Euthanasia for humans

bigpinkelephant

What are your thoughts on euthanasia?
Do you think that it should be legal in Ireland for someone to choose for their life to be ended?

This is something I feel very strongly about. If I was to be in a bad car crash, or have an accident on a horse, for example, and was injured to the point of being left in a vegetative state and being unable to look after myself, I would feel that I would not enjoy my life and would prefer to be euthanised.
My grandmother died from Alzheimer's, and died not having any idea who her husband of 50+ years was. She didn't know who her son (my dad) was, or who her grandchildren were. She used to cry because she would get so confused. I know that because the family history is there, I am more susceptible to developing Alzheimer's, and I would not like to die not knowing who my family are. I would like to know that if I am diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I can choose to die peacefully and be able to say my goodbyes. I have had pets put down because it was the kindest thing to do given their condition at the time (being told by the vet they had no chance and would be in pain and suffering) and I would like to know that I could choose to do the same for myself.

What do you all think?

CathyMoran

I am against euthanasia even though my mother had a brain haemorrage. What I would find acceptable is the ability to refuse treatment, though I am unsure what defines treatment. I do know that when you are ill you can be unsure what you want as pain and fear overcome you, you need to decide in advance of that - apparently I said to my husband that I did not want treatment if I died when really ill, luckily he ignored me and I have had a good 2 years. I do agree with giving morphine etc to those who are seriously ill, but that is more to reduce their pain than anything else.

K4t

I'm very much pro choice and in favour of euthanasia. It's true that the practice of euthanasia can be corrupted but so can many things that are essentially right.

Blazer

I'd be pro euthanasia as well.
No way would I want to be left in a vegetative state and a burden to my family.
I'd prefer to go with dignity and peace of mind.
Ah for though gimps in Cork yesterday..what a shower of tossers.
It was strictly a medical debate and they had to ruin that due to their prejudices.
And did you hear them on the radio afterwards? I'd say all 3 of them was practically in a vegetative state anyway.
I'd say Newstalk picked out the 3 culchiest boggiest muckers they could see there.

Jurisprudence

I couldn't be more pro voluntary euthanasia if I tried. I see it as a serious human rights issue. It is in my humble opinion the last remaining human right to be recognised across the European Union. I find it odd how people view this issue differently from other rights such as the right to freedom of expression. Rights are there to be used as and when the owner sees fit to use them. You cannot force someone to express themselves, it is a choice. You cannot force someone to end their life, it is a choice made by that person only. You should not be allowed force a terminally ill person to continue life which is marred by suffering. That is voluntary euthanasia, nothing more, nothing less. Life is a right. To attempt to enforce it as an obligation to suffer is torture.

Religious moral doctrinal posturing (do they have any morals anyway) and perversion has been bandied about and used to scaremonger people into believing that to allow voluntary euthanasia would lead to the next holocaust. I've studied the holocaust for 20 years. Euthanasia was not a precursor to the concentration camps. The Nazi's ideology was more complex and territorial than the simple wish to euthanise so-called subhumans, the Untermenchen. Iradication of the old, infirm and retarded was carried out via involuntary euthanasia on the unknowing and incapacitated victims, a euphamism for murder. Once the German people (which all the world called Nazis themselves) discovered this even Hitler was forced to stop the project. Those feelings towards involuntary euthanasia across Europe have not changed since then. Concentration camps were different from this project.

No politician has any right to dictate to a terminally ill patient that they should have to continue a fruitless pointless battle against an illness while enduring pain and suffering. It is immoral to do so and should itself be considered illegal. I will (and may have to very soon) disobey such a law. It is unjust to obey an unjust law. The societies of the Netherlands and Switzerland have not disintegrated since it was legalized there. It would not do so here.

I value my dignity more than Mary Harney's or a paedophile protecting church's moral code of ethics. If there is a God he/she will judge me, not priest, not politician, not man.

rockmongrel

Essentially my argument is, who are you or the state to tell me I can't kill myself, none of your business.

aidan24326

rockmongrel wrote: »

Essentially my argument is, who are you or the state to tell me I can't kill myself, none of your business.

Agreed. My life is mine and it is my right to end it as I see fit. It is ridiculous to think that a person has to endure a pointless and painful existence because the state says so.

I'd very much agree with what jurisprudence said, if a law is unjust it's up to us as people to stand up against it. People actually have far too much respect for the law. Morality and ethics should drive your conscience, and unfortunately much of our legal system is not grounded in such.

niall3r

rockmongrel wrote: »

Essentially my argument is, who are you or the state to tell me I can't kill myself, none of your business.

so anyone can make the decision to take their own life?? . . .so suicide is ok?

bushy...

niall3r wrote: »

so anyone can make the decision to take their own life?? . . .so suicide is ok?

( to keep it on topic - assume death is nearby anyway )

Provided that they are of "sound mind " for want of a better word , why not ?

conbhui

where would you draw the line with euthanasia?
Could depressed people be euthanised/terminated?

Jurisprudence

conbhui wrote: »

where would you draw the line with euthanasia?
Could depressed people be euthanised/terminated?

As someone who has suffered depression and suicide attempts in the past I would be very much opposed to allowing euthanasia or assisted suicide of the depressed or mentally ill. With depression there is pain, oftentimes immense, overwhelming and continuous, but it may be alleviated by medical care. A terminal illness cannot. It is the divining difference IMHO between the two classifications of illness. I am long past mental illness and depression and have won that internal argument, thankfully, but have run into the physical side illness at a young age which I am unable to argue against it would seem.

Euthanasia is a very confusing term as well. When you say terminated that has connotations of what is known as involuntary euthanasia, a euphemism for murder in many people eyes (think Nazis). I would agree. IMHO it has no place in a civilised society at any juncture or or any reason. Voluntary/active assisted is where a doctor or other certified person can help the dying person, such as with an injection. If you were crippled or unable to do it yourself as a result of your illness but rationally wished to do so and could communicate such that is how you could go. I agree with this form under extremely strict legislative, practiced and monitored guidelnes and laws. As for assisted suicide (a la Dignitas in Zurich) they get you the drink, check repeatedily that you want to go and are rational enough to know what that means (legally and personally), record it on video etc. Then you and you alone must consume it without assistance. Its is very strict. I am fully supportive of this form of deliverance.

If I were terminal and was told they could keep me asleep without pain until the end I would choose that over self deliverance. They cannot, so I will not. It is a simple equation to me.

P.S: I do not mean to belittle the suffering of the depressed and mentally ill reading this post. I, literally, have felt your pain. I only mean to express my position on a subject very close to my heart. Thanks.

rockmongrel

niall3r wrote: »

so anyone can make the decision to take their own life?? . . .so suicide is ok?

You should not be able to force me to stop me from killing myself. You can try convince me out of it by all means, but how can you justify not letting someone make a decision that has nothing to do with you.

Acacia

It always amazes me that people can have so much compassion for animals ( like, "it's better to end their misery"), but we can't extend the same compassion to seriously ill people.

So, yes, voluntary euthanasia all the way.