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

Two Sheds · 17-07-2015 06:58PM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

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

'Assisted' would very quickly become doctors and relatives deciding to do what's 'best' for them.

Two Sheds · 17-07-2015 06:59PM

eviltwin wrote: »

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

Or maybe simply not killing them?

Alexis Sanchez · 17-07-2015 07:01PM

Personally, I have absolutely no problem with abortions, assisted suicide and euthanasia. It's cruel to force some to stay alive if they want to be put out of their misery, be it a physical or mental illness.

lazybones32 wrote: »

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

You don't physically have to help, some trained professional will do it.

Two Sheds · 17-07-2015 07:06PM

Alexis Sanchez wrote: »

Personally, I have absolutely no problem with abortions, assisted suicide and euthanasia. It's cruel to force some to stay alive if they want to be put out of their misery, be it a physical or mental illness.

You don't physically have to help, some trained professional will do it.

Great.. we can hire somebody to do it ... go get a coffee and when we come back it's all over...neat, clean, guilt-free.
The only question is - should we tip?

Fistycuffs · 17-07-2015 07:08PM

It would very much depend on the circumstances for me. I would support someone but I would first try and convince them to reconsider or beg them to take time to decide. The reason I would feel like that is that I have known people with really terrible and life changing illnesses that allow little or no quality of life. I have seen them go through periods of wishing to be dead and considering euthanasia but with time and support come through that and go on to feel differently and live fulfilling lives through difficult circumstances. One of those people lost her sight and ended up very disabled in other manners, she could only go out in a wheelchair if she was brought by someone and even then only for short periods,but she is now very grateful that she didn't follow through on the feelings she had in the first two years of her illness and does talk about that when the subject comes up. Her life is very difficult but she's found things she loves in the middle of it like writing, she lives a small life but not a half life.
There's a huge grieving process involved in acquiring a life changing disability or illness. I would want to be sure that a person I loved was not acting out of that grief if they might feel differently after they'd adjusted, as painful as that adjustment might be.

efb · 17-07-2015 07:12PM

Would you go with someone to Switzerland?

bisounours · 17-07-2015 07:19PM

jjC123 wrote: »

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.

I second (and third) this. When my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he was given a year to live. He had 4 months. The speed by which his body degraded (a very healthy, strong man who took great pride in his physical ability) and withered away was heartbreaking. He took it upon himself to sign a DNR (Do not resuscitate) and forced us to sign it as well as acknowledgement. The shame and humiliation on his face every time he lost control of his bowels, the tears he cried when he realised he no longer had muscle control, or wasn't speaking clearly anymore made him lose the will to live quicker than the disease.

SMJSF · 17-07-2015 07:19PM

I agree with it.
It shouldnt be classed as "murder".... but then again, suicide was "a crime" not so far back!
Its totally the persons decision, and others shouldn't try and change their mind if the are terminally ill.
I would like to have the choice to have the plug pulled if i turned into a vegetable state, or went batty to be honest. By then, theres no point in keeping me alive when i cant even function, or have a conversation. I'm nothing or nobody then.

But helping someone to go true with it, it would depend on the situation.

zeffabelli · 17-07-2015 07:21PM

It would really depend on their state of mind and what the illness was, is this an impulsive choice... Are there chances of recovery ....

I've seen a few people now turn dramatic corners from nearly dying and having been seriously ill myself, I can't give a black or white answer to this.

the other question is would you ever ask your children to help you die? That also seems selfish.

Aidric · 17-07-2015 07:29PM

Absolutely. If the person has a terminal diagnosis and no quality of life then it is a dignified and humane response.

Vojera · 17-07-2015 07:42PM

My granda was one of my best friends. Particularly after my dad died and when my mum was going through some really rough stuff, there was always a cup of tea waiting for me in my grandparents' house. When granny went out to bingo granda would tell me stories about being in the reserves during World War II and how himself and granny came to live in our home town and of the different characters in the village and how they came by their family nicknames.

I loved him with all my heart and I miss him all the time, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved when he finally died. He was in so much pain and even worse than that for him was being poked and prodded and having to rely on his wife and children and grandchildren for everything. One night not long before he died he cried and begged his children to let him die. I never saw him cry in my whole life and when mum told me about that night I began to pray every day that he would die and not have to suffer anymore.

I don't pray anymore or have any particular beliefs, but if I was in that situation again and a loved one asked me to accept their decision, or even to help them, my answer would be yes. How could it be anything else?

I've had to make the decision several times to put my pets to sleep as they were suffering and it has always struck me as odd that we consider it a kindness to euthanise an animal but a crime to do so for a person who can ask for it.

freshpopcorn · 17-07-2015 09:04PM

Two Sheds wrote: »

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

This is the situation I'm referring to. You've a family member who's being diagnosed with a terminal illness. They will loose all there independence. They will also be in a lot of pain. That person could decide to do a few of there wishes and choose when to travel by themselves to a country where assisted suicide is available. Would you support them in there choice or would you try and talk them out of it?
I'm not suggesting somebody gives there granny a load of pills for example.

lazybones32 · 17-07-2015 11:08PM

jjC123 wrote: »

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

And my answer encompassed that. I wouldn't help anyone kill themselves; not by deed, omission, encouragement, approval.

Guy:Incognito · 17-07-2015 11:10PM

lazybones32 wrote: »

And my answer encompassed that. I wouldn't help anyone kill themselves; not by deed, omission, encouragement, approval.

So you'd happily force them to live on much longer than they want, suffering in pain? Charming.I'm sure they'd be very grateful.

lazybones32 · 17-07-2015 11:20PM

Alexis Sanchez wrote: »

You don't physically have to help, some trained professional will do it.

Professional?

'A study published this month in the Journal of Medical Ethics examined the “deliberate” euthanasia of patients in Belgium without their explicit, voluntary consent as required by law. The study’s author, Raphael Cohen-Almagor, a professor of philosophy and ethics at the United Kingdom’s Hull University, found that life-ending drugs were used “with the intention to shorten life and without explicit request”.
http://www.political-correctness.net/belgian-doctors-are-now-euthanizing-patients-without-their-consent/

A different link to an earlier study by the Canadian Medical Journal
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285423/Half-Belgiums-euthanasia-nurses-admit-killing-consent.html

Wibbs · 17-07-2015 11:21PM

Yep.

Fleawuss · 17-07-2015 11:37PM

Yes I would. And I hope that someone will help me if the need arises. I believe the vast majority of sensible people would. I see no reason why someone I loved should suffer intolerably. There is no reason when you think about it.

princess-lala · 17-07-2015 11:38PM

Two months ago my darling grandad died!

Seven months after he went to hospital complaining of chest pain! He had a quadruple bypass that didn't go according to plan! They couldn't get him off a ventilator!

The hospital he was in kept doing various operations and procedures on the poor man in the hope one would fix him!

Three weeks before he died it was decided with us as a family and with him that the ventilator would be reduced right down and he would drift into a deep sleep and pass away peacefully!!

When asked about this my grandad said "what will be will be, this isn't me anymore" he was fed up of suffering, fed up of hospitals, hated not being able to eat or drink due to a tracheotomy in his neck, he wasn't the man he had been seven months previous!

The day arrived and all of his children and his brother were there. 21 hours later, after lots of laughter, tears and stories he passed away peacefully!! A nurse in the hospital told my mother it was a form of euthanasia!

But if my grandad had asked me beforehand to help him i have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I'd have done it!!

Putin · 17-07-2015 11:41PM

I would absolutely respect anyone's decision to end their life. But I could not play any part in the ending of any life.

QuinDixie · 18-07-2015 12:04AM

Assisted suicide is a very complicated matter that will involve inheritance that may cause preying on the vulnerable by which i mean the depressed, the disabled, the aged.
Remember that when your posting BAA, sorry I mean YES.

NotYourYear20 · 18-07-2015 12:25AM

rolliepoley wrote: »

I'ed even dig the hole.

Big inheritance pending?

Robsweezie · 18-07-2015 12:31AM

If it was absolutely, whole heartedly what they wanted, thier quality of life deteriorated to nothing, then yes, I'd like to think I would. However feelings change and it's all well and good saying yes now, but actually presented with the situation in front of me....i cant be sure how I'd feel.it would have to be a long discussion and not a snap decision, and depending on the severity of their suffering. Everyone should have the right to choose how they want to go, you could get a smack of a car tomorrow and all choice is taken out of the equation, but through euthanasia they get to depart at a time and place of their choosing, on their terms . I would have to respect their wishes.

Canis Lupus · 18-07-2015 12:39AM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

So you'd happily force them to live on much longer than they want, suffering in pain? Charming.I'm sure they'd be very grateful.

Funny how the logic works for some people hey?

I'm morbid enough to have actually watched some of these assisted deathes on YouTube and whilst terribly sad they're also wonderfully peaceful and pain free.

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

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