Would you support a family member wanted to die by assisted suicide?

#1 · 17-07-2015 04:21PM #1

I saw another thread on a different forum about euthanisa. In it a man was mentioned who had a very rare type of cancer and he had no hope of surviving and to my knowledge he would had a very poor quality of life. So he decided to end his life via euthanisa. They said they felt so sorry for his family/etc who to the best of my knowledge supported his choice.
I think I would support a family member dying via euthanisa as long as it was a terminal illness/would be in a lot of pain/have a very poor quality of life. I'd also have no problem caring for them during there illness if that's what they wanted.
What would you do?

osarusan · 17-07-2015 04:22PM

Yes I would.

seenitall · 17-07-2015 04:42PM

Yes, I would.

We extend the help to animals that we are too brainwashed and pussy-footed about to extend to human beings.

If someone close to me were in utter pain and misery which will only go one way, and wants it to end, I would see it as my duty to help them end it. Once my child is grown and I don't have any other responsibilities, I would put myself at risk for prosecution for it, too.

It's a very specific situation though, so I hope I never encounter it.

jobbridge4life · 17-07-2015 04:48PM

I don't know. I think I would do everything in my power to try and persuade them not to but if they had made the decision and I knew that they were not for turning on the matter then I would certainly do my best to be there for them.

P_1 · 17-07-2015 04:54PM

Without a shadow of a doubt. Sometimes natural death is a bloody awful thing (both to experience and witness somebody go through). If a family member sought to avoid such a thing and knock their own wicket over it would be frankly inhumane of me to stand in their way.

MagicMarker · 17-07-2015 04:55PM

Of course I would, because I'm not a selfish asshat.

eviltwin · 17-07-2015 04:55PM

Yes I would. And I'd do anything I could to help them.

token101 · 17-07-2015 04:57PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I think I would support a family member dying via euthanisa as long as it was a terminal illness/would be in a lot of pain/have a very poor quality of life. I'd also have no problem caring for them during there illness if that's what they wanted.
What would you do?

They are two very different things. Supporting someone's right to choose euthanasia in the event of a terminal illness is one thing, but caring for someone throughout an illness isn't an option for a lot of people for a huge range of reasons.

17-07-2015 05:49PM

When I had to put down my own dog once, the vet put the needle into a vein in his leg, and told me to inject it when I was ready. I'm glad he took that approach, it allowed me to take ownership of the whole thing. Instead of feeling like a pitiful bystander, I felt like I'd lived up to my obligations and had done him a good deed.

Now before anyone recoils in indignation at comparing family members to dogs, I know family relationships are usually more intense, and I'm sure none of us want to be physically wielding the needle. All I'm saying is that perhaps being in that position where you can say, 'we've reached the end, this is cruel, it has to stop', makes you less of a victim.

An inability to intervene or comfort your family member when they are close to death, or even in pain, is deeply upsetting. Anyone who's been in that position knows what a Godsend morphine can be, and everyone knows morphine quickens death. Why can't we just accept and improve upon a practice that is already happening?

RayCon · 17-07-2015 05:53PM

Yes.

Guy:Incognito · 17-07-2015 05:56PM

Yes

Two Sheds · 17-07-2015 05:56PM

Being related to a sick or dying person should not give anybody rights over that person's life. If any of my family took that upon themselves, where my life is concerned, I would politely tell them to go to hell.

NachoBusiness · 17-07-2015 05:59PM

'Yes' if I was in their will and 'No, sure hang on a while' if I wasn't.

rolliepoley · 17-07-2015 06:02PM

I'ed even dig the hole.

JJJJNR · 17-07-2015 06:02PM

Depends, if it was someone like Ian Huntley I would, but then I would resuscitate the bastard, and repeat.

Mam of 4 · 17-07-2015 06:03PM

Yes I would . Would probably break my heart but it would be worse to have it break from watching them suffer excruciating pain if they were truely not going to back down from their decision.

Taltos · 17-07-2015 06:04PM

Absolutely.
If it's what they wanted and had thought it through would have to honour their wishes.

Guy:Incognito · 17-07-2015 06:08PM

Two Sheds wrote: »

Being related to a sick or dying person should not give anybody rights over that person's life. If any of my family took that upon themselves, where my life is concerned, I would politely tell them to go to hell.

You know what "assisted" means yeah? We're talking about someone that wants to die asking for help.

my teapot is orange · 17-07-2015 06:09PM

It depends what you mean by "support". I would definitely be of the view that someone who has no quality of life and wants to end it should be allowed to, but as it stands that isn't always legal. I wouldn't do anything to help that might get me into legally murky waters. Even booking travel would be assisting.

efb · 17-07-2015 06:13PM

If it was their wish yes

freshpopcorn · 17-07-2015 06:15PM

Two Sheds wrote: »

Being related to a sick or dying person should not give anybody rights over that person's life. If any of my family took that upon themselves, where my life is concerned, I would politely tell them to go to hell.

My thread was relating to people who made up there own mind that they wanted to die, not family members choosing to end somebodies else's life.

Captain Chaos · 17-07-2015 06:15PM

Yes, I've seen to many of my family die, wasting away painfully to cancer. If I'm ever that bad I'd beg to be put out of my suffering and not be a burden on my family members of them having to visit me in hospital for months, help me get to the bathroom and do my washing. It's only kicking the can down the road and prolonging needless suffering, that's not life, that's not living.

I'm not saying my dying relatives were a burden during their final months, I just don't want to be that person.

I would help any member of my family suffering that didn't want to be there any more, forcing them to live is just the height of cruelty for selfish reason imo.

I had to put my cat down a few weeks ago, he was only 8 and could have lived another few months in suffering but the right thing to do was put him asleep. I went in with him and the whole process, took him home and buried him. It broke my heart, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I was very upset, angry and guilty with myself having to do it but it was the right thing.

A family member I would imagine a is million times worse and very hard but when it's the only option instead of them suffering along needlessly and they asked and were still 100% in mind then it's the least you can really do to help them one last time.

henryporter · 17-07-2015 06:16PM

Of course - there's no sane reason to prolong a persons suffering when the only outcome is certain death following cruel and intolerable pain. Needless to say the god heads love that sort of thing which is why they oppose preventing such barbarity

Two Sheds · 17-07-2015 06:42PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

My thread was relating to people who made up there own mind that they wanted to die, not family members choosing to end somebodies else's life.

Whether they ask or not it still amounts to choosing death for somebody else.
It's an act of extreme arrogance.

Captain Chaos · 17-07-2015 06:44PM

Two Sheds wrote: »

It's an act of extreme arrogance.

It's an act of mercy. Arrogance is standing by and watching them suffer after they have asked for it to be ended.

freshpopcorn · 17-07-2015 06:47PM

Two Sheds wrote: »

Whether they ask or not it still amounts to choosing death for somebody else.
It's an act of extreme arrogance.

I'd consider not allowing somebody carry out there dying wish to be an act of extreme arrogance.

jjC123 · 17-07-2015 06:51PM

Two Sheds wrote: »

Whether they ask or not it still amounts to choosing death for somebody else.
It's an act of extreme arrogance.

It's an act of compassion. Oftentimes there's no dignity in natural death. People who've lived long lives,worked, raised children, been good friends, talented sportspeople/actors/scientists/teachers/ whatever shouldn't be reduced to something ill, incontinent and more dependant than a baby at the end of their lives. If it's their wish, let them go.

Two Sheds · 17-07-2015 06:53PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I'd consider not allowing somebody carry out there dying wish to be an act of extreme arrogance.

Surely you mean 'assisting' or even doing it for them? Isn't that what the debate is about?

lazybones32 · 17-07-2015 06:55PM

No, I don't think I'd help anyone kill themselves.

jjC123 · 17-07-2015 06:57PM

lazybones32 wrote: »

No, I don't think I'd help anyone kill themselves.

But the question is whether or not you'd support their decision?

eviltwin · 17-07-2015 06:58PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

My thread was relating to people who made up there own mind that they wanted to die, not family members choosing to end somebodies else's life.

I think he meant family not respecting a person's wishes and keeping them alive when they want to die

Would you support a family member wanted to die by assisted suicide?

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