Assisted suicide - right or wrong?

[Railjet]

Congratulations to the Swiss, for overwhelmingly voting (in Zurich) to keep the law as it - allowing people the choice.

This is such a delicate subject and does not just affect the old - look at the heart-rending suicide of 23-year-old Daniel James, a few years ago.

Some "do-gooding" (busybody?) social worker reported the family's trip to Switzerland to the police. This was the response at the time from Daniel's mother:

“This person had never met Dan before or after his accident and obviously gave no consideration for our younger daughters who had seen their big brother suffer so much.

I hope that one day I will get the chance to speak to this lady and ask if she had a son, daughter, father, mother, who could not walk, had no hand function, was incontinent, and relied upon 24-hour care for every basic need and they had asked her for support, what would she have done?"

 

[HST Power]

Thread needs a poll.

Personally, I agree with the vote.

 

[SS4]

The Swiss made the correct choices. Of course they wouldn't have to if governments abroad (including ours) legalised euthanasia - it's not like there's been a huge rush in Switzerland.

Besides euthanasia, like or it not, is likely to reduce social care costs

 

[Minilad]

You wouldn't let an animal suffer like we have to let humans suffer.
Well done the Swiss

 

[Aictos]

I believed the Swiss made the right choice, I've got first hand experience of seeing a loved one turn from a fun loving active family member to a family member needing 24/7 care who resembled someone 40 years older then them.

My dad suffered from terminal cancer from when he first got diagnosed back in March 2010 to when he lost his life in December 2010 at the age of 55 just short of Christmas itself.

So yes, I congratulate the Swiss on making the right choice for all.

 

[strange6]

Yes, they made the right choice. With the proper safeguards in place, you can make assisted suicide a safe and viable option but, as usual, our elected representitives just do not listen. If I'm going to suffer a slow and painful death, how do they tell me I have no right to ask for help in ending my life. Still, it's typical of the do-gooders in this country only making matters worse for people.

 

[LE Greys]

I always say, if I'm ever incapable of shooting myself, I want someone else to do it for me. No barbiturate drinks, and certainly don't stop feeding and let me starve to death, put a gun to my head and finish it quickly. Maybe that's putting a lot on someone else, but it's got to be better than either dying in agony yourself or watching someone else die in agony. It's never a good thing to let someone suffer needlessly.

Yes, they made the right decision.

 

[HST Power]

To be honest, if it was a choice between going to Switzerland and going into a care home.....

 

[YorkshireBear]

I personally agree. Unfortunately through experience rather than just my opinion.

Well done to this swiss, in this country you can go to prison for it, how is that fair.

 

[HST Power]

I remember watching a programme many years ago, about a boy who'd broke his back when his bike hit a car and consequently ended up in a wheelchair. As somebody who was very sporty, he saw no point in carrying on and wanted to die in Switzerland. The family were torn over this, but respected his wishes and allowed him to go.

This decision was a good call by the authorities.

 

[passmore]

If the person is of sound mind and judgment, he should have the right to assisted suicide.

 

[Oswyntail]

I remember watching a programme many years ago, about a boy who'd broke his back when his bike hit a car and consequently ended up in a wheelchair. As somebody who was very sporty, he saw no point in carrying on and wanted to die in Switzerland. The family were torn over this, but respected his wishes and allowed him to go.......

If the person is of sound mind and judgment, he should have the right to assisted suicide.

I think this is at the heart of the problem. It can be argued - Catch 22 in essence - that, if you are contemplating suicide, you are not "of sound mind and judgement". In the case of the sporty boy, without knowing all the details of the case, particularly the severity of the injuries, is it enough reason for ending one's life simply because one can't do what one used to? When I have been involved with people who are suicidal for reasons like that, I have attempted to dissuade them, help them through the emotional crisis and support them. I am glad to have done that and watched their lives flourish, as I am glad when people have helped me in this way.
On the other hand, I have been on the other side, not wishing to see someone suffering, and being outrage when morphine was withheld "because it might kill the patient". If assisted suicide is to be allowed, I firmly believe that there must be stringent checks involved,

 

[HST Power]

I think this is at the heart of the problem. It can be argued - Catch 22 in essence - that, if you are contemplating suicide, you are not "of sound mind and judgement". In the case of the sporty boy, without knowing all the details of the case, particularly the severity of the injuries, is it enough reason for ending one's life simply because one can't do what one used to?

I'd say there's more to it than that. If I ended up in a wheelchair, I'd go mad. There would be practically nothing I could do for myself. All the time I would need somebody with me, to help me, to complete simple everyday tasks that would otherwise be impossible. I'd need assistance getting up, getting dressed, going out, visiting places; even if I just wanted to go down to the train station with my camera, I'd need somebody to get me onto the platform and somebody to help me back off again.

On the other hand, I have been on the other side, not wishing to see someone suffering, and being outrage when morphine was withheld "because it might kill the patient". If assisted suicide is to be allowed, I firmly believe that there must be stringent checks involved,

I do agree. Checks are essential in circumstances like these. I'm sure the clinics carry them out beforehand, and rightfully so. The criteria must be set in stone.

 

[j0hn0]

good on the swiss

A couple of years ago, my grandad developed alzheimers, blindness and deafness from a brain tumour. He suffered so much that he decided one day that he wasn't going to feed himself anymore, he was then dead within 24hrs.

He was the reason I got into trains, as he was a driver and then a trainer for many years. I'm just glad for his sake that he had enough left in his head that he could decide that he'd put the family through enough, and he didn't ask anyone to assist with it either.
Given the chance in this country, he'd have done it sooner I am sure, with those conditions I know I would

 

[Oswyntail]

I'd say there's more to it than that. If I ended up in a wheelchair, I'd go mad. There would be practically nothing I could do for myself. All the time I would need somebody with me, to help me, to complete simple everyday tasks that would otherwise be impossible. I'd need assistance getting up, getting dressed, going out, visiting places; even if I just wanted to go down to the train station with my camera, I'd need somebody to get me onto the platform and somebody to help me back off again. ...

I completely understand, and I am sure that's how I would feel, and a sufferer may genuinely want to commit suicide. But these are feelings and reactions that one can learn to live with, in time and with effort. [And look at Paralympian athletes, who will all have felt, and beaten them]. There must be a difference between assisted suicide in such cases and in cases of, say, the terminal stages of cancer. But making the differentiation, and policing the boundaries, is nigh impossible. Legislators, understandably, err on the side of caution in saying AS should be illegal

 

[Yew]

about 5-10 Years ago, My uncle had an accident where he broke his neck. He became paralysed from the neck down. At first He could bairly move anything, However now he has good motor control in his arms (one hand is better than the other though) He can eat, drive his wheelchair, move himself onto the stairlift, And can even drive his campervan (with hand controls) Its unlikely he will be able to walk (at least for a long time) But he is slowly getting feeling back in his legs, maybe even walk with cruches in a few years.

Its not always a dead end, If anyone reading this is contemplating AS, Hopeless situations arent always as hopeless as they seem