Euthanasia

[Domingo]

Would Communist ideals accept these practices of suicidal treatment?

A just act of sorrow or a suicidal crazed mind?

[RedAnarchist]

I dont know about Communists in general, but i advocate euthanasia for the terminally ill, as they wish not to die in pain but in dignity.

I wouldnt call it a suicidal thought, as these people would most likley want to live if their illness wasnt present.

[Domingo]

Like if they were in pain?

[LSD]

Any just society is predicated on the fundamental concept that all individuals have the free and equal right to what they will so long as their actions do not harm others.

If that means to die, so be it.

[CommieBastard]

There is a competing issue, in that many people think that when another person is in problems, and we can help them out of those problems, we should.

The problem here is that we might consider that a person's judgement may have been thrown temporarily out of whack by the pain they are experiencing, like if there is a possibility in the future that a cure may be made.

However, in these situations it is my opinion that the onus is then on these generous souls to present these reasons for staying in existence in a plausible manner to people who want to die.

If they can convince them, then good for them, but if they fail I see no reason why someone should be criminalised for either wanting to die, or wanting to help someone else carry out their own wishes by accelerating death.

If they really do have such amazing reasons why this person should stay alive, then they will be able to convince them.

As for cases such as Terri Schiavo, she never expressed her wishes solidly in her will, so from her perspective (before her accident) the onus was on her to make her wishes clear. Since she didn't she has to accept the consequences of this, which is that if she wanted to live or die, the opposite might happen, and whether one or the other happens is down to wrangling between bodies that do not represent her will.
If you don't make your wishes clear, then you just have to accept the consequences. What the Schiavo case highlighted for me is that if you actually do give a damn what happens if you are in a vegetative state, then make this clear and in writing.
If not, then well, there might be a fight after your death over the issue. If you care about those people who might be involved in such a fight, then either make a living will declaring what you want, or make a living will delegating the decision-making responsibility to someone who will still be alive, and who you most care about the feelings of in these circumstances, or trust the judgement of.

[ComradeChris]

Would suicide at all be allowed in a Communist society? I mean I'd like to think the reasons people are depressed in a communist society have been eliminated, but I mean most people here seem to be anarchists so I'd have to guess [edit: yes]? But I could be wrong.

[Black Dagger]

Would suicide at all be allowed in a Communist society?

Um... yes, of course.



I mean I'd like to think the reasons people are depressed in a communist society have been eliminated, but I mean most people here seem to be anarchists so I'd have to guess no?

Huh? There will always be moments of depression (for all of us), no society is or can be a utopia and nor are or can peoples lives.
I'm not quite sure what that question has to do with your perception that 'most people here' are 'anarchists' (!!!) though...

[Redmau5]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2005, 05:17 PM
I mean I'd like to think the reasons people are depressed in a communist society have been eliminated
Communism or no communism, people will always get depressed. It's just part of life.

[ComradeChris]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 5 2005, 01:41 PM

Would suicide at all be allowed in a Communist society?

Um... yes, of course.



I mean I'd like to think the reasons people are depressed in a communist society have been eliminated, but I mean most people here seem to be anarchists so I'd have to guess no?

Huh? There will always be moments of depression (for all of us), no society is or can be a utopia and nor are or can peoples lives.
I'm not quite sure what that question has to do with your perception that 'most people here' are 'anarchists' (!!!) though...
Firstly, I meant to put since most people here are anarchists (anti-authoritarian if you don't like the anarchist term), and I mean to put yes. Because someone telling you what you can do with your own body would be authoritarian.

[Che1990]

Well personally I think if the patient wants to die then they should be allowed to make that decision and it would be unethical to make them live in pain. I think if the patient can't say for themselves what they want, the decision should be made by the next of kin or someone very close.

[Black Dagger]

Firstly, I meant to put since most people here are anarchists (anti-authoritarian if you don't like the anarchist term),

I have no problem with the term anarchist, i'm just not convinced that 'most' people on revleft are anarchists.

[Taiga]

Originally posted by [email protected] 4 2005, 12:55 PM
Would Communist ideals accept these practices of suicidal treatment?

A just act of sorrow or a suicidal crazed mind?
Of course, it will.
Communism is a system of all possible freedom. So, if a person chooses to die, why shouldn't we respect his decision?
Especially taking into consideration that there is no more religious/"ethical" barriers. Because it's Christianty's invention that to commit suicide is a sin.

[encephalon]

I have no problem with the term anarchist, i'm just not convinced that 'most' people on revleft are anarchists.

yeah, I wouldn't say most people here are anarchists.. I'd say more or less that they lie somewhere on a scale from communism to anarchism.. perhaps a form of anti-authoritarian communism. Who knows.

[ComradeChris]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 11 2005, 04:38 AM

Firstly, I meant to put since most people here are anarchists (anti-authoritarian if you don't like the anarchist term),

I have no problem with the term anarchist, i'm just not convinced that 'most' people on revleft are anarchists.
Then how come Stalinists (and similar ideologies) are shunned upon by the RL Guidelines? I'm sorry maybe I'm wrong. I guess you have people signing up that may not be, you can't really control that though. But I thought this forum was predominantly for anti-authoritive communist thought?

[Che1990]

Look are we talking about anarchists or euthanasia here because the heading definately says euthanasia. If you want to argue about anarchism start another thread!

[ComradeChris]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2005, 12:30 PM
Look are we talking about anarchists or euthanasia here because the heading definately says euthanasia. If you want to argue about anarchism start another thread!
Did you read the prior messages??? I discussed it, the rest was just semantics.