Euthanasia

I agree with the conservatives on this issue. Euthanasia is completely unnecessary and too easily abused. If someone wants to kill themselves they can do it themselves, they don't need a doctor's assistance. As far as most diseases most of them can be reversed with the proper diet and dietary supplements.

by Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 672 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 3:20:23 PM
 

Simplistic view,

I'm afraid.  In a perfect world, perhaps all of those who chose to take their own lives due to terminal illness and suffering, could do so with dignity -- their final wishes -- not those of government mandate. 

My husband died of ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease.  Each day took away something new - the loss of hands, speech, swallowing - all muscle function.  For over a year and a half he was a quad:  I did everything for him, everything.  He was hoisted into the air by a huge metal Hoyer lift, then slowly positioned into a wheelchair.  He couldn't dress himself, feed himself, go to the bathroom on his own.  He couldn't scratch an itch, turn the page of a book, could barely hold his head steady atop an atrophied neck and body.  He could barely speak.  As his body withered and his struggle with pain increased, I saw him literally disappear into a mass of loose flesh and bone. 

By the time my husband may have wished to end his excrutiating suffering, paralysis coupled with pain, he had lost the ability to do so himself - and without implicating me or others.  In the end, he chose to starve himself to death before needing a breathing and feeding tube.  Still, this took nearly two weeks.  I wouldn't wish this kind of death - or the witnessing of - on anyone.

To suggest that a human being shouldn't have the final say in how they pass when they are terminal and there is no hope, is perhaps one of the most selfish and short-sighted views another human being can have.  I know of very few people who have witnessed the slow suffering and death of a loved one who, along with their beloved, didn't wish the suffering would end.  ALS is a fatal disease - always - no meds, no operations, no remissions.  A slow taking away each and every day.  

If someone is dying and of sound mind, and chooses to take their own life, their wishes should be respected - not those of others, standing on the periphery making decisions about something they cannot possibly comprehend. 

Finally, the argument about euthanasia getting out of hand or abused: I will offer this - in taking care of and witnessing the deaths of a parent, grandparents, best friends and a spouse, I can tell you that the will to live is stronger than any other.  Survival mode kicks in and holds on until the very end.  Even those who were suffering from unbearable pain, kept going.  When their wishes to die were finally expressed, it was long after the point where I presumed one could continue, could manage.  So, the idea of "abuse" of euthanasia is unwarranted and I do believe that if it were legal, we might be surprised at how few actually exercise the option.

by Jan Baumgartner (49 articles, 136 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 233 comments) on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 2:20:04 PM
 

You obviously have not witnessed maany deaths...

...to say that a patient weakened by cancer to the point of being unable to lift a bottle of water himself can commit suicide on his own.

Euthanasy is the way to finish one's life with a degree of dignity, it's humane and respects the fact that the choice to end one's suffering should belong to the dying people themselves, not to the doctors, the government or religions.

it has been adopted by a number of European countries more socially advanced than the US, the type of countries where the death penalty has been abolished decades ago and where universal health coverage is implemented.

Unfortunately, euthanasy is not going to be adopted any time soon in the US--the country's politics  are still very much influenced by religion, so everybody, including non religious people, will have to suffer to the bitter end when they die.

by francine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 269 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 4:08:30 PM
 

euthanasia

I disagree with the conservatives on this. I agree with the author. I imagine the conservatives want all life saved so they can use them for fodder for their wars. Eggs turn into babies. Babies grow up to be 18yo and then can go off to wars that old men like to declare are necessary. In fact, it's the money they make that is necessary for them.

Yup, euthanasia should be legal and Doctors should assist. That way there are no errors and in sound mind, the person can free themself from horrible pain and horrible inhumane circumstances.

by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 239 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 6:57:49 PM
 

What?

"I imagine the conservatives want all life saved so they can use them for fodder for their wars. Eggs turn into babies. Babies grow up to be 18yo and then can go off to wars that old men like to declare are necessary."

What?  Are you being serious here or sarcastic?  I'm hoping sarcastic because such thinking reflects a deep problem with cognitive thought.

by Tom Murphy (3 articles, 3 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 1453 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 9:11:19 PM
 

The State of Oregon has Assisted Suicide

I'm pretty sure the state of Oregon is the only state that has the enlightened view on doctor assisted suicide for the terminally ill.  With the onslaught of the baby boomers and medicare going broke in 10 years; I'm sure this idea will be revisited in the next few years.  The religous conservatives wish to control our lives from birth up to and including how we pass over. To take away a terminally ill's person right to decide how and when to end suffering is so wrong. "General" Tom, you're wrong on this topic also.

by ronheri (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 120 comments) on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 10:58:47 PM