Suicide & Euthanasia-Your Opinions

[Cathexis]

Since we all know how fond I am of opening up the floor for discussion regarding highly controversial....and seeing as how it's been a while since I did so, I thought I'd go for it!

Do People, as Human Beings, have the Right to Die?

1. What are your opinions of/about/on suicide?

2. How do your views about the above coincide (or lack thereof) with your beliefs about Euthanasia (assisted suicide)---and what are those beliefs?

For anyone who would like the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of Euthanasia, here it is:

Main Entry: eu�tha�na�sia
Pronunciation: "y�-th&-'nA-zh(E-)&
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek, easy death, from euthanatos, from eu- + thanatos death -- more at THANATOS
: the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

[Birdy]

YAY! I love controversial discussions.

Well, as for suicide... I think that's a persons decision. Though most of the times the reason is that that person can't handle thins anymore. I think there's always a way to handle things, as long as your willing to change. Just some people are so far gone that they can't accept help anymore and they go for drastic measures. I don't dissaprove of it, I understand why people wanna do it. At one point in my life I also had that urge, luckily I didn't go through with it.

I think Euthanasia is a good thing. A good thing, for people who are suffering and are in their final stages of a desease. In the Netherlands there's also a discussion going about whether a person can have mental unbearable suffering. I think that can be the case, but it has to be diagnosed and looked after carefully.
Naturally, euthanasia should be performed by skilled doctors, with consent of the patient, and if that patient can't decide, than the doctors must have consent of the family.

[Seven of Nine]

I don't feel ready to answer the question on suicide, due to personal reasons, and not wanting to be banned from the forum (again ). I will answer the question on euthanasia though.

Right then... for euthanasia, I think that it can be acceptable, if the person being killed wants it, has no hope of a decent quality of life, and the only other option is living a life in pain and without dignity. We allow dogs and cats that are in pain to be relieved of thier suffering, why not humans? It would have to be monitored closely, and the same ruling for abortion should apply for euthanasia (two doctors must give consent, counselling must be provided before it can go ahead).

Currently, there is an advanced directive, which allows you to state that you do not wish to be kept alive artificially if something goes wrong/are seriously ill/are in a lot of pain. I guess it might be possible to extend that to say that you would like to be helped to die if there was no chance of recovery, and that you were in a lot of pain. However, there has to be safeguards to ensure that people are not killed without their consent.

[Brightstar82]

I think euthanasia is good if the person is terminally ill with like cancer or other diseases that arnt going to get any better. My father was in the hospital for a really long time dieing of lung cancer and the people at the hospital were giving him mass doses of Morphene (a narcotic pain killer) which eventually stopped his heart. So that was Euthanasia because he was sick and not getting any better. So ya I think its ok when people are suffering and not getting any better.

[Leo Wyatt]

Don't even want to get me started on this lol.

When people can't handle things, instead of getting help they kill themselves. When there is a better way than killing themselves. In my opinion, I wouldn't kill myself fear of going to hell.

[lionhead]

1. My opinion on suicide that its a waste of life. SOmeone should never commit suicide and every other person should try and stop him/her from doing so.

2. They coincide just perfectly. A person not able too live is dead and relatives with the opinion of 2 doctors have the right to terminate their lifeforce. Its not just about ethnics or mercy, its about humane decisions, rational thinking and freedom.

Like the dictionary says: "Hopelessly" sick.

Its done to animals all the time, why not humans? Why not i ask you?

[Theresa]

Moved to WN. This topic will be closely monitored, especially given that we have the rule that there will be no mention of suicide in any topic?
Thanks

[oberon]

Suicide, in my opinion is never a good solution to one's problems. Things usually can be sorted out but it's a final decision when someone kills themself; it can never be retracted.

As for euthanasia, I think that if someone is ill beyond repair and wishes to 'end it quickly' so to speak, then it's acceptable (only my opinion). If their family and friends agree and know it's going to happen and is in accordance with the desire of the patient, then it should be allowed. Living, waiting to die in excruciating pain, I'm sure isn't something anyone wants to endure.

[Puck]

Both suicide and euthanasia are morally unacceptable. Suicide is wrong, and allowing someone to go foward with it is also wrong, and unacceptable.

Euthanasia, at the same time, is wrong in all cases. Human life must be preserved, and allowing someone to die, assisting in it, and making that choice are wrong. Any act (or omission) that causes death in order to eliminate suffering is a murderous act, and cannot be accepted in our society. However, refusing dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate procedures to extend life can be accepted, because in this case, one does not intend to cause death. One's inability to impede death is merely accepted.

[teya]

[Arellia]

On suicide, personally I don't see it as an option because I have this stubborn belief that there's always hope for something better (That darn hope just won't go away!). I would disuade people from suicide in favor of a better option, but if someone really wants to end their life, well then, I wish them luck in the next one. I'm just to the side of neutral on the topic.

As for euthenasia, I would only support it if the victim has made clear their wishes and has thought it out. People should have the right to request their suffering be ended smoothly and with dignity. I would even consider it for myself under the proper conditions.

[Puck]

[Jeff Miller]

Why is suicide (SP) wrong? I mean it isn't like the human race is going to die out. if a person decides to end it. I personally think since we have free will we should have the right to end our lives if we see fit.

[IntrepidIsMe]

I don't agree with suicide at all. It's a cowardly and self-centered act.

On euthanasia, if a person is in extreme pain and has no chance of getting better, I don't think that I or anybody else should have the right to tell them that they have to suffer through that pain until they die due to my "moral standards."

[Republican_Man]

I have NO belief in the "right to die" movement. Euthanasia and suicide in ALL its forms should be illegalized, except in very extreme circumstances (for euthanasia). It demeens life and everything. It's just not right. If the person's a vegetable, that would probably be the only exception. If you have cancer and are told that you will die in two months, though, or something like that, no. Just no.
That's my position. Feel free to disagree.

[Puck]

[Republican_Man]

It completely destroys the purpose to life, and demeans it. If you have the "right to die," then what meaning does life has? Is there any importance to it anymore?
If we increase our current culture of death to legalizing suicide, that could only lead to more detrminental things and entirely diminish the sanctity of human life and just demean it, period.

[Valathous]

Suicide is actually legal in Canada while attempted suicide is illegal. You may think that that's stupid but really it makes sense. If you actually go through with it, it doesn't matter how illegal it is, you're dead already. What are they going to do? Throw a corpse in jail? lol

Anyways, I think there are much better ways to solve things than to go out and kill one's self. It's not really a right or lack of right on suicide. If someone's gonna do it, they're gonna do it. Whatever.

I think euthanasia is right in certain situations. It would have to be closely monitored to ensure that people did not abuse this. It's either Oregon or the Netherlands that has the "euthanise me" cards. That could be a good system. Each card having a list of conditions where the person would agree to be euthanised, etc. It all comes down to the fact that it's their life really. Why should someone else control it?

Frankly, I think I'd use all my determination I could to recover. You'd be surprised how much being stubborn can help if you refuse to succum to death from a sickness. But if someone didn't want to have to fight the pain, they should have the right to go down nicely.

[Starbuck]

Euthanasia
I used to think that euthanasia was wrong and cruel. Then I thought about how much pain my cat was in when we put her to sleep, and what would happen if one of my relatives was in that much pain. Would I just let them suffer? I think euthanasia is completely humane, and it's a very respectable solution to the alternative.

Suicide
Suicide is pure cowardice. I agree with Aaron 100% its cowardly and self centered. But you have to wonder how many people accidentally committed suicide, because they didn't think it would kill them, and they only wanted mommy or daddy's attention.

[TrekkieMage]

Suicide: I don't think it is a good option, but are we going to tell people that they can't die at their own will? It may not be one person's preferance, but it doesn't give them the right to control anothers actions. I think that the best option for someone feeling suicidle would be some counselling and a chance to get away for a little while, then come back slowly and kind of start over. But that can't always happen, and I am not going to tell someone that it is illegal for them to kill themselves, no matter how cowardly, self-centered, or immoral it may be.

Euthanasia: I think the first step here is to strongly encourage everyone to have a living will. It is a choice that is made for medical reasons for people who are terminally ill or will never recover (comas/vegitative state). If one does not have a living will than if the majority of family and two doctors believe it is the right thing, than it is acceptable. The exception being if there is a disconnect between the patient and another relative. Example: I have a friend with multiple personalities, her mother is a major component of this. She's looking at getting a restraing order against her mother because the mom won't leave her alone and thinks she 'knows what's best'.

That's my opinion, I know it may not be a popular one

[Puck]

For those of you who say it is their 'right' to die, and that it should be legal and/or accepted, what is that telling the person who is suicidal? That in fact, you really don't value their life either, so just go ahead? That is the last thing that they should be told if they're thinking of taking their life. We must not create a society that permits people to accept or promote death. As I have said previously, we can simply not allow human life to be devalued in this manner. We must help those who are suicidal in any manner possible, and we must show them they their life is valued. Yet, we can not allow suicide.

[TrekkieMage]

But what does it say about our society if we are telling these people that they can't control their own lives?

I don't belive suicide is a reasonable decision, by any means. But how can we tell people that just because we think it's wrong that they can't? They aren't harming anyone, they aren't committing a felony, they are simply making a choice about how they want to live. We've made it until 2006 without needing to put it into law that it's dumb. I think (hope that) the fact that it is a social discrace will ward off some people. That and I hope that people close enought to a person thinking about it will quietly try and talk them out of it.

There is no need to make a national issue out of this, it is a very peronal decision. Not a good one, not a smart one, not a respectful one, but it is a decision.

Really, if we're going to ban suicide, can we ban smoking as well? That certainly seems like a slow suicide to me.

[teya]

[Republican_Man]

I'll let Puck respond more to you guys, because I'm just not in the mood to debate today (oddly), but I just want to say that I'm fine with refusing treatment. It's the other things that concern me, like being giving a slow-killing drug or something like that. If you don't want treatment, no one should force you to do it.
But encouraging suicide by legalizing it, or legalizing actual euthanasia (beyond not accepting treatment), is just wrong, immoral, and demeans human life.

[AndrewBullock]

Suicide is moraly wrong, but then again, not many people have morals these days. Some of you call it a selfish act, yet you don't understand what others experiance. Say you were beaten most of your life. Say you've been locked away in a basement most of your life. Or say you've lost your whole family in a fire when you were out with friends. You can't judge something you don't understand... the feeling is... well it's unbearable to experiance. However, for the majority, I think we should at least try to help someone if they say they are going to kill their self. If we've no luck, at least we've tried to help them. It's in the people we'd suspect the least... it makes me a little disapointed though that some would think it's a selfish act or even find it funny that someone wants to kill themself... Have you not considered it's a medical issue? That it isn't a selfish act? Hell, some people with healthy brain chemestry might not even think of suicide... you can't rule out anything untill you know the truth...