Adult Discussion - Euthanasia For/Against

[Alex]

Just been watching a program on Chnl5 whereby some lady was saying she wants to have the right to die and if she needs help someone should be able to assist her suicide.

 

Assisted Suicide (Euthanasia) is illegal and basically if you do it at the moment you will be convicted of Murder.

 

Do you feel that when someones quality of life has deteriorated to such an extent that they cannot lead a full life (dementia, alzheimer's, MS, vegitative state due to accident, etc) that they should be allowed to have a "Living Will" carried out by an appointed person, who will assist their suicide?

 

You thoughts please. I hope we can keep this civil and on target!!

[CJ]

I was discussing this last night with my eldest son and we both agreed that in a situation whereby the person was in a terminal situation and in extreme pain or their quality of life had suffered extensively then assisted euthanasia should be an allowed option.

[Whitesupraboy2]

I think Euthanasia should be avaliable to people who's life will like u say deteriorate so bad that they dont have a life. I think it should only be avaliable though if a form has been signed for NOK to make the decision or a assigned person. This way the person has said yes they would like to go if life for them gets that bad and cant express it.

 

Also they will of most likely discussed it with the NOK.

[JamieP]

I watched my father in pain with terminal cancer not long ago, luckly it didnt last long for him..the docs know what to do in this situation

dam i miss him:(

[jamesmark]

I believe in it totally but i think it would have to be done pre arranged as in agreed when your in perfect mental health, as anyone (like the recent story line in Emmerdale) that can say help me to die but it has to be done properly.

 

My gran had cancer of the throat she died 15 years ago the docs stopped feeding her by drip and pumped her full of morpheen (spelling) took 2 weeks for her to slip away.

[raymanuk]

I think each person has their own right to decide when they want to die. Regardless of anything as it it THEIR life. But if they are a bit mental then that is another matter - no comment.

But in the same situation as what CJ was saying then definately.

[stupra]

I agree with euthanasia, if my life was full of pain, an I was going to die suffering, i'd rather be put to rest. It would be hard to help a loved one die though.

[zap]

I agree with euthanasia, if my life was full of pain, an I was going to die suffering, i'd rather be put to rest. It would be hard to help a loved one die though.

 

 

 

My thoughts exactly.

[bromy]

Agree with CJ's point of view

[Class One]

A very emotive subject.

 

This was recently debated in Parliament following a private members bill and I don't think it got past its first reading.

 

I think by the time, our generation is governing and making laws, then I think there will be a shift in opinion towards assisted suicide. Sometimes, we show more compassion to sick and injured animals than we do to our kith and kin.

 

Euthenasia, should by rights, be the choice of the individual. It should NEVER be the choice of another to decide the fate of the terminally ill. It also poses a quandry for the medical profession. A recent poll of medical professionals found them overwhelmingly in favour AGAINST assisted suicide. It also poses problems vis a vie the European Human Rights Convention as there is an inalienable Right to Life in the European Union.

 

However, I think that perhaps in 10 years or so, we as a society might become more enlightened to the plight of the terminally ill as we rapidly become an ageging population, and the care of the sick and old becomes a more prominent issue for society.

[Darren-K]

i would only say YES,if it were assisted by a government body,

the reason being,.

it shouldnt be carried out by anybody related to the person dying.

[Ewen]

I agree totally that an individual should be allowed to choose to end their lives this way. As long as their mental competance at the time of agreement was confirmed. My only concern is that if euthanasia ever became socially acceptable, commercialisation (word?) would muscle in and Soylent Green / Las Vegas style joints would crop up offering cheap and kitsch venues for what should be a dignified and private act.

[Ian R]

I say yes it works for pets doesn't it

[Steviekid]

I also completely agree with euthanasia. As a vet I unfortunately have to put many animals to sleep, almost always for medical reasons. I constantly hear comments (from loving owners) along the lines of "if only this could be done with people". I think it's frankly ridiculous that terminally ill people are not allowed to make the decision to end their own lives before they get to the state of needing artificial interference to keep them alive. I know I wouldn't want to be kept on a respirator for weeks when there was no chance at all of me ever regaining any genuine quality of life.

[CardiffSupra]

What kind of prick would say "No its a silly idear"??? Can't understand why this isnt legal yet!

[downimpact]

It's your life you can choose to shorten your life in so many ways through the actions we take everyday, bad diet/drinking/smoking etc...Yet you can't terminate your life suddenly. It's absurd.

[Alex]

I don't think the issue as such is the suicide...it's the assisted part that sticks in the Law Lords' throats. How can you legalise "killing". That's the problem they face. It will have to be very very very heavily legislated, I expect a lot of red tape.

 

And then there's Religion. This is a Christian country (no matter who or what you believe etc). Would allowing Euthanaisa destroy the Church?

[downimpact]

We legalise killling all the time - if there is a country we don't like for example.

 

I agree it goes against religion but then so does science and evolution.

[Pete]

Difficult. Certainly if the person suffering is of sound mind then it should be their own decision.

 

However, I can fully understand how insurance, inheritance etc. etc. would legally be very messy.

 

How do you determine that the person is of sound mind and is fully understanding of the consequencies. Maybe the medication they're taking is affecting their mind?

How do you draw a line between instances where people would abuse this to persuade people it's the right thing for their own gains?

 

You cannot only consider the relief from illness from the victims perspective, you must also asses how this could be used as a loop hole for murder. There's too many grey areas..

[Darren-K]

the reason it isnt legal in the UK yet/ever is because somewhere,.someone would abuse this.,

100%.

for example,. animals dont leave £20 million to there relatives do they.

[Darren-K]

We legalise killling all the time - if there is a country we don't like for example.

 

I agree it goes against religion but then so does science and evolution.

 

lets not take this down the war route,theres been so many posts on terrorism,war recently., its doing me head in.

[Darren-K]

It's your life you can choose to shorten your life in so many ways through the actions we take everyday, bad diet/drinking/smoking etc...Yet you can't terminate your life suddenly. It's absurd.

 

yes,but to actualy have someone assist to kill you....................

[Darren-K]

I don't think the issue as such is the suicide...it's the assisted part that sticks in the Law Lords' throadts. How can you legalise "killing". That's the problem they face. It will have to be very very very heavily legislated, I expect a lot of red tape.

 

And then there's Religion. This is a Christian country (no matter who or what you believe etc). Would allowing Euthanaisa destroy the Church?

 

catholic religion in the Uk and USA has virtualy gone now,.

it went with homo/lesbian marraiges.

[Gordon F]

catholic religion in the Uk and USA has virualy gone now.

Sorry - I dont think that this is correct. Where did this info come from?

[Charlotte]

It's a very difficult subject to discuss and come to any conclusions on so I can't imagine what medical people have to go through every day.

 

Are we talking long term illness, or after a bad trauma, or does it not matter?

 

My boss's wife died last year after a brain hemorrage. They operated and at first it seemed like the operation was a success. She was really angry that the doctors had kept her alive the first time and she had always maintained that she wanted 'the machines switched off' if she ever suffered anything like that. The next day she had another bleed and could no longer talk etc. My boss and his sons knew it wasn't good but even so the doctors decided to keep her on life support. A few days into this her son was sat with her and he was saying 'it's such a shame you can't understand me mum', and she blinked. They realised that she could communicate through blinking and the doctors went into the room alone and she confirmed she wanted to die.

 

My boss still feels like he should've done something ie stopped the doctors switching the machines off but he couldn't have done anything. His wife's family now don't speak to him and blame him for killing their sister/auntie etc.

 

What would happen if this was a euthanasia case? Ie he had permission to help her commit suicide, blame would always come into it and there would always be someone that didn't like the decision.

 

Like Pete says also there are so many legal implications for insurances etc especially life insurance, how would that work?