| Mar 21, 2006 @ 12:42 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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pitbullgurl
Posts: 740
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We, as human beings, have the compassion to help our furry friends die a dignified death.....yet, we don't seem to have the same compassion for our fellow man. If a loved one was in terrible pain and had a terminal illness, do you think you could find it in your heart to help them die...if it was legal? Many just couldn't do this. Is this selfishness...on their part, just so they can have their loved one around a little longer? Or would they feel like they are committing a murder?
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 12:55 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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giftylight
Posts: 87
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for anyone to ask someone else to "assist" them in suiside is the single ost selfish act they can ever do. If pain is intolerable, if thier life is terminal,they should handle this decision of ending life on thier OWN
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 2:25 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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painter007
Posts: 15,881
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Oregon is a legal assisted suicide state.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 5:06 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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sweetascanb
Posts: 12
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If you have a close connection with your family and of course more than of few witness' to your wishes (wouldn't want any heirs getting any bright ideas), then have at it. My grandmother has been hanging on for years. I know eventually she's going to die, h*ll we all are. I am close enough to her that if she asked, I would comply without question. I have seen her suffer for too long and I know she's ready to go because she has deemed me her power of attorney with an advance directive which includes a specific DNR request. So she lay at home medicated on no machines just waiting for time to expire. So do I feel euthansia should be legal...absolutely... do I feel that she would be shelfish for asking me to do so...NO WAY. I love her, I want for her whatever she has decided for herself. There's really little difference between that and pulling the plug on someone comatosed except they may not previously have lined out their wishes. If they're dying and not ready to go then we should fight to the death, but if they have had enough of their inevitability then why shouldn't we be able to hold their hand helping them to walk out of life?
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 6:05 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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WickedWench
Posts: 1,613
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For..
If they've asked for my help then chances are they aren't in a position to do it themselves.
To not assist would be selfish on my part
my thoughts
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 7:52 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 14,795
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For...
I have a furry friend that I'll be taking for euthanasia very soon, not the first and probably won't be the last. Then I think back to my mother, whose last month was pure hell, and most of the time she didn't know who I was. I asked the doctor to increase the dosage of morphine she was receiving, and was told that he couldn't do that because it might shorten her life. Now life's a precious thing, but this was a woman who did the Sunday NY Times crossword in ink without crossing anything out, but she had to point to a glass of milk because she couldn't remember the word for it...the cancer had already spread from her breasts to her bones, and to her brain. She was screaming in pain, with absolutely no comprehension of why....if I could have, and if she'd asked me to, I certainly would have.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 8:53 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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Loreli
Posts: 19,348
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For...
If I were in so much pain, or causing pain for my family to see me a certain way, I would want it done for me. So I would support somebody who felt the same way about it for themselves, when it is absolutely certain there is no recovery.I had a wonderful black Lab that I had euthanized when her heart condition got so bad it hurt her to breathe. It just killed me to do it, but to keep her around was selfish.
Heaven-I'm so sorry about your Mom.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 9:54 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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tezra
Posts: 195
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When my mother was dying, my brother and I had to make the choice as to whether we should let her go or make her live and suffer. I could see it in her eyes even though she couldn't speak. All I could say was, "You know Mom, quality of life over quantity." He looked like reality had just dropped on him like a stone, because neither of us wanted to let go, but we had to, for her sake. We respected her feelings, and I still want her back, (still cry every time I think of her) but couldn't hold her here out of our selfishness.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 10:28 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 9,950
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I am totally for this. If someone is suffering to the point where they'd rather end their life than live it, it would be more selfish of the family to want to keep them around.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 10:41 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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zulamaze
Posts: 1,266
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For it! I couldn't do it myself though.
I watched my mother die of terminal cancer.
It was horrible!
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 10:46 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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holding4u
Posts: 1,096
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Tough call. I would have to say that since God is the creator of life - He should be the taker. My husband died from cancer and he did sign a living will to prevent resuscitation.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:03 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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SylvanDreams
Posts: 2,133
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Tough call, indeed.
The thought that occurs to me is, once started, where will it stop?
My mother also did crossword puzzles and was a very intelligent woman. She is now in an assisted living facility, unable to walk, enduring grave difficulty every time she tries to talk because she cannot find the words, and most of the time not remembering who I am, who anyone is, or where she is. But she is not in physical pain.
I don't think she has a good quality of life, yet who am I to say? As long as she is not in pain, my siblings and I will continue to support her and give her as much love and time and help as we can. But it's heartbreaking. I wonder what she would ask for, if she could?
As to my "where will it all stop?" comment--we here are all speaking of loved ones we don't want to lose, but who we don't want to suffer, either. Human nature being what it is, there's another side to the coin.
What about the people who only want to inherit money or other possessions belonging to the elderly or sick one? They would euthanize in a second, just to get their hands on the material goods that the person accumulated. Alone, elderly, sick, incapacitated--who will protect them from the greedy relatives who would put them down without a second thought?
I heard not too long ago about a country (don't remember which one) where the elderly and terminally ill have to have someone sitting with them 24/7 to protect them from being euthanized. Why would this be done? Because it's a country with socialized medicine, and if the doctors decide the person is not going to recover, they euthanize--to save on medical costs! Talk about not valuing life!
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:03 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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CynCity
Posts: 556
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This definitely is a tough call. If someone is terminally ill, I think they should have the right to terminate their own life. Could I assist? Probably not, I just don't think I would have it in me to be party to anyone taking their own life. Would I support their decision to do it on their own? Definitely, as long as there was absolutely no hope left and all avenues had been explored.
I do have some personal experience with suicide, though it was done as a result of emotional pain. A part of me feels it was so selfish, yet a part of me understands. Is that pain any less real than someone suffering from cancer?
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:20 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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tezra
Posts: 195
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I don't know that I could help someone that I would want to stay with me. But, I could help a stranger if their loves ones couldn't be the one. Of course, I guess I have a different view of death than most. I don't fear it, and as I do what it takes to keep my concience clean, I am looking forward to seeing my sister again in Heaven. Most of the time I wonder if Earth is pergatory.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:25 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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kattsmeow
Posts: 20,910
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I lost my mother last fall. We/she was blessed that she didn't know she had liver cancer,(that was what the docs came up with). Her heart gave out and she died as peaceful as any one can.
Would I have helped her die? She would never have asked me.
If a person is able to administer the drugs to their self,,then yes. Other wise,,,,it is a hard call I hope I never have to deal with.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:31 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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pitbullgurl
Posts: 740
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they should handle this decision of ending life on thier OWN
I don't think it's selfish to want to end one's pain and suffering. For someone to end their own life...that's not always physically possible Gifty.
My grandmother has been hanging on for years.
I have a furry friend that I'll be taking for euthanasia very soon.
Then I think back to my mother, whose last month was pure hell
I had a wonderful black Lab that I had euthanized
When my mother was dying, my brother and I had to make the choice
I watched my mother die of terminal cancer.
It was horrible!
My husband died from cancer
I do have some personal experience with suicide, though
I am looking forward to seeing my sister again in Heaven.
I lost my mother last fall
OMG ladies, all of you have gone through sooo much. I can't even begin to say... I understand your pain, as I've never lost a close relative. I had to take my little dog to the vet, 3 years ago, to be eueuthanized...and that was enough. I still cry and long for her. I really don't think if I could handle the loss of a loved one...I really don't.
My heart goes out to each and every one of you. I sooo admire your strength. 
I totally agree with the majority here...if my loved one is in horrendous pain, something has to be done. It's sooo inhumane to let someone suffer.
[Edited on 3/21/2006 11:36 AM]
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:35 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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Chance_2B
Posts: 17
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For...
But I couldnt/wouldnt be the one who done it. I watched my grandmother, who was more like my mother, die a long painful death. She would have NEVER asked us to do any such thing even if it was what she was thinkin. Now that being said. My uncle who would have NEVER asked the same, in that position, did ask. Who are we to say what are loved one might say or need in thier end? My uncle was in pain, lost his mind, didnt know any of us, and asked us this favor. We were all selfish.. old fashioned maybe. We all agreed the good lord put us here, he will be the one to take us. I do think tho that there should be some sort of assisted 'death'. I just dont think there are that many family members who would be able to do it when the time comes.
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:47 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 20,910
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The hardest think Pitbull,,was living in California,,and she was back in Michigan. My youngest son,, at the age of 20 then, told me weeks before she died that he thought I should come home earlier than I had planned. I was going to go back and help take care of her when they let her out of the hospital.
Finally I called the nurses station. I have to thank them for what they told me.
I asked,,,if it was your mother, would you fly home right away? They said yes. I didn't want to get them in trouble with any one there. I flew home the next morning, arrived at the hospital around 7pm, and she held my hand,,,told me she loved me, and then passed away around 11:00pm.
The only thing she complained of was, her legs hurting her, (they gave her something for it) and she couldn't get enough air.
Being raised in the church, she would not have asked for anyone to help her die. I believe she was ready to go after the last child got there.(me)
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 11:55 AM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against?
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CynCity
Posts: 556
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Eventually we all lose those we love, PitBullGirl, some of us much to often and much too soon. I've lost my father (age 15), mother (age 26), twin daughters (age 30), best friend (age 37) and much loved cousins, aunts and uncles. Those kind of losses leave so much pain, but we have no choice but to get through it, hopefully not to scarred.
My hope is you will not experience any of these things for many, many, many years to come.
I've seen so much death, some of it so senseless, I don't know if I could take part in any more. But I wouldn't be angry if someone had to take their own life because of their pain. I remember the doctors not giving my mom tranquilizers when she was aggitated with early-onset alzheimers...give me a break, she couldn't have remembered it if she was addicted. She hadn't drank in 12 years, but we'd give her a glass of wine to calm her, at that point...who did it really hurt?
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| Mar 21, 2006 @ 12:07 PM |
Assisted Suicide....For or Against? |
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holding4u
Posts: 1,096
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Sylvan, good post. Where does it stop? Look what Hitler did to the Jews.
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