Medically assisted death for terminally ill

I should also add that assisted suicide is not a simple choice and then go ahead and do it. There are all kind so regulations and protections in this bill. And counseling and families involved, etc.
 

There are many, many, reasons why a person might choose suicide. Not all of them are physical pain or terminal illness.
If you doubt that, watch a Richard Dreyfuss film entitled "Those Life Is It Anyway ?".
 
Olivia said:
It's not suicide if you're already going to die and you want to do it where and when, and how you want, and have your family already around you. Who could want anything more? I would have wanted it for my mom. But, no, it had to be a call in the night and by the time I got there, it was too late. I will never get over that.
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Whether you're close to death due to terminal disease or you're not, whether it's done with medical assistance or not, ending your own life is suicide.

I'm not arguing that it's wrong. I'm all for it. I just had a question about why there isn't more support for End-of-Life Choice laws.

Personally, I don't need my gov't to say it's ok for me to choose to be euthanized, but I would definitely tick the "Yes" box if End-of-Life Choice legislation appeared on my voter's ballot.
 

Cap'nSacto said:
Whether you're close to death due to terminal disease or you're not, whether it's done with medical assistance or not, ending your own life is suicide.

I'm not arguing that it's wrong. I'm all for it. I just had a question about why there isn't more support for End-of-Life Choice laws.

Personally, I don't need my gov't to say it's ok for me to choose to be euthanized, but I would definitely tick the "Yes" box if End-of-Life Choice legislation appeared on my voter's ballot.
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Hear, hear !
 
I have always been a big advocate on this issue, but now that my husband is terminally ill and we’ll be lucky if he’s still with us in 6 months, I couldn’t imagine anything like this. Talk is big until it’s staring you in the face.
 
Olivia said:
Because mental illness is not an option for assistant suicide, and and neither is being mad at the world.
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Not sure I get your [mental illness] point ?

If a person is just "mad at the world" and want's to leave it ? Why stop them ? Refusing them that right is only going infuriate them more. Shouldn't it be their choice?
 
The thread seems to be veering away from the intent of the law... assisted suicide for the terminally ill. I doubt we will ever see assisted suicide for random depressed people. They will have to resort to the time-honored methods of shuffling off the mortal coil.
 
A few years ago, a close friend who lived in Washington state was diagnosed with leukemia. Medical treatment did not help. She told me she was very much at peace with the situation; she was in her 80's and had had a long, full life. As she put it, she said, "I've had a good run." She was very grateful to live in a state where there was medically assisted suicide if needed.

Fortunately, it never came to that; she passed away peacefully without any assistance. But I got the feeling that just knowing that the option is out there gives a lot of peace to people who are terminally ill. Most of us don't want to die, but if it's inevitable, wouldn't we prefer a peaceful, painless end? (We don't have it yet in Maryland, though there are groups that are trying to get the bill passed.)
 
C'est Moi said:
The thread seems to be veering away from the intent of the law... assisted suicide for the terminally ill. I doubt we will ever see assisted suicide for random depressed people. They will have to resort to the time-honored methods of shuffling off the mortal coil.
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Maybe / maybe not...if we can convince the powers that be , that the terminal should have this available. That might just open the door for others, the depressed or ?

It really shouldn't matter why a person wants to die at their own hand. We do not have a choice in coming into this world...we IMO sure as hell should have a choice in leaving it.
 
rgp said:
Maybe / maybe not...if we can convince the powers that be , that the terminal should have this available. That might just open the door for others, the depressed or ?

It really shouldn't matter why a person wants to die at their own hand. We do not have a choice in coming into this world...we IMO sure as hell should have a choice in leaving it.
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We always have that choice.
 
True, Traveler. But how about "If it is inevitable in the near future?" Or maybe just stick with the 6 month time frame already suggested.
 
Traveler said:
If it is inevitable ? There is no if about it. All of us are going to die.
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Yes, but some deaths are easier than others, such as my neighbor's wife told her husband she was going for a walk while he was watching television. When she didn't return for quite a while, he went out looking for her. When he opened the door, there she was right there on the ground. She had passed away. Shocking for her husband, but she didn't go through any long agony. She had two weeks previously turned 90 and one of her sons had just left that day to go back to Florida. They had spent nice times together golfing and other things. If we could all go that way.
 
Sounds reasonable to me. The law only ALLOWS it, therefore it's no burden for those who don't choose that path. And although it may sound crass to some, if the outcome is inevitable in a few months and the person wants to end the suffering, it also reduces the horrendous costs that decimate families who don't have the good fortune to be wealthy.
 
I investigated a murder/suicide (just one of many but this was a bit different). Both very elderly living on their own. She had Alzheimer's and he was the only caregiver. Only family were children that lived out of town.

He was becoming frail and was told that he needed surgery and that his recovery time was going to be long and that it would be in the hospital for a month then in an assisted living residence. There was also a very good possibility that he would never return "home".

He decided that was enough and he ended both of their lives.

This happens more than people probably realize.
 
Sunny said:
True, Traveler. But how about "If it is inevitable in the near future?" Or maybe just stick with the 6 month time frame already suggested.
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So we stick with the six month time frame?..OK that suits the needs /desires of some...others should still be held to the decision of ?

Why can't we just say...OK, ya want to leave this life, this earth ? Sorry you have come to that decision but....it is your decision too make ..........farewell.
 
rgp said:
Well that's true, I just meant in a more dignified manner , & perhaps a bit less messy.
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I understand what you're saying, but we're just interested in getting this bill for terminally ill patients passed. The kind of idea you're talking about (which frankly I don't quite understand why there should be a law for it--or maybe you're meaning there should not be a law against it) is just the kind of slippery slope talk that could kill it.
 
Olivia said:
I understand what you're saying, but we're just interested in getting this bill for terminally ill patients passed. The kind of idea you're talking about (which frankly I don't quite understand why there should be a law for it--or maybe you're meaning there should not be a law against it) is just the kind of slippery slope talk that could kill it.
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Well...I do see your point as well...But, I do not mean this in a smart-ass way...Isn't that a-tad selfish? I mean [as i said] there are many reasons that a person might want to 'end-it' . And I'm sure that if one comes to such a solemn decision it is just as deep felt too that person [for what ever reason] as it would be to a terminal patient.

Again I believe I said earlier that if the terminal patient bill is passed..that may open the door for others . My point being, we all should have that right.

I hope I am never at that low point in my life. But hell it could happen tomorrow ?
 
rgp said:
So we stick with the six month time frame?..OK that suits the needs /desires of some...others should still be held to the decision of ?

Why can't we just say...OK, ya want to leave this life, this earth ? Sorry you have come to that decision but....it is your decision too make ..........farewell.
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I know a few people, including myself that at one time or another thought their life wasn't worth living and perhaps ending it would be better than sticking around. Based on where we're all at in our lives now, I'd say we're pretty thankful that we didn't carry through with it. I sure as heck know I am. To simply roll out the suicide red carpet for people who feel this way due to some trauma in their lives rather than trying to help them through their problems is negligible.
 
JimW said:
I know a few people, including myself that at one time or another thought their life wasn't worth living and perhaps ending it would be better than sticking around. Based on where we're all at in our lives now, I'd say we're pretty thankful that we didn't carry through with it. I sure as heck know I am. To simply roll out the suicide red carpet for people who feel this way due to some trauma in their lives rather than trying to help them through their problems is negligible.
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So at one time you had the thought, and it was fine ? But now you think all others should be 'helped through their problems' ? How is it any of my business to stick my nose into someone else's situation ? You had the thought & changed your mind, so now you're speaking for someone else ?

If someone asked for my help, I would of course provide it...if that same person asked for Kevorkian's phone number ?..I'd provide that as well.
 
rgp said:
So at one time you had the thought, and it was fine ? But now you think all others should be 'helped through their problems' ? How is it any of my business to stick my nose into someone else's situation ? You had the thought & changed your mind, so now you're speaking for someone else ?

If someone asked for my help, I would of course provide it...if that same person asked for Kevorkian's phone number ?..I'd provide that as well.
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Your entire post is assumptious of what I went through and how I felt, yet you say that I am speaking for someone else? I am speaking for myself and other people I know personally as well as their situations regarding this matter, so yes I can confidently speak for how they feel. If someone who is not terminally ill asked you to assist them in committing suicide and you did, well that speaks more about your character than it does anything else, not too mention it IS criminally negligible. I certainly hope your son, daughter or close friend doesn't run across someone like you when they're down on their luck with their finger on the trigger, they deserve a better chance than that. You appear to be looking for any argument you can find on this issue for whatever reason, I'm not biting. Have a good weekend.
 
In the states where this is legal, I wonder how it plays out with the insurance companies holding a life insurance policy on the individual involved. Insurance companies are notorious for finding reasons not to pay. I wonder how they handle this.
 
JimW said:
Your entire post is assumptious of what I went through and how I felt, yet you say that I am speaking for someone else? I am speaking for myself and other people I know personally as well as their situations regarding this matter, so yes I can confidently speak for how they feel. If someone who is not terminally ill asked you to assist them in committing suicide and you did, well that speaks more about your character than it does anything else, not too mention it IS criminally negligible. I certainly hope your son, daughter or close friend doesn't run across someone like you when they're down on their luck with their finger on the trigger, they deserve a better chance than that. You appear to be looking for any argument you can find on this issue for whatever reason, I'm not biting. Have a good weekend.
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I'm not assuming anything...you said you were there ? How am I assuming ?

"so yes I can confidently speak for how they feel. "

No one can speak confidently for anyone but themselves...

"If someone who is not terminally ill asked you to assist them in committing suicide and you did, well that speaks more about your character than it does anything else, "

So now your argument is to attack my person...when you do not know me at all.

And just to note...I never mentioned anything about assisting someone in suicide . I said I would provide a phone number...what they do with it is again their business.
 
debbie in seattle said:
I have always been a big advocate on this issue, but now that my husband is terminally ill and we’ll be lucky if he’s still with us in 6 months, I couldn’t imagine anything like this. Talk is big until it’s staring you in the face.
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Debbie, you're right of course. You want every second with your husband. Hope this discussion isn't too insensitive but I agree with there being an option for the reasons stated by the Canadian guidelines. Only for those reasons.
I hope you are able to enjoy the last days with your husband and have him as long as possible.
 

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