Euthanasia

[el Chi]

I know this is a touchy subject but I thought I'd mention it because of this news.

The High Court has lifted an injunction banning a man from taking his chronically-sick wife to Switzerland for an assisted suicide.
The woman, who has a progressive brain disease, is too ill to travel alone and would need someone to help her.

This is pretty significant. Although it's not any significant step towards legalising euthanasia in this country, it is very interesting as people have been prosecuted in the past for doing exactly what "Mr.Z" wishes to do, ie: help his wife's euthanising (is that a word?).

"Physician-assisted suicide" - ie: GPs prescribing more than the amount of whatever drug is needed for the patient with the express knowledge that they will use it to commit suicide - is, as I understand, not uncommon in this country. Of course, it's not exactly policy so it's not talked about very openly. Does it contravene the Hypocratic Oath, do you think? Personally, I think that it does to an extent, but I don't think that it's wrong.

Personally I believe that euthanasia should be legalised - if I was in that situation, it's what I'd want.

 

[Spartan]

I don't think that the subject is debatable.

If you are in terrible pain or disabled and want to kill yourself, you have every right to do so and you should get assistance if necessary. I actually think that it's a gross violation of basic human rights to deny euthanasia. It's no different from torture.

 

[Korgoth]

Well it is true that the youth in asia are pretty disturbed right now... Mainly i think its the whole north korea thing ... I dunno really.





What?....

 

[CptStern]

I think euthanasia should be legalized ..no one has to right to decide your quality of life especially if you're dying

I think it doesnt contradict the Hippopotamus oath (simpsons quote) ..because part of caring for the patient should include helping them die in as comfortable a manner as possible

 

[el Chi]

I think it doesnt contradict the Hippopotamus oath (simpsons quote) ..because part of caring for the patient should include helping them die in as comfortable a manner as possible

Just what I was thinking. It's about ending your life with as little discomfort and as much dignity as is possible in your condition, whatever that may be. If, as a doctor, you can offer that to your patient it is to the patient's advantage, psychologically and emotionally if nothing else.
There are also the feelings of the loved ones to take into account. Once again, I would personally rather have my wife, for example, die with some kind of strength than have her reduced over a painful period of time to a shadow of her former self.
I visited my grandma in a hospice as a child as she was suffering from a brain tumor and it was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life.
I wouldn't wish that upon anyone.


By the way, I forgot to put a link that explains exactly what Mrs. Z is suffering from: Cerebella ataxia.

 

[gh0st]

I think euthanasia should be legalized ..no one has to right to decide your quality of life especially if you're dying

euthanasia should be legalised, but execution of criminals shouldent? gee whiz.

 

[Spartan]

euthanasia should be legalised, but execution of criminals shouldent? gee whiz.

They are completely different things. I can't imagine how you came up with that comparison.

 

[RRunner]

Yes voluntary Euthanasia (the person involved gives concent) should be legal.

involuntary Euthanasia (the person involved does not give, or would not give if capable, concent), should not be legal.

Non-voluntary Euthanasia (such as a person not being able to understand the choice between life and death, incureble ill infants, people who through accident, illness, or old age have permannetly lost the ability to understand the choice involved), can be discussed, since this also would conclude an embroy after 12 weeks (some give abortion rights to people who have a child which have kromosone faults after week 12).

Yeah i read Singer...... shit that dude can take to a moral contry u never dreamed of.....

 

[el Chi]

Yes voluntary Euthanasia (the person involved gives concent) should be legal.

involuntary Euthanasia (the person involved does not give, or would not give if capable, concent), should not be legal.

Non-voluntary Euthanasia (such as a person not being able to understand the choice between life and death, incureble ill infants, people who through accident, illness, or old age have permannetly lost the ability to understand the choice involved), can be discussed, since this also would conclude an embroy after 12 weeks (some give abortion rights to people who have a child which have kromosone faults after week 12).

Yeah i read Singer...... shit that dude can take to a moral contry u never dreamed of.....

I think I see what you mean about non-voluntary euthanasia not being legal - but just to be clear: If someone is in a critical condition and the chances are they will not pull through, we should not pull the plug?
There have been one or two recent court cases here in the UK where babies have been seriously ill since birth and would be in pain but that if their lives were prolonged it would involve a life in and out of hospital and in severe discomfort etc. Now in thes cases, the doctors have wanted to stop life support and not attempt to resuscitate the baby the next time it goes into a critical condition; the parents did not want this, and I can understand that. However, in the two cases I remember, the judge ruled in favour of the doctors.
Where would you stand on that? Personally, I agree with the judges' rulings - they aren't easy ones, but in the long run it is for the best.

I liked Singer's ideas on the relief of world famine, they were interesting, if a tad over the top and unrealistic. Still interesting though.

gh0st - Euthanasia and the death penalty are two completely different things. Don't disagree with Stern for the sake of it; if you disagree with euthanasia just make your point. If you disagree with the Cap'n then at least do so in the form of a reasoned argument.

 

[Kangy]

Of course. As Chi and Stern have said, it's the essence of the Hippocratic Oath. Care goes beyond cure. The fact is that this will become more and more of an issue as we get better medical practitioners, as sooner or later, these things are going to be the only serious things we cannot cure or treat somehow. Until we can cure these, the only thing we can do is listen to the afflicted, and make them comfortable and happy in whatever choice they make.

 

[el Chi]

Well said, Kangy

 

[Death.Trap]

I'm not sure what I think about this.

If you get thrown into a mental institution for trying to throw yourself of a bridge, how is this any different? In both cases you were in pain, be it different types of pain-and in ways emotional pain cuts deeper and last longer than physical-, and in both cases you saw suicide as a solution to a problem.

 

[RRunner]

I think I see what you mean about non-voluntary euthanasia not being legal - but just to be clear: If someone is in a critical condition and the chances are they will not pull through, we should not pull the plug?

I would jump on Singers wagon here... This critical condition, does it involve pain?
If so it should ammount to The ammount of pain involded equal to the chances of survival.

There have been one or two recent court cases here in the UK where babies have been seriously ill since birth and would be in pain but that if their lives were prolonged it would involve a life in and out of hospital and in severe discomfort etc. Now in thes cases, the doctors have wanted to stop life support and not attempt to resuscitate the baby the next time it goes into a critical condition; the parents did not want this, and I can understand that. However, in the two cases I remember, the judge ruled in favour of the doctors.
Where would you stand on that? Personally, I agree with the judges' rulings - they aren't easy ones, but in the long run it is for the best.

Again theory is always easy... I can understand the parents (if you have lost a child, and i have lost 2, you will grab every singel chance you´ve got for that child to live), wether this is right, is more then just politics, are you able to make up for the ammount of pain the child suffers, with an equal ammount of love and pleasure, or will this be forever in the negative?
It is the bottom line that counts, any rational person will avoid pain, but if the pain is worth living through, then why not?

 

[RRunner]

The story made me think shit.... I actually think that i would have killed the doctor that dint help my child to live. I really do think that i would have killed him right then and there.

 

[RRunner]

I'm not sure what I think about this.

If you get thrown into a mental institution for trying to throw yourself of a bridge, how is this any different? In both cases you were in pain, be it different types of pain-and in ways emotional pain cuts deeper and last longer than physical-, and in both cases you saw suicide as a solution to a problem.

Some say (im not one of them) that any rational person wants to live. So if you dont want to live then your being irational and need help.