17 year old granted euthanasia in Belgium

endacl · 17-09-2016 05:44PM

Terribly sad situation to be in. I hope the family find peace.

Pro Hoc Vice · 17-09-2016 05:49PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Your right but outlooks change, she may have had a completely different perspective at 27.
I don't think 17yr olds have the slightest notion of what life has in store for them, you could apply that to a lot of 30yr old as well.
I don't think it should be an option if there is any hope.

Did you read the article at all.

donegal. · 17-09-2016 05:56PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Not sure whether this is a win for freedom or sad day for humanity.

definitely a win for both freedom and humanity

uck51js9zml2yt · 17-09-2016 06:03PM

Read the article. All it says is that the doctor reported the event and it gives the reason why it's allowed.

The whole thing raises the question about whether assisted suicide is right.
In my mind it's not.
As a society we have an abhorrence to suicide. Why is asssited suicide different?

The Princess Bride · 17-09-2016 06:28PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

No I don't, the title was meant to be tounge and cheek not a pop at people with depression, it's was sarcasim/dark humour.
Will I change it to cancer or would I be having a go at them as well.
The thread was meant to be about the story not the title.

Tongue and cheek? Sarcasm?

All I can say is I sincerely hope you never ever have to sit and watch a loved one or friend die from a terminal illness.
There's absolutely nothing humorous about it.

Samaris · 17-09-2016 06:35PM

The Princess Bride wrote: »

Tongue and cheek? Sarcasm?

All I can say is I sincerely hope you never ever have to sit and watch a loved one or friend die from a terminal illness.
There's absolutely nothing humorous about it.

Yiiis, I'm not sure why the OP thought that -improved- what they were saying.

Guy:Incognito · 17-09-2016 07:09PM

Using a phrase and getting it wrong can only make the situation worse anyway.

Tongue in cheek.

captbarnacles · 17-09-2016 07:11PM

Justin Many Warrior wrote: »

Read the article. All it says is that the doctor reported the event and it gives the reason why it's allowed.

The whole thing raises the question about whether assisted suicide is right.
In my mind it's not.
As a society we have an abhorrence to suicide. Why is asssited suicide different?

So someone in the final stages of ALS or MS and who cannot physically commit suicide should just have to suffer to the end?

Beyond cruel.

HS3 · 17-09-2016 07:20PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Not sure whether this is a win for freedom or sad day for humanity.

Belgium allows 17yr old to kill herself.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN11N09P?il=0

Seems pretty humane to me. Seems as though a minor is allowed avail of assisted suicide if they suffer from a terminal illness causing them unbearable pain. I'm assuming, because the article doesn't say that she ticked all the boxes. Very sad situation.

All for euthanasia. I saw a programme on it, think it might have been Terry Pratchet who did it. It was based in Switzerland. A lot of downsides to it, person has to be of sound mind and able to take the medicine themselves, so it's all done before the illness they're seeking to escape fully takes hold. Which is completely understandable, it just means the person misses out on a few good years too.

One of the guys on the programme wasn't physically ill, but was suicidal and his take in it was, there you died in comfort and with others around you rather than the violence of any other option.

I found it all very interesting and would love to see it brought in here.

Roger Hassenforder · 17-09-2016 07:29PM

Justin Many Warrior wrote: »

The whole thing raises the question about whether assisted suicide is right.
In my mind it's not.
As a society we have an abhorrence to suicide. Why is asssited suicide different?

I have a greater abhorrence to "constant and unbearable physical pain which cannot be assuaged and that will cause death in the short term"

But that's just me.

Poor Uncle Tom · 17-09-2016 07:45PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Not sure whether this is a win for freedom or sad day for humanity.

Belgium allows 17yr old to kill herself.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN11N09P?il=0

There are plenty of stories in the media you can get outraged about, this isn't one of them.

This is tragic, unfortunate, extremely sad and deserves sympathy and empathy, not outrage.

seamus · 17-09-2016 08:06PM

Justin Many Warrior wrote: »

The whole thing raises the question about whether assisted suicide is right.
In my mind it's not.
As a society we have an abhorrence to suicide. Why is asssited suicide different?

We abhor suicide because we see it as a terrible waste of human potential. "A permanent solution to a temporary problem", etc.

We accept that everyone dies eventually -when their time comes - but any death which is avoidable is a tragedy - a lifetime of happiness and humanity lost before it should have been.

But unavoidable death, while still.mourned and sad, is accepted as being the end of the road. A lifetime lived. And that's regardless of whether you die at 7 or 107. It's "your time" and that's it. We all take a ticket when we're born and our number will be called someday.

Assisted suicide is simply about allowing the individual to control not the time of their death, but the manner of it. Once you have that diagnosis, you're basically already dead. Its a waiting game for your body to crap out on you. So why wait?

It's often presented as a controversial topic, but I don't actually think it is. I believe that the majority of people would like to have the freedom to choose where and when they die, and to do it dignified and legally. At a referendum I believe it would pass with a massive majority.

17 year old granted euthanasia in Belgium

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