Euthanasia

[dcentity2000]

Lately over here euthanasia has been very much in the news. A few patients in a nursing home have been asked if they want to "end it all" and a mother lethally overdosed her sick daughter.

What say you? Are mercy killings ok?



Rich::

 

[holycow]

IMO no it isn't ok.

 

[Docwoods]

Who am I to tell someone that they need to continue living? That is an extremely personal decision.We are kinder to our pets at the end than we are to fellow humans.

 

[freckles and boo]

It is unfortunately a very slippery slope. Only if there are checks and balances in place to protect the very, very vulnerable would I be able to support it in full. I agree that it seems merciful to allow people the deaths they choose if they know they are facing very painful endings. I don't have any religious problems with it.

 

[MM27]

After watching my father suffer through his last years with Alzheimer's disease, not knowing anyone around him, not recognizing his own image in a mirror and being extremely violent to those that he was closest to because he didn't recognize them anymore, I can honestly say if that every happened to me, I would hope and pray that someone would end it for me.

In this country we end the lives of animals when we realize that they are suffering. While we have feelings about the death, we realize that it was in their best interest. I can't fathom why we don't do the same for humans.

 

[Disney Doll]

After watching my father suffer through his last years with Alzheimer's disease, not knowing anyone around him, not recognizing his own image in a mirror and being extremely violent to those that he was closest to because he didn't recognize them anymore, I can honestly say if that every happened to me, I would hope and pray that someone would end it for me.

In this country we end the lives of animals when we realize that they are suffering. While we have feelings about the death, we realize that it was in their best interest. I can't fathom why we don't do the same for humans.

I agree.

 

[TheZue]

After watching my father suffer through his last years with Alzheimer's disease, not knowing anyone around him, not recognizing his own image in a mirror and being extremely violent to those that he was closest to because he didn't recognize them anymore, I can honestly say if that every happened to me, I would hope and pray that someone would end it for me.

In this country we end the lives of animals when we realize that they are suffering. While we have feelings about the death, we realize that it was in their best interest. I can't fathom why we don't do the same for humans.

 

[Momvic5]

I am against it. I am not sure we are ready to have the blood of another human on our hands. The person wanting death will be gone, but the people who assisted with the death will be left behind to have to find peace with their involvement. What feels like mercy today may feel like guilt tomorrow.

 

[Deb in IA]

It is very scary when someone else decides a person doesn't need to live anymore.

 

[Pigeon]

I'm just fine with assisted suicide. I think we treat our dogs better than our loved ones.

 

[RitaE]

I think there is a difference between "mercy killings" and assisted suicide.
There are conditions which I personally wouldn't want to suffer through until the bitter end ... ALS, Advanced Alzheimer's, a Vegatative state, severe dementia...

If I were in those situations I would hope that my family and Doctors would allow me to die as I choose.

That doesn't mean that everybody would make the same choices though.

 

[daannzzz]

It is absolutely no one elses business. I do not want anyone telling me I can not end my life if I am suffering and will die shortly. I don't understand why people think it is their business.

 

[RNMOM]

I completely agree with the above poster. I think this country has become a bunch of busybodies who want all of the other people to live with the same set of values they have. I have seen too many people suffer over my career and in my own family. I very much plan to end my life when I choose too. My DH and I have a pact that we will not put the other in a nursing home and have half seriously planned to sit in our car listening to a book on CD with the engine running.

Let me live my life to my own standards and values.

 

[LoraJ]

After watching my father suffer through his last years with Alzheimer's disease, not knowing anyone around him, not recognizing his own image in a mirror and being extremely violent to those that he was closest to because he didn't recognize them anymore, I can honestly say if that every happened to me, I would hope and pray that someone would end it for me.

In this country we end the lives of animals when we realize that they are suffering. While we have feelings about the death, we realize that it was in their best interest. I can't fathom why we don't do the same for humans.

Totally Agree!

 

[poutytink]

After watching my father suffer through his last years with Alzheimer's disease, not knowing anyone around him, not recognizing his own image in a mirror and being extremely violent to those that he was closest to because he didn't recognize them anymore, I can honestly say if that every happened to me, I would hope and pray that someone would end it for me.

In this country we end the lives of animals when we realize that they are suffering. While we have feelings about the death, we realize that it was in their best interest. I can't fathom why we don't do the same for humans.

I totally agree with this also!

 

[kimblebee]

After watching my father suffer through his last years with Alzheimer's disease, not knowing anyone around him, not recognizing his own image in a mirror and being extremely violent to those that he was closest to because he didn't recognize them anymore, I can honestly say if that every happened to me, I would hope and pray that someone would end it for me.

In this country we end the lives of animals when we realize that they are suffering. While we have feelings about the death, we realize that it was in their best interest. I can't fathom why we don't do the same for humans.

Add me to the growing list of people who agree with this. There is no way I want to live months or even years hooked up to machines just because people can't accept the fact that I should die.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I live in Washington, one of only two states that have legalized physician assisted suicide.

 

[mtemm]

After watching my father suffer through his last years with Alzheimer's disease, not knowing anyone around him, not recognizing his own image in a mirror and being extremely violent to those that he was closest to because he didn't recognize them anymore, I can honestly say if that every happened to me, I would hope and pray that someone would end it for me.

In this country we end the lives of animals when we realize that they are suffering. While we have feelings about the death, we realize that it was in their best interest. I can't fathom why we don't do the same for humans.

ditto.

my grandmother just passed away in december. It was a blessing. I saw her a week before she died and if I could have, I would have given her whatever I could have to have ended her pain.

what was really sad was a year or so prior a dr had convinced my parents that putting in a pacemaker would somehow or other make all the difference in her life. she was failing badly then. they made the mistake in doing what the dr recommended and the only difference it made in her life was to prolong her pain for more than a year.

I am 42 and I am praying that there is a better way by the time I get to my final stages of life. there has to be a better way than to slowly die an agonizing death. I wouldn't let a dog die that way, but people its like, well, gee, lets keep them in their misery for as long as possible

 

[mjkacmom]

Before my grandmother died at the age of 95, she suffered from osteoporosis and emphysema, and had been for about 15 years or so. She wanted to die (she lost her husband 30 years prior, all of her siblings and friends). I didn't understand. When I was pregnant with my twins (4th pregnancy), by the end, I couldn't breathe (regulation size babies), and I was in SO much pain - back, hips, pelvis. I cried every night. My grandmother was still alive, and I couldn't imagine not only feeling the way I did, but knowing it was just going to get worse, and not better. I would've wanted to die, too. My greatest memory of their delivery was afterwards - I was giddy with my new ability to take a breath.

We allow our pets to be put to sleep, to lessen their suffering. I honestly don't understand why a person who is only going to suffer more is not allowed to ask for medical help in ending his or her life.

 

[laurie31]

It is absolutely no one elses business. I do not want anyone telling me I can not end my life if I am suffering and will die shortly. I don't understand why people think it is their business.

Beacuse of the flip side. I don't want anyone telling me I *have* to die.

The stories that have been in the news about patients in Oregon whose insurance won't pay for treatment but WILL pay for suicide pills are quite scary. That's the slippery slope we have to watch out for. What if you're of sound mind and normally in good health, but you develop an acute treatable condition, which you could recover from, but it would be expensive? What if your heirs just decide it's time they got their hands on the inheritance? There need to be very strict criteria for someone to be a candidate.

DH and I had some very serious discussions about this type thing when the Terri Schiavo case was in the news, and we both have living wills. There is a difference between not keeping someone alive, and actively causing their death. It is a VERY thin line sometimes, though.