Do you believe a terminally ill person should have the right to take his own life when he begins to suffer?
113037
Yes.  You posted this in Law & Ethics, and good for you, because the religious folk will have a field day with this one.  If a person is suffering and there is no hope for treatment or even for relief, why should we force them to stay alive?
718921
I would say "yes" but with reservations. The legislation has to be carefully worded so there is no possibility for abuse. \n\nMy concerns revolve around the potential to euthanize the patient out of "convenience"...convenience to the family that doesn't want to bear the expense of keeping the "loved one" alive or convenience to the medical facility that wants the bed or the patient is a financial drain on their health care system, i.e., someone without insurance.\n\nThe legislation would have to demand four things be done prior to euthanizing the patient for me to be comfortable with it: (1) a signed and witnessed document stating the patient's desires, (2) euthanasia would only be done to someone who has a terminal illness and death is imminent (maybe six months), (3) the patient has been evaluated to ensure that he/she is not just depressed or is unaware of other treatment options, and (4) that the terminal nature of the patient's disease/condition has to be validated by more than one physician.
220979
Honeybear pretty much said my answer.\n\nIf a dog is suffering, and there is no hope for recovery, people decide to put the amimal to sleep, to end its suffering.  The dog does not get a choice.\n\nIf a human is suffering, and has no hope for recovery, why can't they decide to end their own suffering?  Why do people say they should continue to suffer?\n\nPerhaps the reason people need "assisted suicide" is to be sure they do it right.  They might not take enough pills, they might miss "the right spot" with the gunn, etc, survive the attempt, and end up worse.
575679
Absolutely, why should the government have the right to decide when you are ready to go or not. Euthanasia allows the individual the right to say enough is enough. Why should a person be forced to endure months or even years of suffering and indignity when they wish for it all to end. Doctor assisted suicide ensures that a person can safely and gracefully bow out of a nightmarish existence. When we have to put a pet "down" it is considered humane. Why doesn't this humanity apply the people?
889289
You may think you have the right to inflict your filth on others, believe me you don't. I'm still going to end up paying for all the medical care that your going to need when you are dying from cancer or emphysema. The sad thing is you are going to be more miserable than you are already.
81151
I believe when people are very ill they have a right to decide if they want to live on or not.
208022
Our society has put a high price on the life of the individual.  We have debated the death penalty with this question at the fore.  If someone takes a life, should they forfeit theirs?  We value life so highly that even in this case we don't take a life.
773395
Yes, I would, the laws are wrong, have been wrong and will always be wrong, especially if I am dying anyway. What difference does it matter where you die. Might as well feed me and cloth me while I am doing that.
976185
I am for the life support system only when the doctor thinks that the patient will get better. If the doctor thinks that the patient will not get better and the only reason that the patient is on life support is because the family dosen't want to let that person go then no I don't believe in it. I guess it just depends on the situation.
1044548
I fully beleive that if someone wants to die, they should be able to do it. The governemnt's not going to stop me if I really want to commit suicide. Pain should be able to be stopped -- one way or another. Death is as good a way as others. \nBy the way...I really wish doctors actually did no harm.
1060712
I understand what your point is, but I also think that when a person is going through ideas of suicide, the person's judgment is not at its best at all.  It may seem like a solution to problems at that moment, but when a person goes into that mindframe, it is good for another person to help take over and not let something bad happen.\nA friend of mine killed herself by hanging herself. She must have felt there was no way she could deal with her life or be happy. I would not want my friends to live that way, but I also think that dark moods will pass and there will come other things and chances in life to bring more happiness. My friend will never know what those things could have been. I don't know if I'd call her "selfish" for killing herself. But I don't think she chose the best way to handle her grief.
234250
Euthenasia is not legal but it should be.\n\nThose that suffer while dying should be allowed to control how and when they die. Do die without suffering is humane.
64141
This issue has always been difficult for me.  Not the part about giving people a real say in what happens to them at the end of their life.  That to me is only natural.  It's always been my concern at how something like that could be abused, and also where the line is drawn that says, "Here you can choose to end your life and here you can't".  \n\nWe as a society have done such a marvelous job of finding ways to kill one another and yet we still can't adequately figure out how to best do it to ourselves.\n\nAs far as it being done legally, Oregon permits physician-assisted suicides.  Here is a link to the state's site on the subject.  I wish you peace and comfort as you struggle with how best to help your loved one.
137236
In Japan, a majority of people end their lives in hospital, surrounded by high-technology equipment. Yet in a recent survey over half the respondents said they would prefer to die at home. There has been a tradition of not explaining to terminally ill people the true nature of their condition, on the ground that this is the kindest way to proceed. However, views about this matter are changing. In a recent nationwide opinion poll (1), 65% of the participants said that if they were terminally ill they would like to be given full diagnostic information about themselves. Only 22% of the people questioned, however, said they themselves would definitely be prepared to disclose such information to a member of their family.\n\nThe same survey indicated that 78% of people considered palliative care desirable, even though it might shorten life; 16% thought life should be sustained as long as possible, irrespective of the pain that patients might be suffering.\n\nThe National Matsudo Hospital is one of the few hospitals in Japan with a palliative care unit. The use of morphine has significantly reduced pain levels for a high proportion of the patients in this establishment; in 1987, 75% of cancer inpatients were given end-stage fluid therapy but in 1990 the proportion had dropped to 12.5% because many families realized that the treatment shortened patients' lives.\n\nA special task force on terminal care, set up by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, issued a report in 1989 which encouraged the disclosure of diagnostic information to patients, provided that consideration was given to patients' life histories, personalities, relationships with family members, and other factors. The use of drugs for pain control was favoured, and the report also dealt with various additional matters touched on by Dr. Abiven, including spiritual requirements and the care of family members.\n\nPeople should not have to accept without question the authority of doctors in the treatment of disease.\n\nThe view is gaining ground in Japan that people should not have to accept without question the authority of doctors in the treatment of disease. Unfortunately, there are still too few trained people to cope with the many problems associated with dying. Responsibility for the care of the dying should be shared between health professionals and other carers. Changes are needed in the mentalities of both health care providers and patients, and it has to be recognized that medical system and institutions are not immutable.\n\nEfforts have been made to improve the care of the dying by some volunteers and hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka and elsewhere. There are signs of public approval for such work and the government has begun to provide financial support for palliative care through the national health insurance system.
881384
For people - I would support it if it were the wishes of the person who was being assisted in death. I cannot imagine living with a jhorrible termianl illness and in massive amounts of pain.
124846
i agree ((just to have a couterfight))\nif u break somones unalienable constitutional right,\n(life, liberty, and ther pursuit of happiness) \nu should have YOUR unalienable right taken away too\n(in this case, life)\nif someone brutally murdered your brother, would you like it if he could spend his life and jail, and even if he was lucky, get out? (good behavior and such)\nThe only way to prevent those people from coming out, is giving them the death penalty.\n\ncause a life sentence isnt for life
856837
Too many people believe it's a sin and you'll go to hell for suicide.  Others believe than you should have the right to terminate your own life with dignity when it becomes unbearable.  And then there is the issue of those who are too ill to speak for themselves and have not left an advance directive (or living will).  So... oppression because of religion, again!