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Do you support Euthanasia?

My friend and I have already decided, "Yes", when the time arrives.

It's been a pretty hostile topic with people in the past and I'm curious to see what happens here.

When is that time, though?

I remember that episode of Seinfeld when Kramer was meeting with the lawyer to decide when they would pull the plug and when they would not. Suppose there was brain activity but kidneys had both failed, things like that.

[quote][cite]Tyinstl said[/cite]When is that time, though?

That time would be different for everyone, but I have already predetermined when that would be.

Morbid topic, I know.

Absolutely. When my mother was in the later stages of her battle with brain cancer this last year, one of the saner things she did was try throw herself in front of an oncoming car after escaping the hospice facility. The staff tackled her even as she was begging them to let her kill herself. They even agreed with her, but it was their job to stop her.

I would never put myself or anyone I love through the year of nightmarish living hell my mother and my family experienced ever again. My sister, her husband and I have made an agreement on the matter if and when the time comes.

Yes. My grandfather lived at my place as prostate and then bone cancer killed him. Keeping him alive against his will was terribly cruel. I want to be able to die when it's time.

Ever since my granpa died, my grandma has been on a steady decline which is only sort of stopped because my aunts and uncles go to great lengths to keep her alive.

It's all very tragic and romantic.

I don't know if I support Euthanasia. =P I'd rather not think about it, actually.

Yes, but only if it is inevitable that the person will be dying from a disease, and they request to die.

Does this question include if a person becomes a vegetable, or goes into a coma that they might never come out of?

Yeah, I have no idea about how to define when is the right time, but I would not want to be hooked up to machines for an extended period of time if my quality of life was low.

I support the right to utilize euthanasia.

Funny how so many humans arrogantly don't think much about it when it comes to euthanizing their cat or dog . But the moment it's a human being suffering in a similar fashion it becomes a political, religious, and ethical matter.

I support euthanasia. When a person is terminally ill and there is no hope, why not let him or her die with dignity, surrounded by family and friends? Our family honored our grandfather a few years ago when he was dying of pancreatic cancer. When he was ready, we all gathered by his bedside and said our goodbyes and prayers. Later that night, the nurse was instructed by my parents to turn up the morphine. Our grandfather was allowed to pass on with respect and peace.

I'm all for it.. maybe there will be a day with euthanasia clinics ( a la soylent green , but without the crackers ) people should be able to check out when they're ready.

Yep. One of my worst fears is that if I become completely paralyzed/incoherent is that I may be kept alive for as long as possible. A literal living hell. I would wish to be killed instead. I'm claustrophobic and would go insane in a situation like that.

QUOTE That time would be different for everyone, but I have already predetermined when that would be

The problem is, when that predetermined time arives, a very large number of people change their minds. If they're not in a state to voice their change of heart, they're kinda fucked. Still, in some circumstances I do support it, but it would have to be a case by case judgement.

Morphine eases pain. In palliative it's a God-send. I've watched it have the most amazing effect on suffering. People I've looked after tell me there's a wonderful high along with the pain relief. An unfortunate side-effect is gradually increasing doses to achieve the same continuous level of relief. A side effect of this is that you eventually die of it.

So either the problem that has a person listed as palliative causes end of life, or the medication. This is euthanasia by default.

The biggest trouble with euthanasia is it becoming a convenience. In the Netherlands, people are offing themselves because they feel depressed, for pete's sake. Families that need the money (inheritance) are colluding to have Mom or Dad put down.
A comparison was made about euthanising pets. We've both found many people do that for the most frivolous reasons. Cats with skin disease. Dogs with house-training issues.
How cheap life is.
Several of the Vets here have signs up stating they will not do euthanasia on demand.

Absolutely support it. I've seen people die in misery, who'd have much rather been put out to pasture with grace. I'm all for it, and if I'm paralyzed, or brain dead, or in a coma, or have a terminal disease and in a lot of pain, go ahead and let me die.

Sedative saidYep. One of my worst fears is that if I become completely paralyzed/incoherent is that I may be kept alive for as long as possible. A literal living hell. I would wish to be killed instead. I'm claustrophobic and would go insane in a situation like that.

Agreed. Make your wishes known to family members and close friends and get a living will. I have a DNR in my medical records and a living will with copies with my mother, partner and best friend. If I'm disconnected or in a state of unwakefulness, the choice has already been made - by me.

I'm fine with anyone wanting to do this - saves a whole lotta money for insurance companies, medical plans, etc.

I fear it becoming enshrined in law. First it'll be optional, then after the governments, lobbyists, budgetary constraints etc are thrown in it'll become MANDATORY.

If it were legal and widely performed back in the early 80s and gay men with AIDS had all been offing themselves when symptoms developed, or even worse, systematically terminated by government, would there be effective life-prolonging therapies today?

Should a parent be allowed to terminate their eight-year-old
child who has developed a terminal illness? or is severely handicapped?

There are a lot of issues around the word euthanasia.

In care-giving, I've seen people with and without DNRs.
Without a DNR, the health system is going to try a lot harder to keep you well and happy so they don't have to use any heroics. One lady I looked after in palliative had a urinary tract infection. They let her suffer for over 30 days! I was told she was dying anyway - signed DNR on file.
Needless to say a few well placed words in the ear of a sympathetic doctor got her antibiotics for 72 hours which completely cured the infection.

meninlove said

The biggest trouble with euthanasia is it becoming a convenience. In the Netherlands, people are offing themselves because they feel depressed, for pete's sake.

Mental illness, such as depression can be just as debilitating and painful as physical illness such as cancer. (Of course depression as an illness is very different from feeling depressed.)

ncsucarjock88 saidAbsolutely support it. I've seen people die in misery, who'd have much rather been put out to pasture with grace. I'm all for it, and if I'm paralyzed, or brain dead, or in a coma, or have a terminal disease and in a lot of pain, go ahead and let me die.

me too.

Hey BelfastAndrew,

I agree.

Anyone killing themselves over it is an utter and total waste.

I support it. If someone is suffering and won't recover ...

cspyny said,

"I support it. If someone is suffering and won't recover ..."

and of course, the decision should be solely that person's and no-one else's.

I support it fully.