Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide

[Nox]

What are your views on Euthynasia and Assisted Suicide?

[Kamos]

I would like a mod or admin to officially declare Revleft's stance on euthanasia before giving a response.

[CommieTroll]

I would like a mod or admin to officially declare Revleft's stance on euthanasia before giving a response.

Isn't that a bit of a cop out?

[Sasha]

assisted suicide i assume its the same as abortion, anyone who is capable of making an informed decision should have the choice to do with their body what they damnwell pleases, including ending it.
euthanasia is and should be a medical decision not a moral one.
the only debate to be had is what to do with people who didnt write down their wishes and cant articulate or understand these decisions anymore (i.e. dementia, alzheimer, mentally handicapped patients etc)

[Kamos]

Isn't that a bit of a cop out?

Yes, I suppose it is. Do you have a problem with that? I don't think I have any reactionary ideas anymore, but why take a risk when restrictions hardly ever get removed, and then only many months later? That being said, I do agree with what Psycho said 100% - believe it or not.

[CommieTroll]

Yes, I suppose it is. Do you have a problem with that? I don't think I have any reactionary ideas anymore, but why take a risk when restrictions hardly ever get removed, and then only many months later? That being said, I do agree with what Psycho said 100% - believe it or not.

I know what you mean, I value my account to and to be honest I was waiting for a mod to post too :laugh: I thought this was a touchy topic in a majority of political circles but I guess psycho summed it up pretty good

[Nox]

I agree that euthynasia and suicide is fine if the person wants to, but assisted suicide is a more complicated issue because often the person can't move or talk, so it is very difficult to know if they want to kill themself.

[Dzerzhinsky's Ghost]

While I personally am against committing suicide (speaking only of my own personal choice and position on the matter for myself) I fully support the right of others to opt for an assisted suicide performed under the supervision of a medical professional after a long period of psychological counseling and evaluation. I say after a period of psychological evaluation because unlike abortion the sentient adult in question is making a choice that is completely permanent and involves the termination of their own life. I think we have all been there at our lowest points where we just want to kiss a shotgun and paint the walls with our own brain matter but through the counseling of friends or health/mental care professionals (and perhaps also with an additional medication regiment) we got through it. I guess my main point is I don't really like the idea of a Futurama-esque suicide booth where you stick a coin in and can choose between quick and painless or long and excruciating.

It's a big choice which shouldn't be taken lightly. If in the case it involves a terminally ill patient (voluntary euthanasia) however I don't think this period of psychological evaluation would be absolutely necessary as the conditions are different then a 'healthy' adult saying, "I just can't do it anymore," and is completely understandable that given their own medicinal circumstances they would want to leave this world on their own terms; this is understandable and respectable (not saying the assisted suicide of a healthy adult isn't mind you).

In regards to non-voluntary euthanasia it then gets a little tricky especially if the wishes of the patient haven't already been established prior to whatever medical incident lead them to such a state. I think the wishes of the patient should be fully respected. If they haven't already been previously worked out and paper work has not been drafted and signed then it's a situation I think their family and the medical professionals should talk/work out thoroughly. I'm not really to well versed on these issues so pardon my ignorance and mods don't be like "oh! he said the wrong magic word! restrict/ban!" like some trigger happy Peewee Herman. I genuinely wish to learn about these issues.

[Nox]

While I personally am against committing suicide (speaking only of my own personal choice and position on the matter for myself) I fully support the right of others to opt for an assisted suicide performed under the supervision of a medical professional after a long period of psychological counseling and evaluation. I say after a period of psychological evaluation because unlike abortion the sentient adult in question is making a choice that is completely permanent and involves the termination of their own life. I think we have all been there at our lowest points where we just want to kiss a shotgun and paint the walls with our own brain matter but through the counseling of friends or health/mental care professionals (and perhaps also with an additional medication regiment) we got through it. I guess my main point is I don't really like the idea of a Futurama-esque suicide booth where you stick a coin in and can choose between quick and painless or long and excruciating.

It's a big choice which shouldn't be taken lightly. If in the case it involves a terminally ill patient (voluntary euthanasia) however I don't think this period of psychological evaluation would be absolutely necessary as the conditions are different then a 'healthy' adult saying, "I just can't do it anymore," and is completely understandable that given their own medicinal circumstances they would want to leave this world on their own terms; this is understandable and respectable (not saying the assisted suicide of a healthy adult isn't mind you).

In regards to non-voluntary euthanasia it then gets a little tricky especially if the wishes of the patient haven't already been established prior to whatever medical incident lead them to such a state. I think the wishes of the patient should be fully respected. If they haven't already been previously worked out and paper work has not been drafted and signed then it's a situation I think their family and the medical professionals should talk/work out thoroughly. I'm not really to well versed on these issues so pardon my ignorance and mods don't be like "oh! he said the wrong magic word! restrict/ban!" like some trigger happy Peewee Herman. I genuinely wish to learn about these issues.

Yeah, I feel pretty much the same way. I also want to learn about this seeing as I haven't seen anyone discussing it here and it's a pretty big issue in the news etc.

[Luisrah]

I agree with most that has been said here.

Seeing as suicide is counter-evolutive (the main objective of 'pure biological life' [excluding what is just human] is to survive and reproduce) then someone who wants to do it is most of the time not in their 'right mind'.
What I mean is, most of the times the person has some other problem which is causing that, and if that problem is solved, then the feeling goes away.

People kill themselves over lost love, over expectations that didn't come true, over some mental illness that causes depression etc etc
But usually when people attempt it and fail, the end up being grateful it didn't happen.

The point I'm trying to make is that if anyone wants to suicide, then they should be stopped right away, be evaluated and given every possible help. I don't think society should give up on individuals even if they are giving up on themselves.
But, after every possible help (medication, counseling bla bla bla) if they still want to do it, then of course, it's their own life.

I just think that someone that wants to kill him/herself then there's probably something wrong, and we should attempt to help them, because most probably they will be grateful later. But it's still their life.

On the medical situations, it depends. If the person has written anything, then it's their will. If the person is uncapable of communication, it depends on their situation. If there is no chance of coming back, they die, if there is chance, it depends on how much they are suffering, and the will of their loved ones.

I think it can't really be for all situations. Each situation must be analyzed separately, but that is my overall opinion.

[Die Rote Fahne]

If someone who is of sound mind makes an informed decision, they should be allowed to take their own life, or be able to receive assistance in doing so.

I take it not many revelfters want to ban tobacco, alcohol or chemotherapy, right?

[Thirsty Crow]

I support both practices, but under the condition that the person in question did in fact express this desire prior to a possible accident or whatever which would leave her unable to form an opinion.
In fact, this position of mine derives from my personal wishes, and streching that, it seems to me that there is no rational reason why anybody who is deemed capable, according to scientific criteria, of making this decision should be forced to endure great pain even though the probability of recovery, or healthy life, are very, VERY slim (almost nonexistent).
However, it should be noted that in concrete circumstances where a person is unable to communicate there is a tough decision to make, and there is no terra firma upon which to make it, that being the manifest black-on-white, expression of intent. This kind of cases should be dealt with on an individual basis, and family and close ones should be probably involved in the decision as well, but how exactly, I don't think it can be outlined in abstract.

But also, I don't think physcians who object to performing the act themselves should be forced to do so, but it would be desirable if a basic consciousness of the necessity of such practices being available to those who want it were spread around, so to speak.


I agree that euthynasia and suicide is fine if the person wants to, but assisted suicide is a more complicated issue because often the person can't move or talk, so it is very difficult to know if they want to kill themself.
"Assisted suicide" as a term does not refer to a person's ability to express their wishes or communicate. It refers to the mediated practice of helping a person end her life, while "euthanasia" refers to the direct act of ending the life of the person in question.

So, assisted suicide: a patient taking his/her own life (presupposes a physical capability to do so)
Euthanasia: a medical professional ending a patient's life (think of large doses of morphine).

Euthanasia may be a more problematic practice for the physicians themselves, which is the reason why I added that about them not being forced to perform the act.