Should euthanasia be legal in Ireland?

Blondish

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal under Irish law. Active euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg whilst passive euthanasia is legal in other countries.

Shouldnt a person have a choice in this? My opinion is that a person should have the right to choose euthanasia if they are proven to be of sound mind.

MadYaker

I think this thread should be euthanised.

Seachmall

Yes.

Menas

Where someone quality of life is so poor and painful due to illness the. I would be in favour of it.
But the lines get blurred too easily.

DrumSteve

Providing they get the right documentation, I believe all Asian youths should be free to come here.

Gatling

Yes it should be legal murders ,rapists ,child molesters
Rather than prison euthanasia should be the only sentence

Icepick

Yes


Where is the poll?

The_Valeyard

Atari Jaguar

Gloomtastic!

Talking with another Dad at the school gates this afternoon. His gran is 98 and in hospital at the moment, not doing too well. They had a family meeting with her doctor recently and he suggested fitting a pacemaker.

My Dad passed away a couple of years ago. He worked six days a week until he was 81, then his body and mind just gave up and he spent the next three years being looked after full time by my Mum with a couple of visits a day from the Home Nurse. He had a mild form of Alzheimers and was incapacitated until the last 9 months when he was virtually vegetative. He had a long list of pills to be taken daily and a huge amount of supplies that we needed to care for him at home - bed pads etc

It does make me wonder in whose interests are peoples' lives extended. Is it for the families or is it for the medical profession/industries?

We are all going to die someday. Why not let people go with a shred of dignity?

_Redzer_

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Talking with another Dad at the school gates this afternoon. His gran is 98 and in hospital at the moment, not doing too well. They had a family meeting with her doctor recently and he suggested fitting a pacemaker.

My Dad passed away a couple of years ago. He worked six days a week until he was 81, then his body and mind just gave up and he spent the next three years being looked after full time by my Mum with a couple of visits a day from the Home Nurse. He had a mild form of Alzheimers and was incapacitated until the last 9 months when he was virtually vegetative. He had a long list of pills to be taken daily and a huge amount of supplies that we needed to care for him at home - bed pads etc

It does make me wonder in whose interests are peoples' lives extended. Is it for the families or is it for the medical profession/industries?

We are all going to die someday. Why not let people go with a shred of dignity?

You're asking the same question there, they're both selfish acts if the family want to keep them alive against their will, especially if they have to suffer for something they don't want to do.

lahalane

I'd like if it were legalised but the problem then becomes who does the euthanasianising? Can't be fun to have to end somebodys life.

Nattyyyy

Yes, it should be a persons choice and right only they can decide.

Leogirl

Yes it should, with very strict guidelines & laws. I watched a close relative die slowly from MS and I am pretty sure they'd have preferred to die without pain & with their dignity intact if they'd had the choice.

I have MS too & I really hope the laws change in the future - I do not want to face the possibility of years slowly wasting away. Then again, the cigs will probably do me in first :-)

wexie

lahalane wrote: »

I'd like if it were legalised but the problem then becomes who does the euthanasianising? Can't be fun to have to end somebodys life.

I wouldn't say fun but I can imagine that (for the right professional) it can be quite rewarding to let someone die with dignity and save them years (potentially) of living in agony.

And yes, should absolutely be legal.

princess-lala

My nanny wanted to go away to die but was also donating her body to science so couldn't! She spent the guts of 4 years in and out of hospitals not getting any better but sicker with each hospital trip!

The last 4 months of her life she was bed bound! Wanted to die and asked us when was she going and could she just die!

All she wanted was her life to end but nobody could help her!

I 100% agree it should be legal here!

lukesmom

A huge Yes

My name is URL

It should be mandatory

Rayne Wooney

The Church said we're not allowed

/thread

Blondish

Is it possible to travel to Belgium, Holland or Luxembourg to request euthanasia?

Peregrine

Yes, it should be legal.

RiverOfLove

This is something I think should be legalised. I know many of the replies here are in relation to old age and debilitating sicknesses and illnesses. IMO it should be fully legalised and allow one to make up their own mind. Suicide is rampant throughout Irish suicide so many people are deciding for themselves that they want to die. That life is no longer for them and they take the action into their own hands. Why should these people die alone hanging from trees or from any other method that's done to remove themselves from life when they can be helped in the process from a certain drug that's used for euthanasia.

My name is URL

RiverOfLove wrote: »

Why should these people die alone hanging from trees or from any other method that's done to remove themselves from life when they can be helped in the process from a certain drug that's used for euthanasia.

Why should physicians be expected to help physically healthy people die?

Legalising it for suicidal people would set progresses made in mental health provisions back by about 100 years.

lahalane

RiverOfLove wrote: »

This is something I think should be legalised. I know many of the replies here are in relation to old age and debilitating sicknesses and illnesses. IMO it should be fully legalised and allow one to make up their own mind. Suicide is rampant throughout Irish suicide so many people are deciding for themselves that they want to die. That life is no longer for them and they take the action into their own hands. Why should these people die alone hanging from trees or from any other method that's done to remove themselves from life when they can be helped in the process from a certain drug that's used for euthanasia.

I suspect most people would still do it themselves anyway rather than have to face people and admit that they want to kill themselves.

Curly Judge

It will be legal here within a decade!
"There's nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come"

loseyourself

300 Hookers, Viagra and Cocaine to relieve the pain till your gone. Pain will slowly go away.

wexie

My name is URL wrote: »

Why should physicians be expected allowed to help physically healthy people die?

There, make more sense like that?

Dilly.

Have you seen the Terry Prachet documentary 'choosing to die'. You can find it on youtube. Informative but heartbreaking documentary about this issue. I feel it should be legalised yes. That documentary gives you a lot to think about though!

Temptamperu

Yeah it should be legal, with plenty of safe guards like a medical panel of some sort.

Gbear

It's infuriating when people come up with technical challenges to the law and use those challenges as arguments against the law being brought in in principle.

Any change in the law has to be accounted for but the fundamental moral problem at the heart of the issue that people of sane mind should have the right to end their lives in the manner of their choosing cannot be denied except by nonsensical moralistic bull****.

galwayrush

Keeping someone who is in chronic pain with no hope of ever getting better alive against their will should be illegal. Why should they be forced to exist in extreme pain when they would prefer to stop the pain and go with dignity.

wexie

Blondish wrote: »

Is it possible to travel to Belgium, Holland or Luxembourg to request euthanasia?

Not sure about Belgium or Luxembourg but you couldn't do it in Holland.
There's a whole process to go through in cooperation with your GP.

It's not quite as simple as travelling over and taking some pills.
(although you probably could do that but I'm not sure it'd be classed as euthanasia)

meoklmrk91

When a dog no longer has a decent quality of life the vet will gently mention it to the owners, it's a hard decision but any owner who loves and knows their dog will know when it's time.

We afford this last act of decency to our pets so why not our family members?

Mike 1972

I think a distinction needs to be drawn between "euthanasia" and assisted suicide.

The decision should be the patients (and only the patients) to make.

wexie

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

When a dog no longer has a decent quality of life the vet will gently mention it to the owners, it's a hard decision but any owner who loves and knows their dog will know when it's time.

We afford this last act of decency to our pets so why not our family members?

Because that'd be like telling god : you can't fire me! I quit!!!
And the church doesnt feel that us plebs should be allowed that kind of dignity or self determination.

After all, if it's right for people to decide whether or not they want to live any longer then there would be some serious flaws in doctrine that they'd much rather not talk about in public.

/rant

apologies, I'm somewhat cynical about the church's influence on this country, cynicism currently somewhat inflamed on the back of some of the stories in the family secrets thread.

wexie

Mike 1972 wrote: »

I think a distinction needs to be drawn between "euthanasia" and assisted suicide.

The decision should be the patients (and only the patients) to make.

While I think I know what you're getting at I think you may need to clarify that statement.

Of course it should always be the patients decision, however, the way it works in Holland is that the GP needs to agree as well. There are quite strict guidelines and if they aren't followed the GP can still be held responsible.

Patient needs to be of sound mind etc. etc.

One of the procedures however more or less dictates that the patient needs to be able to drink something themselves. Which unfortunately would rule it out for some very ill people. However there are ways around that as well but that process is more strictly regulated.

Sadly I've had occasion earlier this year to be involved in the somewhat more practical side of euthanasia and what I found the most bizarre thing is that the patient essentially get's to pick their own funeral date as they need to pick a day to die.

All good and well in theory but the practicalities are somewhat unreal.

byhookorbycrook

Leogirl wrote: »

Yes it should, with very strict guidelines & laws. I watched a close relative die slowly from MS and I am pretty sure they'd have preferred to die without pain & with their dignity intact if they'd had the choice.

I have MS too & I really hope the laws change in the future - I do not want to face the possibility of years slowly wasting away. Then again, the cigs will probably do me in first :-)

it is most unusual to die from MS.I also have MS and suffer a lot of pain daily. If and when things get really, really bad, I'd be sure to have some strategy in place.

As an MS-er on Tysabri, I have a 164/1 chance of dying or being very seriously disabled by a thing called PML. So far, I want to keep on the drug, but if I get PML, I'll don't intend lingering.

tvc15

galwayrush wrote: »

Keeping someone who is in chronic pain with no hope of ever getting better alive against their will should be illegal. Why should they be forced to exist in extreme pain when they would prefer to stop the pain and go with dignity.

I think this is how people should look at it, I can think of nothing more cruel or unusual than prolonging the life of someone in daily, excruciating pain against their will. It's a sick and bizarre instinct that some people seem to have and I can't understand it

Czarcasm

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

The Church said we're not allowed

/thread

wexie wrote: »

Because that'd be like telling god : you can't fire me! I quit!!!
And the church doesnt feel that us plebs should be allowed that kind of dignity or self determination.

After all, if it's right for people to decide whether or not they want to live any longer then there would be some serious flaws in doctrine that they'd much rather not talk about in public.

/rant

apologies, I'm somewhat cynical about the church's influence on this country, cynicism currently somewhat inflamed on the back of some of the stories in the family secrets thread.

Here's a novel idea, how about we can have a discussion on Boards about an issue without daft digs at the RC. It's the current government has the power to change legislation and nothing to do with the RC.

It was the Irish Supreme Court that interpreted the legislation to state that Marie Fleming had no right to die, nothing to do with the Church -


http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/marie-fleming-appeal-on-assisted-suicide-rejected-1.1376352

wexie

Czarcasm wrote: »

Here's a novel idea, how about we can have a discussion on Boards about an issue without daft digs at the RC. It's the current government has the power to change legislation and nothing to do with the RC.

It was the Irish Supreme Court that interpreted the legislation to state that Marie Fleming had no right to die, nothing to do with the Church -


http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/marie-fleming-appeal-on-assisted-suicide-rejected-1.1376352

These aren't 'daft digs' at the RC, you don't actually think the church had nothing to do with the legislation originally do you?

They're perfectly valid comments as the church was responsible for influencing the legislation in the first place

shootermacg

Plenty of ways to die, if you want to. Do I agree with this? No fcuking way!
If you can't go on, take a long jump off a tall building, now go away and stop wasting public money.

lahalane

shootermacg wrote: »

Plenty of ways to die, if you want to. Do I agree with this? No fcuking way!
If you can't go on, take a long jump off a tall building, now go away and stop wasting public money.

What about a 99 year old who is in so much pain they cant move? How will they do it if they want death?

osarusan

Yes, completely in favour of euthanasia being allowed in Ireland under proper criteria.

returnNull

shootermacg wrote: »

If you can't go on, take a long jump off a tall building, now go away and stop wasting public money.

some people dont even have that option

CaSCaDe711

Legalise it as soon as possible !!

Czarcasm

wexie wrote: »

These aren't 'daft digs' at the RC, you don't actually think the church had nothing to do with the legislation originally do you?

They're perfectly valid comments as the church was responsible for influencing the legislation in the first place

Originally wexie yes, the RC ethos would've been entrenched in much of the Irish legislation, but nowadays their influence has waned significantly, and it is the current government have the power to change the legislation or at least put it to a referendum, effectively giving two fingers to the RC, but my point is why care about what the RC Hierarchy thinks at all? Why even acknowledge them or acknowledge that they have a say? They really don't, not nowadays they don't anyway.

shootermacg wrote: »

Plenty of ways to die, if you want to. Do I agree with this? No fcuking way!
If you can't go on, take a long jump off a tall building, now go away and stop wasting public money.

"Ooh, lookie me being all contravershall with my ill informed opinion"...

wexie

Czarcasm wrote: »

.... but my point is why care about what the RC Hierarchy thinks at all? Why even acknowledge them or acknowledge that they have a say? They really don't, not nowadays they don't anyway.

You've got my vote

peewee_44

Yes, I am watching someone die right now with no movement they are in pain but being made when pain killers wear off but he knows he is dying it could still be weeks due too good heart. If that was a dog they would be put down. watching this is just cruel.

nozzferrahhtoo

lahalane wrote: »

I'd like if it were legalised but the problem then becomes who does the euthanasianising? Can't be fun to have to end somebodys life.

I don't know. If someone desperately needs release and I was the one who was able to grant them that.... "Fun" is not the right word but I certainly would have no moral issues with it or trouble sleeping at night if it were my job.

Blondish wrote: »

Is it possible to travel to Belgium, Holland or Luxembourg to request euthanasia?

As far as I know, yes, but I know very little on the subject I am afraid. Isn't "Dignitas" one of those places you can go regardless of what country you are from? Or "Exit International"? Perhaps someone "in the know" can clarify as I am curious myself what the answer is.

shootermacg wrote: »

If you can't go on, take a long jump off a tall building, now go away and stop wasting public money.

I would be interested to see your figures and workings on this. Because I would have thought that bringing the full arsenal of our science to bear on keeping someone alive who wants to be dead is massively more expensive than merely assisting expedite their death.

That said.... I would prefer an issue like this be sorted as much on a moral discussion as merely by handing the problem over to an accountant and asking him to work out a Profit and Loss account. Do you want all societies moral decisions to be merely made on who profits?

If so I can only let a sigh of relief that you are not in possession of power of any kind socially.

Czarcasm wrote: »

but my point is why care about what the RC Hierarchy thinks at all? Why even acknowledge them or acknowledge that they have a say? They really don't, not nowadays they don't anyway.

I think I agree with you 95%. We do not need to bog discussions on this issue down in conversation about, or digs at, the RC or religion. At the same time however there is a reason why people have to continue to take antibiotics even after the symptoms of the disease have passed. Complacency __can__ undo a lot of hard work at the latter end of the removal of a festering disease.

Mark Twain

It's a concept that certainly appeals to my emotions when my mother in law to be calls around for the weekend.

crazygeryy

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Atari Jaguar

I think people who say this as a reply should be euthanised

Yes.

Hannibal Smith

Blondish wrote: »

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal under Irish law. Active euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg whilst passive euthanasia is legal in other countries.

Shouldnt a person have a choice in this? My opinion is that a person should have the right to choose euthanasia if they are proven to be of sound mind.

Yes it should but we haven't the capacity to legislate for it.

In Switzerland the person has to be of sound mind when they make the decision and do the act. So an elderly person with alzheimers cant avail of it. They have to do it long before they get to that stage for it to be legal. Therefore a perfectly healthy person is killing themselves theoretically.

Its a tricky one.