Euthanasia

[Guest]

QUOTE (Aaron @ May 28 2004, 10:23)

To get back to the point ...*ahem* ...I think it should be allowed, if i'm in hospital, and there is absoloutly fuck all they can do, except pump full of drugs to relieve my suffering temporarily, then it should be my right to decide whether i've had enough or not, it my life no one elses. It should be treated like having an operation - Signing a consent form so nothing can come back on any hospital staff etc etc, and then administering a drug that would just painlessly let you slip away.

presumably if they are able enough to sign a consent form, then they are able enough to overdose themselves

[Dawn]

people commenting who know so little ... what about the people who are completely paralised or who can't put hand to mouth

[Phil rr]

QUOTE (disco angel @ Jun 1 2004, 12:25)

difficult to know if the individual is in fit mental state to decide though, and thats the difficulty so hard to legislate for

IF they aren't in a fit state to decide (with no chance of coming out of it) ...wouldn't that in itself be reason enough for the family to decide?

[ChrisT]

I say 'Let em crash'

[disco angel]

QUOTE (Phil rr @ Jun 1 2004, 16:43)

QUOTE (disco angel @ Jun 1 2004, 12:25) difficult to know if the individual is in fit mental state to decide though, and thats the difficulty so hard to legislate for IF they aren't in a fit state to decide (with no chance of coming out of it) ...wouldn't that in itself be reason enough for the family to decide? i say no   i'm afraid...

[Lisa]

Terminal illness, no cure, imense pain, pumped full of drugs, bed ridden, I think that is cause enough to let them go peacefully. What kind of life is that?? If my parents were any of the above, I wouldnt think twice, sorry, but I know I wouldnt want to spend my last days, in a bed, in pain, being nurse maided etc, it's kinder to let them go I think.

[LiquidEyes]

I think most people would agree with you, Lisa, that in a clear-cut case (as you described) it is better to let them die.

 

But the point is, where do we draw the line? There will always be some controversial cases where it's not clear exactly how much pain the person is in, and whether they would want to live on. Or, the ill person in question may express a preference to die, but may not be in a fit mental state to make that decision at the time.

[Lisa]

Yeh agree LE, but I think, personally, it would be fairly obvious to to decide, who has or will be allowed the choice, if they are likely to never come around or be totally brain dead, or a vegatable, the patients who are able to say, they would rather die than go through the pain etc, it is a tricky one, I know but in some cases it will be easy to see.

[LiquidEyes]

I think you're being a bit simplistic Lisa. Yeah I agree that, to you and I, it might seem pretty obvious in a lot of cases, but for the government to create one-size-fits-all legislation that allows people to be put down as you say, yet upholds the principles of the medical profession, as well as the [supposed] religious values of our country, is no trivial matter.

 

Bear in mind:

* it would be highly controversial, as a lot of religious groups hold that life is "sacred" (just look at the controversy over abortion);

* the role of the medical profession needs to be very carefully defined ... is it their job to preserve life, or preserve quality of life ... and where do they draw the line?

* are medical experts going to be put in a position of grave responsibility where a wrong decision could result in them being sued, e.g. for giving bad advice on whether a person is compos mentis / how much pain they're in / etc?

 

And as Alex says, any system that is remotely abusable is a recipe for disaster.

[Lisa]

yeh true, but what about choices for individuals??? It is IMO, one of these things that will always, no matter what, be controversial. It is a hard one, where people will always have different views.

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (Lisa @ Jun 2 2004, 10:28)

yeh true, but what about choices for individuals???

What about choices for individuals?

[Lisa]

shouldnt we, as individuals, be allowed to have choices then??

[Aaron]

absolutly we should, but then we come to the point that disco girl mentioned on page 1 about whether the individual is in the right mental state to make such a choice...

how do we though as individuals, doctors etc determine that?

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (Lisa @ Jun 2 2004, 10:41)

shouldnt we, as individuals, be allowed to have choices then??

Putting ethics aside for a moment, bear in mind that suicide is technically illegal.

 

So no, the law does not allow us to make any choice we want.

[Alex]

How do you allow Doctors to help with someones suicide, without them being seen as the one that kills that person.