he has no legal blame to anwer in regards to Art. 232.

Also, he wasn't a doctor, or councillor etc, he had no legal responsibilty to sway her otherwise, or make her look at futher options. Morally, one can argue he does, but see seemed adament to do it, and to prove a point to German Politicians.

[monorail]

http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=860&highlight=euthanasia

[Nicola Ophelia LaVey]

Assisted suicide seems much more ethical to me than euthanasia; the person in question is actually begging to die whereas in euthanasia they have no control, maybe they can actually still hear everything and sense everything but just can't respond because they're in a coma but still feel that they might be able to wake up? Surely taking this away from someone is worse than taking a life that evidently isn't wanted. If there was a war and you passed somebody who had been ripped to pieces a gun so that they could shoot themselves would this be less ethical than switching off the life support of somebody in a coma from which they could still wake up?

[TheVoice]

I support this, if someone wants to die so badly, might as well let their loved ones help. Euthanasia is alright as well.

[Hermine]

I think it is wrong in any case to help anyone with suicide whether they want to die or not.

[EmmaGallen]

Well it wouldn't be suicide if they didn't want to die would it?

[Robertson]

This is possibly left wing naiivety but surely it's a personal choice whether to live or die, in modern day society people have so little control over aspects of their lives for one reason or another and as such if they want to end it all then it should be a door that is open to them.

If someone is at a place in their life where they don't feel their life is worth living i can't personally think of anything worse than being forced to continue it.

[TheVoice]

Actually, that kind of freedom of choice is more right than left.

[awki]

Theoretically, it should be fine and hunky-dory to assist in suicide and allow suicide where the quality of life is diminished to something unimaginably difficult. HOWEVER, the law remains the same because of the implications a change would have on legal defences. Imagine if murderers could claim that their victims wanted to die?

[Marcus89]

Theoretically, it should be fine and hunky-dory to assist in suicide and allow suicide where the quality of life is diminished to something unimaginably difficult. HOWEVER, the law remains the same because of the implications a change would have on legal defences. Imagine if murderers could claim that their victims wanted to die?

example:

"I Swear your Lordships, She asked me to stab her three hundred and twelve times, then set her alight...She wanted to die..."

[TheVoice]

Example:

Jury: That's balls. Guilty.

[awki]

example:

"I Swear your Lordships, She asked me to stab her three hundred and twelve times, then set her alight...She wanted to die..."

And if she was a terminally ill patient confined to living some kind of fraction of a life with little enjoyment, it would reflect on the defendants actions as being merciful, just as a suicide assistant, were the practice legal. It is the responsibility of legislators to avoid the creation of legal loopholes, which in this instance would be numerous and extremely complex.

[TheVoice]

You'd take it on the balance of the evidence. It's what trials are for.

[awki]

You'd take it on the balance of the evidence. It's what trials are for.

Totally agree, I'm not excusing the somewhat archaic approach to the issue that this government is taking. Merely suggesting as to why it is taking time to force the change.

[rosieposey]

http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=860&highlight=euthanasia

Euthanasia is not the same as assisted suicide. Why direct us to this thread?

[JoeSavage]

they are different i kinda found this a bit weird but if you are terminally ill or there is no hope then why not kill yourself save the time and the pain

[rosieposey]

Example:

Jury: That's balls. Guilty.

But why allow it to reach such a point? Is it not better to prevent murder, before its occurance?

[rosieposey]

And if she was a terminally ill patient confined to living some kind of fraction of a life with little enjoyment, it would reflect on the defendants actions as being merciful, just as a suicide assistant, were the practice legal. It is the responsibility of legislators to avoid the creation of legal loopholes, which in this instance would be numerous and extremely complex.

If she was terminally ill, it would be euthanasia...that is if she actually did want to die in such a way.

[Pioneer]

Life is sacred, and I think people who want to die violate and belittle what a great thing it is, and as such, ought to be granted their wish.

[JoeSavage]

true the wounders life can be and how fantastic everythign can be the tange of the slat breeze the warmth of the sun the numerous experiences you can feel and have but all life ends with death and if the outcome is death why not bring it closer if you are dieing of terminal illnesses

[Nicola Ophelia LaVey]

People who say that all life is so sacred have never truly suffered, mentally or physically. If this amazing 'life' is tainted by such high a degree of torment, why is it so great anyway? And why is it 'sacred', unless you're religious?

[BlackPrincess]

I am ok with voluntary euthanasia but I disagree with assited suicide.

I don't know how someone could watch someone else take away their life. I don't think it is right and suicide, should be done alone in my opinion as it is a personal thing and it shouldn't involve other people.

[Robertson]

People who say that all life is so sacred have never truly suffered, mentally or physically. If this amazing 'life' is tainted by such high a degree of torment, why is it so great anyway? And why is it 'sacred', unless you're religious?

Buddhists consider life to be sacred while not only acknolwedging that life is suffering but infact having it as a major cornerstone in their religion thus disproving the theory of those who have never suffered dont believe their life is sacred, and you don't have to be religious to believe life is sacred, infact surely you could view it the other way, if you arent religious then the chances are you dont believe in an afterlife, this would mean that life is what it is and thats the end of it, when you die you die, with no prospect of a tommorow after death would your life not be more sacred to you than others?

[TheVoice]

If someone is suffering so much in their life, surely the line between assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia becomes blurred?

[:Vampiress:]

I support this, if someone wants to die so badly, might as well let their loved ones help. Euthanasia is alright as well.

Wow, I agree with that.

If someone wants to die then all the power to you, all there doing is giving them a helpful shove over the rooftop. Point being they took themselves to the rooftop.

[TheVoice]

If they're going to kill themselves anyway why should you criminalise their family for helping.

[EmmaGallen]

People who say that all life is so sacred have never truly suffered, mentally or physically. If this amazing 'life' is tainted by such high a degree of torment, why is it so great anyway? And why is it 'sacred', unless you're religious?

It is actualy the opposite that usually happens. Only peopel that have really suffered understand how sacred life is.

[rosieposey]

Wow, I agree with that.

If someone wants to die then all the power to you, all there doing is giving them a helpful shove over the rooftop. Point being they took themselves to the rooftop.

If they're perfectly healthy, can they not just 'shove' themself off the rooftop? :confused:

[Nicola Ophelia LaVey]

It is actualy the opposite that usually happens. Only peopel that have really suffered understand how sacred life is.

That's perhaps if they'd suffered in a physical, near-death experience way (and in that case, assisted suicide wouldn't be an issue). I'm sure if you ask most people who've been suffering from clinical depression for years on end then their answer would differ somewhat.

[EmmaGallen]

That's perhaps if they'd suffered in a physical, near-death experience way (and in that case, assisted suicide wouldn't be an issue). I'm sure if you ask most people who've been suffering from clinical depression for years on end then their answer would differ somewhat.

Actually anyone I've spoken to who has suffered from clinical depression and is now being treated says that they now appareciate lfie so much more now that they are free from their suffering.
I know other peopel sufferign from extreme depression and the way they see it is they don't deserve a good life.

[Nicola Ophelia LaVey]

Actually anyone I've spoken to who has suffered from clinical depression and is now being treated says that they now appareciate lfie so much more now that they are free from their suffering.


Maybe they're the ones who have enough money to get this great expensive treatment? I don't think you realise how expensive psychiatric care is and in what numbers the NHS has been cutting down on and dismissing psychotherapists over the past few years. Fair enough if you have enough money to get sent to the Priory, however, most people don't.
Back to assisted suicide, however, what about really old people constantly getting ill and being in pain, they've had a good life but now it's filled with suffering and they're not going to get better, so should they suffer (and drain the NHS) in excruciating pain just because 'life is sacred'?

[EmmaGallen]

Maybe they're the ones who have enough money to get this great expensive treatment? I don't think you realise how expensive psychiatric care is and in what numbers the NHS has been cutting down on and dismissing psychotherapists over the past few years. Fair enough if you have enough money to get sent to the Priory, however, most people don't.
Back to assisted suicide, however, what about really old people constantly getting ill and being in pain, they've had a good life but now it's filled with suffering and they're not going to get better, so should they suffer (and drain the NHS) in excruciating pain just because 'life is sacred'?

No they are the ones treated onte h NHS but got bumped up the treatment lists because their depression was so severe. Maybe it's differen in England.

They should get the option. Their taxes have paid for most of hte NHS for all their life anyway. With that attitude you'd want to kill of allt eh kids with cystic fibrosis and brittle bones.

[Nicola Ophelia LaVey]

See, that's the whole point about it being suicide, I wouldn't kill them, it would be their choice and if they're not physically able to do it (e.g. if they're really old and physically incapable of it) they should be helped. If they're old and in pain but still see the joy in life and want to live for the moments that they're not in pain/for their family/if it's against their religion to contemplate suicide, then nobody's MAKING them commit suicide. Just saying that if they can't see any more point in living and all their life is is hell, why shouldn't they have the right to get some help with commiting suicide? Nobody's killing them because they're unproductive, the fact is they don't want to live anymore and it won't be detrimental to society and the economy because the fact is cost>benefit, they are not productive anymore and if they're not even happy about being alive why make other people suffer AS WELL? Many children with cystic fibrosis can still find happiness in life despite their suffering, I'm not actually saying all cases mean that they're suicidal. They also have families which would suffer, if you're lonely or old with no family that wouldn't be a factor to consider.