The right to self suicide, in a palliative state

Discussion in 'Ethics, Morality, & Justice' started by river, Dec 10, 2013.

  1. river

    Messages:
    17,307
    Should we all have control how we die , when we are in a palliative condition

    Palliate definition

    1) to reduce the violence of ( a disease ) ; also : to ease ( symptoms ) without curing the underlying disease

    So should the patient have the ultimate say on when and how they pass ?

    Personally , absolutely
     
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  3. mumirluu Registered Member

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    Yes. It should be the person who has to live with the physical suffering to choose whether their own life is worth fighting for. In theory, this should work. In reality, there are factors such as influence from relatives and physicians that can help sway a person's position.

    If we are to make suicide legal, how do we avoid this? If there is no way to thwart this on a relatively large scale, the option of suicide can become legal murder.
     
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  5. river

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    To be there ...…..........to experience the suffering by the one who is dying in the end , the wasting away of the body and mind ...

    Is so very hard

    I.......
     
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  7. river

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    I thought about the legal and of course the abuse of this type of suicide , and the avoidance of the abuse is three fold

    1) doctor present

    2) lawyer present

    3) a person of faith , no matter the faith

    And the presence of the whole family and friends , at the time of the suicide
     
  8. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    24,690
    The last thing we need in the USA is one more way for the "health care" industry to suck up more of our money.

    I take that back. The last thing we need is more money into the pockets of the parasites known as "attorneys."

    Suicide for any reason is regarded as a sin by by nearly all Christian denominations. You're "thwarting God's plan." It would be very difficult to recruit a Christian minister to witness this event.

    Perhaps you mean merely a lay member of a church. I'm an atheist, as are virtually all of my friends and family. Where am I supposed to find a "person of faith" to witness an event that he regards as a "sin," performed by a person that he regards as a "heathen?"

    The reason many people choose to end their lives in private is, specifically, because the people in their life are selfish and want him to continue living in pain and/or hopelessness and/or a total lack of dignity. These are hardly the people he's going to want around when he sets up the helium balloon. They'll just pull it off!

    Not to mention, it's statistically likely that some of those people will have a religious objection to suicide, and will interfere to halt the process, even using violence if necessary. Not all atheists are as lucky as I am, to not have a few believers of supernatural bullshit among their family and close friends.

    The whole point of the helium balloon and other recently developed suicide technologies is specifically for the patient to be able to prepare for it weeks, months or years in advance without attracting attention, and to take care of it in private.

    A lot of people are simply selfish. They want Grandpa/Momma/Uncle Joe to continue living even if he is suffering mightily and is certain to get steadily worse. They will make his last moments just absolutely fucking miserable, and it's quite likely that one of them will interfere and try to halt the procedure. These are not the people who should be invited to witness Grandpa/Momma/Uncle Joe solving his own problem.
     
  9. Buddha12 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,862
    Most times if a person wants to take their own life they will find a way to do so.
     
  10. river

    Messages:
    17,307

    A retired doctor will do

    $50, is what they are paid , per client
     
  11. river

    Messages:
    17,307

    The lawyer is needed , however for the protection of the family and to make sure that the suicide is verifiable by the patient at that time .
     
  12. river

    Messages:
    17,307

    The lawyer is needed , however for the protection of the family and to make sure that the suicide is verifiable by the patient at that time .

    $50 , per client
     
  13. river

    Messages:
    17,307

    Perhaps christian faith and other faiths consider suicide as a sin

    In normal surcumstances , fine

    But in a palliative situation , when death is just a matter of a few weeks , or less , one hopes that compassion rules the day
     
  14. river

    Messages:
    17,307

    Well every situation is different

    But the patient who is going to inevitably die very soon , and signs a legal document that says that suicide is requested , the family and friends , prolonging the inevitable is over riddin
     
  15. Peregrine Registered Member

    Messages:
    90
    When suicide is outlawed, only outlaws will commit suicide.

    You can quote me.

    I would think there would only need to be a signed statement and a witness.

    Lawyer not needed. A lawyer is not necessary unless the person is mentally incapable of making rational choice.

    Healthcare personel seems necessary. Reason being that a shotgun to the head requires ALOT of public funds and resources.

    Faith, not needed.

    Video evidence should suffice as a witness. As long as video shows the person signing the sworn statement and also reading it.

    Family is a difficult one. It would seem that there is a legal obligation to one's family. However, I think the suicide would trump this. It is an individual decision that does not directly affect another individual adversely.

    However, suicide does affect people indirectly. A father/mother who commits assault or theft may be unfit to be a parent and have thier child. Actions have consequences and in many cases, family members could legally seek damages from the estate of the suicide participant. Beyond financial compensation, the emotional toll on children, spouses, and extended family would be steep.

    My vote is still in favor, but details would need to be worked out for family members.



    Sidenote: I would allow people to get creative. Peregrine's Suicide Wonderland. 1000 Ways to Die!!!
     

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