Is it ok to kill someone who is terminally ill?

[Outlawbiker]

I have no problem with a person ending his life for what ever reason. Think Soilent Green. I know that isn't spelled right.

 

[CamoNoose]

As one who taught ethics, the correct word as was noted is Euthanasia and it is usually broken down into two understandings: Active versus passive. Passive means simply letting nature take its course without medical intervention, in other words DNR (do not resuscitate) or allow for artificial means to keep them alive. This one rarely gets much debate because most tend to see this as the "easier" one to understand because you are simply letting nature take its course without trying to keep them artificially alive especially when there is no medical hope for them to resume their normal life as they would want. This part makes it important for everyone to have a living will to make your wishes known in that matter. The one which is hotly debated and is more the topic of this thread is Active Euthanasia where you are calling on a medical provider to either administer the medication to hasten death or to at least provide it for you. This one tends to stir up very deep and passionate understandings in people particularly with those in the religious community who believe God to be the author of life and the only one who can decide when life should end. I personally believe that everyone has a right to determine and make decisions over their own life especially if we are dealing with a terminal illness with no medical chance of recovery. Anyway, just my two cents. LOL

 

[fireboots]

I'm a firm believer in comfort care, and if that care speeds the onset of death, it is for the good. I've known people that have gone both ways, and I felt better for those who found final relief than those who suffered to the bitter end.

 

[lindier]

There is a major debate going on in the u.k. on this subject at the time being. A bill was introduced into the House of Lords by a former lord chancellor, Lord falconer, to make assisted dying easier. It involved safeguards including certification by two doctors that the disease was terminal and that the applicant was, or would be in considerable pain. Unfortunately the bill was lost when the general election intervened before it was passed.
I think that such assisted suicide is acceptable but would oppose it unless a doctor is involved. Certainly no member of the family or close friend should ever carry out the killing, apart from the possibility of undue pressure imagine the guilt you would carry for the rest of your life however honourable and genuine your motives.
And I think there are many cases where doctors have prescribed excess doses of opiates knowing that they are likely to shorten life even though the intended object is to dull pain. Good for them!!!

 

[amatlock2778]

I for one plan to commit suicide should i ever be diagnosed with a terminal illness, before it gets to the point where im suffering too much. Save myself and my loved ones the pain of suffering through it. So i say hell yes, if a terminally ill person wants to get it over with and die now, then killing them would be a mercy. Its wrong, in my opinion to make anyone suffer through the horrors that await them during a terminal illness. Hell if some polititian were to propose mandatory euthanasia immedately upon such a diagnosis, i would support it.

 

[deaddirty]

I for one plan to commit suicide should i ever be diagnosed with a terminal illness, before it gets to the point where im suffering too much. Save myself and my loved ones the pain of suffering through it. So i say hell yes, if a terminally ill person wants to get it over with and die now, then killing them would be a mercy. Its wrong, in my opinion to make anyone suffer through the horrors that await them during a terminal illness. Hell if some polititian were to propose mandatory euthanasia immedately upon such a diagnosis, i would support it.

There is no way I would support compulsory euthanais for any group. In fact (particularly as a disabled person myself) I find the idea deeply offensive - that was Nazi policy for any 'unfit' group including disabled and 'mentally ill'.
If my own condition ever deteriorates to the point where i have lost the quality of life which makes it worth living, permanently, then yes I would want to end it in my own time and way rathet than suffer. But that is my choice - others in a similar position may well choose dfferently, and it would be utterly wrong to force euthanasia on them.

 

[amatlock2778]

There is no way I would support compulsory euthanais for any group. In fact (particularly as a disabled person myself) I find the idea deeply offensive - that was Nazi policy for any 'unfit' group including disabled and 'mentally ill'.
If my own condition ever deteriorates to the point where i have lost the quality of life which makes it worth living, permanently, then yes I would want to end it in my own time and way rathet than suffer. But that is my choice - others in a similar position may well choose dfferently, and it would be utterly wrong to force euthanasia on them.

I didnt mean quite like that, what i meant was only if it were a condition that WILL lead to unbearable suffering, intolerable quality of life, eventual death. A person with disability of some sort, but a reasonable expectation for decent, happy, normal life expectancy otherwise would not be subject to it until/ unless their condition deteriorates to a point where theres no hope of recovering a reasonable degree of happy, pain and suffering free life quality, such as u mentioned. Sorry for any offense my original statement may have caused.

 

[alexonedeath]

"Is it ok to kill someone if they: 1. - Want to die. 2. - Are in horrible pain. 3. - They will NEVER recover or be normal again."

Answers: 1. Yes - 2. Yes - 3. Yes

 

[deaddirty]

Thanks Amatlock.
I still disagree that COMPULSORY euthanasia can ever be acceptable - it should be for the person to decide whether to endure pain and dreadful quality of life, or not, and where the point is where he or she wishes to end it. And with good modern medical treatment there are few conditions where those things are inevitable from the point of terminal diagnosis. Both my parents died from cancer in a hospice and though things were not always easy for them I have no doubt that their quality of life was 'better alive and dead' until very close to the point hen they finally lst consciousness (which was induced for one to avoid what would have been horrible suffering, but natural for the other). My choice, with no close family, would proably be different.

 

[rtndguts]

According to the Declaration of Independence, We all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Remember these words were written in a time were a man could choose to fight a duel over a matter of honor, or take his own life for the sake of his family. By extrapolation, We should have the right to end our own lives and the liberty to carry it out if we think we'll be happier for it. For many, there's a big difference between being alive and living.
After more than 5 years of Dialysis, my father decided to stop his treatments. He was dead in a few days. Everyone in the family respected his decision. No one was prosecuted for it.

 

[djbear]

I feel there have to be protections. We know some doctors get so frustrated with patients they have hastened their deaths. I would argue it is up to the individual but there should be shown to some legal authority so it can not be easily abused. Generally, I am pro-life but understand when one does not want to endure pain forever.

 

[alexonedeath]

...some doctors get so frustrated with patients they have hastened their deaths.

I get so frustrated with doctors that I wouldn't mind at all hastening a few of THEIR deaths.

 

[djbear]

I understand. When a doctor tells a patient nothing to worry about and then a year later says - oh, it is cancer that demonstrates carelessness on the part of the doctor.

 

[alexonedeath]

I have no respect for the health care industry or the folks who work in it. I have found the whole shebang to be incompetent and uncaring.

 

[deaddirty]

My experience in the UK has been very different - I've seen an awful lot of them over the last three years and most have been excellent in both respects, can't speak too highly of them. And you don't need money to get good care - the friend i made in hospital who was brought up by a druggie mother on a sink estate and developed a degenerative genetic disease at 14 so has never had a penny to his name got several months specialist care in a neurorehab centre to get him from wheelchair back to walking and a decent quality of life.

 

[alexonedeath]

The UK is such a totally different animal from the USA when it comes to health care. That probably has much to do with why your experience has been so positive. I am, of course, sorry you need frequent medical care, but, since you do, it's provident that you live in Queen Elizabeth's kingdom.

 

[zonmoy]

The UK is such a totally different animal from the USA when it comes to health care. That probably has much to do with why your experience has been so positive. I am, of course, sorry you need frequent medical care, but, since you do, it's provident that you live in Queen Elizabeth's kingdom.

in medicine like in so many other things america is a real shithole.

 

[lindier]

I understand that prime minister Trudeau of Canada is proposing to legalise assists suicide. Be interesting to see how the bill fares and what safeguards are built into it.

 

[djbear]

I understand that prime minister Trudeau of Canada is proposing to legalise assists suicide. Be interesting to see how the bill fares and what safeguards are built into it.

The Supreme Court ruled that no matter the government, they had to provide a law for assisted suicide. They decided not to follow the recommendation of a Parliamentary Committee which would have permitted youth or dementia patients arrange for assisted suicide. They will only permit Canadian citizens or permanent residents. It will probably pass despite the RC Church being against it. It is to be given a free vote meaning no party will tell their members how to vote.

 

[lindier]

Hope the bill has more success than the one rejected over here