If you had a terminal or debilitating illness would you take your own life?

DEFTLEFTHAND

I was just discussing this topic recently with a friend and in our conversation I was fairly certain that I would. For debilitating illnesses the clinic in Switzerland is an option, although the legal rumblings in Britain and Ireland have discouraged people from this course. Patients with conditions like terminal cancer can't avail of the service afaik.

What would you do though if you were in sound mind to make such a final decision?

donvito99

I think people should be able to die in a dignified way, wouldn't like to be the executioner though.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

If I was in an accident and I required round the clock care and became a burden on family / friends.........it's off Dun Laoghaire pier with me.

lukesmom

Yes i'm pretty sure I would

shopaholic01

I don't see the point in existing when you no longer have what you consider to be a reasonable standard of life, so yes I would.

im invisible

Life is terminal

Praetorian Saighdiuir

im invisible wrote: »

Life is terminal

That's deep man.

uch

No, I already live in Dublin, no need to take me life, it's been sucked out of me already

Capt'n Midnight

benwavner wrote: »

If I was in an accident and I required round the clock care and became a burden on family / friends.........it's off Dun Laoghaire pier with me.

But suppose that accident happened because you went down to the pier ?

We could be here all night trying to figure out that one.

Real Life

yes, i definitely would

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

But suppose that accident happened because you went down to the pier ?

We could be here all night trying to figure out that one.

It would complete the circle!

Sierra 117

Yes, definitely. But I would come back more powerful than you could possibly imagine!

That's how reincarnation works, right?

ViveLaVie

No

shopaholic01

ViveLaVie wrote: »

No

Hence your username.

cafecolour

Hell no, I'd keep my self doped up on painkillers and play computer games until I dropped.

Unless this is some sort of diseases that causes blindness/lack of hands in which case I'd off myself immediately, terminal or not.

DEFTLEFTHAND

The terminal illness aspect of it is of interest to me. A friend of my fathers hung himself after his diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. He'd gone through early treatment but when he was given the news that he was dying he cut the cancer off at the pass and went before it could take him. His friends, my father included admired him for it.

I can see the logic in it, why suffer the final ravages of such a horrible disease.

MadsL

I remember my old boss taking a call from his old boss, mentor and personal friend on his way to Portland for an assisted suicide.

Upset him, but kinda cool he got to say goodbye.

I think he had Huntingson's and didn't want to put the family through all of that.

NegativeCreep

Yep. Without doubt. I really dont see the point in living with a horrible disease.
How do they kill you in the clinic though? Is it lethal injection?

flutterflye

I would stay around as long as I could for my family, then gun to the head.

shopaholic01

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The terminal illness aspect of it is of interest to me. A friend of my fathers hung himself after his diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. He'd gone through early treatment but when he was given the news that he was dying he cut the cancer off at the pass and went before it could take him. His friends, my father included admired him for it.

I can see the logic in it, why suffer the final ravages of such a horrible disease.

It's one thing enduring gruelling treatment when you have the hope of recovery - knowing you will die regardless must make it seem pointless.

mr bungle.

after watching my father in law die a slow painful agonizing death,which lasted for two months,i would take the easy way without hesitation.i will never forget what he said to me when he was really suffering."if i was a dog i would have been put down long ago".says it all really

shopaholic01

NegativeCreep wrote: »

Yep. Without doubt. I really dont see the point in living with a horrible disease.
How do they kill you in the clinic though? Is it lethal injection?

No, you're given the medication in liquid form and you have to swallow it. That way you are taking your own life, as opposed to being executed.

NegativeCreep

shopaholic01 wrote: »

No, you're given the medication in liquid form and you have to swallow it. That way you are taking your own life, as opposed to being executed.

Oh yeah that makes sense

Chevolution

I like to think that I'd persevere for a while and try do at least one thing that people would remember me by but I can't say how I'd react unless I had a terminal illness. I did have very bad meningitis c before and was very close to death and because I survived I'd like to use every little bit of life that I got back.

DEFTLEFTHAND

shopaholic01 wrote: »

It's one thing enduring gruelling treatment when you have the hope of recovery - knowing you will die regardless must make it seem pointless.

I agree, if there is no hope of recovery why suffer. I think its very brave of a person to take matters into their own hands at that point.

Cosmicfox

Yeah, I wouldn't not linger on in agony.

zenno

If you had a terminal or debilitating illness would you take your own life?

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I was just discussing this topic recently with a friend and in our conversation I was fairly certain that I would. For debilitating illnesses the clinic in Switzerland is an option, although the legal rumblings in Britain and Ireland have discouraged people from this course. Patients with conditions like terminal cancer can't avail of the service afaik.

What would you do though if you were in sound mind to make such a final decision?

For the first question above, yes. I would, as i hate suffering, but to block a persons choice on this decision that they make for themselves if they are of sound mind but are in agony of pain then i think it's wrong to prolong the suffering of a person, very wrong if they wish to let go.

The laws here in Ireland are very out-dated as usual but as i said, if a person is of sound mind and wishes to let go and of which is in constant agony from pain, then respect their wishes even though it is powerfully hard to allow them to go.

Respect of such a persons wishes is paramount but hard to deal with and no-one has the right to block a suffering human beings wishes to die just because your ideals or religion make-up makes you think so.

There are some people out there that would like to keep you alive even if you were in absolute pain-agony every second of every day thinking you will manage it and that is called torture. respect for the person is paramount as i said and this scenario should be treated with intelligence and complete understanding for said person. Why prolong the suffering of a human being when they themselves wish to die and let go. Respect for a person of sound mind in this situation is the right move whether you agree with me or not.

Pherekydes

I'm building a guillotine in my back garden. It'll be fully automated in case I can't work the damn thing. I'll need some guinea pigs to test it...

marozz

I'd like to think so, but it's had to tell how one would react in such a situation, until one has to face it. My father died a long slow and painful death. He clung on to the bitter end, he was determined to hang on. He told me he didn't like going to sleep as he was afraid he wouldn't wake up, he was scared of dying.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Assisted suicide or euthanasia is a criminal offence in Ireland and the UK. It affects the person who accompanies the stricken individual to the clinic in Switzerland. To date people have been charged but no person has been prosecuted. The charges in each case so far have been dropped, but it still inflicts unnecessary mental trauma on the family.

gammygils

If I was in nappies & couldn't change them myself. Then definitely!I wouldn't have my beloved suffering that indignity every day which I have no doubt they would do & vice-versa.It would be check-out time for yours truly!!

tippspur

mr bungle. wrote: »

after watching my father in law die a slow painful agonizing death,which lasted for two months,i would take the easy way without hesitation.i will never forget what he said to me when he was really suffering."if i was a dog i would have been put down long ago".says it all really

Yep,this is about the size of it.god forbid if it ever happens to me my wife or sons well do me the decent thing and end my suffering,or if I could do it myself I would.

raggedyman

I plan to eventually. As a friend pointed out, timing is everything. You don't want to go too early, but if you wait too long you could end up being physically unable to do it. Anyway, I have a tidy plan involving a cylinder of a commonly-available industrial gas. Fast, painless, easy, and affordable.

FueledbyCoffee

I've seen first hand what cancer and MS can be like at the end and I really think our legislation should be changed - once you are of sound mind and are proven to be suffering with a terminal illness why can't people say enough is enough. It is true with animals we can put them out of their suffering out of compassion and with our friends and family we are just left to look on helplessly.

The movie - You Don't Know Jack with Al Pacino is devoted to this subject and very good I thought

So yes I would

Local-womanizer

If I was dying but able bodied I would do as much I as could, like travel, climb mountains, sky dive etc.

Once it got to a stage where I was in agony or becoming a burden I would do the deed. At then end of the day you are just speeding up the process to achieve the same result.

I would say goodbye to family and friends and explain that I would be doing it though.

Another happy Friday night in AH!

FanadMan

Depending on the illness - if it was a really agressive cancer, then no. Plenty of strong meds to keep you out of pain for the last bit. But if it was something that would slowly waste me away and cause my family just as much pain, then just hand me the shotgun and a string.

Conor94

If I had to be cared for/became a burden for my family, then I would.

im invisible

Pherekydes wrote: »

I'm building a guillotine in my back garden. It'll be fully automated in case I can't work the damn thing. I'll need some guinea pigs to test it...

are you sure they'll be big enough? i'd try normal pigs if i was you,
similar enough to human flesh, seen them used in CSI and Mythbusters as stand-ins for human bodies

Intensive Care Bear

Yes, without a doubt, after seeing the suffering some people very close to me have gone through with cancer treatment i will be leaving on my terms. I wish there wasn't such a stigma about suicide, i wish we could openly chose when to die (even if healthy)

fonecrusher1

Hey you crazy hermits,

I reckon if i became a total burden on others through illness and I was still able-bodied, I'd quitely find my way to a rather steep incline of great height and throw myself to oblivion.

:pac:

DEFTLEFTHAND

1210m5g wrote: »

Yes, without a doubt, after seeing the suffering some people very close to me have gone through with cancer treatment i will be leaving on my terms. I wish there wasn't such a stigma about suicide, i wish we could openly chose when to die (even if healthy)

The stigma exists because of the Catholic tradition in this country, Not so long ago a suicide case couldn't be buried in church grounds, an absolutely ridiculous man made law. Even for those who hold their faith and want to go, you can interpret the Bible in many ways, the Christian God is forgiving and is aware of our weaknesses.

The_Mask

NO! Id spend every last minute with my loved ones.

Intensive Care Bear

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The stigma exists because of the Catholic tradition in this country, Not so long ago a suicide case couldn't be buried in church grounds, an absolutely ridiculous man made law. Even for those who hold their faith and want to go, you can interpret the Bible in many ways, the Christian God is forgiving and is aware of our weaknesses.

The stigma i'm talking about goes beyond the Catholic church, i think a normal person, healthy or otherwise should be able to decide if they want out, be able to explain to their friends and family that they want to die and go do it in a non violent way. This post probably belongs in the unpopular opinions thread.

FanadMan

The_Mask wrote: »

NO! Id spend every last minute with my loved ones.

Even though you prob wouldn't be aware of them or able to do or say anything? Had to sit with my mum for about a week in the hospice, she was doped up to the eyeballs. Was treated with so much respect and love there (there really are angels on earth) but there is no way I would really want my family to go through what I did. Would rather someone just put another injection in me and end it quickly.

DEFTLEFTHAND

1210m5g wrote: »

The stigma i'm talking about goes beyond the Catholic church, i think a normal person, healthy or otherwise should be able to decide if they want out, be able to explain to their friends and family that they want to die and go do it in a non violent way. This post probably belongs in the unpopular opinions thread.

Even religion teaches that we're masters of our own destiny. You own your life and you can do whatever you want with it. I would never judge a healthy person who wanted out, it's their choice.

flutterflye

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The stigma exists because of the Catholic tradition in this country, Not so long ago a suicide case couldn't be buried in church grounds, an absolutely ridiculous man made law. Even for those who hold their faith and want to go, you can interpret the Bible in many ways, the Christian God is forgiving and is aware of our weaknesses.

Nah - the stigma exists because it goes against human nature.
I'm sure there are cases of animals killing themselves, but for the most part, we have an innate need to ensure our survival, and that of our species.
So we have our biological animal instinct, but then on the flip side, we have intellect and consciousness of mind, so we have the ability to think logically about these things, but everything inside us is yelling "no!".

flutterflye

1210m5g wrote: »

The stigma i'm talking about goes beyond the Catholic church, i think a normal person, healthy or otherwise should be able to decide if they want out, be able to explain to their friends and family that they want to die and go do it in a non violent way. This post probably belongs in the unpopular opinions thread.

Well I agree with your unpopular opinion.

DEFTLEFTHAND

flutterflye wrote: »

Nah - the stigma exists because it goes against human nature.
I'm sure there are cases of animals killing themselves, but for the most part, we have an innate need to ensure our survival, and that of our species.
So we have our biological animal instinct, but then on the flip side, we have intellect and consciousness of mind, so we have the ability to think logically about these things, but everything inside us is yelling "no!".

Humans have the supreme mental capacity. Our minds can often be inflicted by mental illness etc. The survival instinct becomes void when a person reaches a certain state of mind. Logic goes out the window, it's said that the closet mammal to our mental capacity the whale can also decide to end their lives. Like us they override the survival instinct and their minds are capable of suffering torment.

old_aussie

if I hads a termina illnessl, most likely I'd take-out anyone who pisses me off.

What are they going to do, give me a life sentence.

flutterflye

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Humans have the supreme mental capacity. Our minds can often be inflicted by mental illness etc. The survival instinct becomes void when a person reaches a certain state of mind. Logic goes out the window, it's said that the closet mammal to our mental capacity the whale can also decide to end their lives. Like us they override the survival instinct and their minds are capable of suffering torment.

Yeah, but that's not relevant.
I was only saying that that's why there is stigma attached - because it feels wrong to healthy minded individuals, and goes against our nature.

Yes the church have their place in the attachment of stigma, but religious rules are usually based upon unwritten social contracts - thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal etc etc... It's all the things that keep our society functioning..

If it was deemed okay to go about killing yourself, then there would be anarchy, which I personally think would be cool! But there's a reason why anarchy doesn't work.

DEFTLEFTHAND

flutterflye wrote: »

Yeah, but that's not relevant.
I was only saying that that's why there is stigma attached - because it feels wrong to healthy minded individuals, and goes against our nature.

Yes the church have their place in the attachment of stigma, but religious rules are usually based upon unwritten social contracts - thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal etc etc... It's all the things that keep our society functioning..

If it was deemed okay to go about killing yourself, then there would be anarchy, which I personally think would be cool! But there's a reason why anarchy doesn't work.

The stigma doesn't stop people killing themselves in Ireland, if it was somehow magically lifted tomorrow I wouldn't think there would be anarchy, most people anyway are too vain and self absorbed to kill themselves. :pac:

Mental illness doesn't affect everybody and suicide will never enter their thoughts. On the other side a lot of people contemplate suicide for a long time before they do it, those are the people who know its over. Reaction to sudden circumstances can account for many of the others cases. Those are the people I worry about, maybe if they'd waited for a period they wouldn't have done it.