Your Thoughts on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Is the Hemlock Society's values right? (hemlock society help people on suicide and euthanasia)

Total Votes:

[ 0 ]

This poll closed on February 16, 2005.
No longer accepting new votes.

[kokorosango]

Reasons for Euthanasia

Unbearable pain

Right to commit suicide

People should not be forced to stay alive


1. Unbearable pain as the reason for euthanasia
Probably the major argument in favor of euthanasia is that the person involved is in great pain. Today, advances are constantly being made in the treatment of pain and, as they advance, the case for euthanasia/assisted-suicide is proportionally weakened. Euthanasia advocates stress the cases of unbearable pain as reasons for euthanasia, but then they soon include a "drugged" state. I guess that is in case virtually no uncontrolled pain cases can be found - then they can say those people are drugged into a no-pain state but they need to be euthanasiaed from such a state because it is not dignified. See the opening for the slippery slope? How do you measure "dignity"? No - it will be euthanasia "on demand". The pro-euthanasia folks have already started down the slope. They are even now not stoping with "unbearable pain" - they are alrady including this "drugged state" and other circumstances.

Nearly all pain can be eliminated and - in those rare cases where it can't be eliminated - it can still be reduced significantly if proper treatment is provided. It is a national and international scandal that so many people do not get adequate pain control. But killing is not the answer to that scandal. The solution is to mandate better education of health care professionals on these crucial issues, to expand access to health care, and to inform patients about their rights as consumers. Everyone - whether it be a person with a life-threatening illness or a chronic condition - has the right to pain relief. With modern advances in pain control, no patient should ever be in excruciating pain. However, most doctors have never had a course in pain management so they're unaware of what to do. If a patient who is under a doctor's care is in excruciating pain, there's definitely a need to find a different doctor. But that doctor should be one who will control the pain, not one who will kill the patient. There are board certified specialists in pain management who will not only help alleviate physical pain but are skilled in providing necessary support to deal with emotional suffering and depression that often accompanies physical pain.

2. Demanding a "right to commit suicide" Probably the second most common point pro-euthanasia people bring up is this so-called "right." But what we are talking about is not giving a right to the person who is killed, but to the person who does the killing. In other words, euthanasia is not about the right to die. It's about the right to kill. Euthanasia is not about giving rights to the person who dies but, instead, is about changing the law and public policy so that doctors, relatives and others can directly and intentionally end another person's life. People do have the power to commit suicide. Suicide and attempted suicide are not criminalized. Suicide is a tragic, individual act. Euthanasia is not about a private act. It's about letting one person facilitate the death of another. That is a matter of very public concern since it can lead to tremendous abuse, exploitation and erosion of care for the most vulnerable people among us.

3. Should people be forced to stay alive? No. And neither the law nor medical ethics requires that "everything be done" to keep a person alive. Insistence, against the patient's wishes, that death be postponed by every means available is contrary to law and practice. It would also be cruel and inhumane. There comes a time when continued attempts to cure are not compassionate, wise, or medically sound. That's where hospice, including in-home hospice care, can be of such help. That is the time when all efforts should be placed on making the patient's remaining time comfortable. Then, all interventions should be directed to alleviating pain and other symptoms as well as to the provision of emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and the patient's loved ones.

for a school project im doing this O.o on "issues"

i still think its wrong however. you just don't do that. this is saying when life gets too tough just "check out"

damn hemlock society

[Azarel87]

What I am against are those who sit in a meeting room and decide if someone else's life is worth living. If someone wants to die that's their business, but it is a decision that should be left to them or their close friends and family. Is that unreasonable?

[mYrTlEtUrTlE]

one reason for euthanasia/assisted suicide is depression. I for one have been suicidal but have come to the conclusion that doing either of the above is actually something rather selfish... after all we must think of those that we love and of those that would be lost without us ... i dont know if you have anyone like that but i do and its probably the only reason i'm alive... but going back to your topic i think that if a person is going to do the whole euthanasia/ assisted suicide they should first consult their loved ones and have at least tried therapy and so on.. if it is because of physical pain that can not be cured and is absolutly unbearable then i believe that after talking to their loved ones they can make the decision suitable for themselves but over all i think that euthanasia/assisted suicide is wrong and should stay illegal just as you said exclaim

[Fiddlers Green]

I am a huge proponent of the right to take ones own life. However, I generally do not support the right of others to make that decision for someone else. Only in specific, prearanged situations would I support that, and then only under specific circumstances... I don't agree with the Hemlock (funny, wasn't that the poison that Socrates drank as his method of execution by the City-State of Athens...) position, however I don't feel that someone should have to live thru a situation they don't want to. I do believe people should give the situation a lot of thought before making the decision to pass beyound the veil....

There is a What would it take for someone to commit suicide thread out there you should check out.....Right here

[Azarel87]

Fiddlers Green

I am a huge proponent of the right to take ones own life. However, I generally do not support the right of others to make that decision for someone else. Only in specific, prearanged situations would I support that, and then only under specific circumstances... I don't agree with the Hemlock (funny, wasn't that the poison that Socrates drank as his method of execution by the City-State of Athens...) position, however I don't feel that someone should have to live thru a situation they don't want to. I do believe people should give the situation a lot of thought before making the decision to pass beyound the veil....

There is a What would it take for someone to commit suicide thread out there you should check out.....Right here

Ha Ha I posted on that thread and pissed a lot of people off because I was being to honest, no one understands me... *sniff*

[Ichigo_Shinigami]

I think euthanasia shouldnt be punished. We get the right to kill animals to "help ease the pain" right? So why not humans? Sure there are treatments and the like to help ease pains, but many of these new treatments have MANY ill side affects, many of which outnumber the pros (pain killing). And don't tell me that killing animals and humans are not the same. Some people treat their pet as they would a child or a brother. Many would have their hearts broken if they lost their household "companion", pets and humans are not too different. . . .

[XxMusikJunkiexX]

KokoroSango

Reasons for Euthanasia

Unbearable pain

Right to commit suicide

People should not be forced to stay alive


1. Unbearable pain as the reason for euthanasia
Probably the major argument in favor of euthanasia is that the person involved is in great pain. Today, advances are constantly being made in the treatment of pain and, as they advance, the case for euthanasia/assisted-suicide is proportionally weakened. Euthanasia advocates stress the cases of unbearable pain as reasons for euthanasia, but then they soon include a "drugged" state. I guess that is in case virtually no uncontrolled pain cases can be found - then they can say those people are drugged into a no-pain state but they need to be euthanasiaed from such a state because it is not dignified. See the opening for the slippery slope? How do you measure "dignity"? No - it will be euthanasia "on demand". The pro-euthanasia folks have already started down the slope. They are even now not stoping with "unbearable pain" - they are alrady including this "drugged state" and other circumstances.

Nearly all pain can be eliminated and - in those rare cases where it can't be eliminated - it can still be reduced significantly if proper treatment is provided. It is a national and international scandal that so many people do not get adequate pain control. But killing is not the answer to that scandal. The solution is to mandate better education of health care professionals on these crucial issues, to expand access to health care, and to inform patients about their rights as consumers. Everyone - whether it be a person with a life-threatening illness or a chronic condition - has the right to pain relief. With modern advances in pain control, no patient should ever be in excruciating pain. However, most doctors have never had a course in pain management so they're unaware of what to do. If a patient who is under a doctor's care is in excruciating pain, there's definitely a need to find a different doctor. But that doctor should be one who will control the pain, not one who will kill the patient. There are board certified specialists in pain management who will not only help alleviate physical pain but are skilled in providing necessary support to deal with emotional suffering and depression that often accompanies physical pain.

2. Demanding a "right to commit suicide" Probably the second most common point pro-euthanasia people bring up is this so-called "right." But what we are talking about is not giving a right to the person who is killed, but to the person who does the killing. In other words, euthanasia is not about the right to die. It's about the right to kill. Euthanasia is not about giving rights to the person who dies but, instead, is about changing the law and public policy so that doctors, relatives and others can directly and intentionally end another person's life. People do have the power to commit suicide. Suicide and attempted suicide are not criminalized. Suicide is a tragic, individual act. Euthanasia is not about a private act. It's about letting one person facilitate the death of another. That is a matter of very public concern since it can lead to tremendous abuse, exploitation and erosion of care for the most vulnerable people among us.

3. Should people be forced to stay alive? No. And neither the law nor medical ethics requires that "everything be done" to keep a person alive. Insistence, against the patient's wishes, that death be postponed by every means available is contrary to law and practice. It would also be cruel and inhumane. There comes a time when continued attempts to cure are not compassionate, wise, or medically sound. That's where hospice, including in-home hospice care, can be of such help. That is the time when all efforts should be placed on making the patient's remaining time comfortable. Then, all interventions should be directed to alleviating pain and other symptoms as well as to the provision of emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and the patient's loved ones.

for a school project im doing this O.o on "issues"

i still think its wrong however. you just don't do that. this is saying when life gets too tough just "check out"

damn hemlock society

i believe in euthanasia. i do not believe that people "have the right" to commit suicide.

euthanasia is practical whereas granting the rights to suicide is just plain insanity.

suicide is an escape and far to many people do it for selfish motives. living is what you make it.

euthanasia however, when the disease is terminal, i believe someone shouldn't be forced to live through the torture.

[chnui]

I definitely agree with MusikJunkie, she has a point there. If it's suicide that is just inane, but when you are suffering and begging to just die and be let go of this burden, it's up to you to decide now. When you can't even stand waking up in the morning to have to endure in exruciating pain every single minute of the day.... it seems reasonable. It's doleful that people have to come to that point in life.... sad sad face!

[chessiejo]

Fiddlers Green

I am a huge proponent of the right to take ones own life. However, I generally do not support the right of others to make that decision for someone else. Only in specific, prearanged situations would I support that, and then only under specific circumstances... I don't agree with the Hemlock (funny, wasn't that the poison that Socrates drank as his method of execution by the City-State of Athens...) position, however I don't feel that someone should have to live thru a situation they don't want to. I do believe people should give the situation a lot of thought before making the decision to pass beyound the veil....

There is a What would it take for someone to commit suicide thread out there you should check out.....Right here

i can understand suicide, although i feel it's tragic.

but i don't like to see other people get involved. it could get out of hand, and turn to murder.

how convenient would it be for some rich person's air to simply claim their relative wanted suicide, and take their money? or someone who is tired of their ailing spouse...

[kokorosango]

O.O wow....people actually replyed...

good notes for me ^^;;

Pro: You have an inalienable right to control your fate, to commit suicide at any time for any reason.

Con: You're caving into the difficulties of life not living freely. Part of freedom and Maturity is learning to deal with life. If life gets too tough, check out. That's not free or mature.

i have more notes...those are just my major standpoint. thanks for participating and i would appreciate any other comments.

[kokorosango]

Azarel87

What I am against are those who sit in a meeting room and decide if someone else's life is worth living. If someone wants to die that's their business, but it is a decision that should be left to them or their close friends and family. Is that unreasonable?

it's not unreasonable. Suicide is a individual tragic event. Assisted suicide or Euthanasia however, is usually meant for those with chronic diseases such as cancer, and that their death would be long and lengthy and suffering.

thanks for your participation ^^

[kokorosango]

mYrTlEtUrTlE

one reason for euthanasia/assisted suicide is depression. I for one have been suicidal but have come to the conclusion that doing either of the above is actually something rather selfish... after all we must think of those that we love and of those that would be lost without us ... i dont know if you have anyone like that but i do and its probably the only reason i'm alive... but going back to your topic i think that if a person is going to do the whole euthanasia/ assisted suicide they should first consult their loved ones and have at least tried therapy and so on.. if it is because of physical pain that can not be cured and is absolutly unbearable then i believe that after talking to their loved ones they can make the decision suitable for themselves but over all i think that euthanasia/assisted suicide is wrong and should stay illegal just as you said exclaim

Your views are almost exactly like mine! ^^ My "special" someone is God. If I were to commit to euthanasia or suicide that would separate me from Him. Physical pain can be completely taken away or at least lessened considerably to a bearable point. Depression is a serious case but it can also be cured! Through therapy or simply some good TLC from being with your loved ones.

Thanks for your participation.

[kokorosango]

Fiddlers Green

I am a huge proponent of the right to take ones own life. However, I generally do not support the right of others to make that decision for someone else. Only in specific, prearanged situations would I support that, and then only under specific circumstances... I don't agree with the Hemlock (funny, wasn't that the poison that Socrates drank as his method of execution by the City-State of Athens...) position, however I don't feel that someone should have to live thru a situation they don't want to. I do believe people should give the situation a lot of thought before making the decision to pass beyound the veil....

There is a What would it take for someone to commit suicide thread out there you should check out.....Right here

Wow. I didn't know that was the poison that Socrates drank. Although it does ring a bell...from 6th grade ^^. Wow. major deja vu!...aniwho. Generally euthanasia or assisted suicide isn't forced upon the said person. It usually is that person who asks for it, where it be chronic disease, unbearable pain, or depression.

Thank you for your participation XD

[kokorosango]

Ichigo_Shinigami

I think euthanasia shouldnt be punished. We get the right to kill animals to "help ease the pain" right? So why not humans? Sure there are treatments and the like to help ease pains, but many of these new treatments have MANY ill side affects, many of which outnumber the pros (pain killing). And don't tell me that killing animals and humans are not the same. Some people treat their pet as they would a child or a brother. Many would have their hearts broken if they lost their household "companion", pets and humans are not too different. . . .

Animals...well, they aren't the same actually. Humans can be cured, these treatments may as well have ill effects, but it still resists from the suicide factor, Some people may treat their pets as a human, and I can completely relate, however, in this society, people value human life more. Where I can't say I completely agree in this matter, but that's the way it is right? If you have further concern on this perhaps you should start a thread questioning its ethics.

Thank you for your participation ^^

[kokorosango]

XxMusikJunkiexX

i believe in euthanasia. i do not believe that people "have the right" to commit suicide.

euthanasia is practical whereas granting the rights to suicide is just plain insanity.

suicide is an escape and far to many people do it for selfish motives. living is what you make it.

euthanasia however, when the disease is terminal, i believe someone shouldn't be forced to live through the torture.

You have a fair point there. I wrote a book about that, although, the end is twisted a bit. I agree that they shouldn't be forced to live through torture, but some insist there still is a chance. and in some cases there is.

But often not. And that makes me sad XD -.-;;/

well thanks for your participation!! ^^ and to you too chnui !