Do the Terminally Ill Have a Right to Die?

Originally posted by Rockerchic4God
There is no need for euthanasia (the "death" shot) as someone needs to administer it, and most practitioners would rather not play God in that way.

It is easy to end your own suffering simply by refusing fluids. Death by dehydration really is a peaceful way to go, and doesn't take long. Once you are very dehydrated, you'll go to sleep. From there you slip into a coma, and within a few days you are gone.

This was told to me by a hospice nurse when my mom was very ill.

I have to disagree with the refusing fluids i think that would be torture and would take to long also that would cause family alot of pain also watching that..thanks for the reply

Originally posted by lcbjr1979
reply to post by Rockerchic4God

 

I respectfully disagree about the refusing fluids. Dehydration can be an agonizing way to die. Lack of fluid leads to chemical imbalances that can cause seizures,cardiac arythmias which can result in a heart attack (which is painful), and low blood pressure which can also induce chest pain and cardiac problems. I just think it would be much quicker and less painful by giving of some medication that would induce death.

edit on 2-4-2011 by lcbjr1979 because: spell check

Why prolong the suffering when the outcome is obvious.
It serves no purpose to keep one alive if the diagnosis is terminal.
We make choices throughout our lifetime, we should be able to
make choices about our passing.

Originally posted by Miraj
reply to post by sugarcookie1

 

At a certain point, yes.

Just because you're terminally ill doesn't mean that you will die for sure.. If you're early along in your terminal illness, breakthroughs might happen that could save you.

On the other hand, if you're so far a lng that even a breakthrough wont save you.. my opinion is you have a right to end your life.

Ive waited 38 years for a breakthrough and I'm positive there wont be one anytime soon but for some maybe

reply to post by sugarcookie1


Im sorry you are suffering, if i am understanding correctly....you have a terminal illness.

Originally posted by SeekerofTruth101
Every human life is precious and means something special to another.

Thus no human must be allowed the option to commit suicide.

The problem with illness is such thing when one finds pain unbearable, they would rather end their life, than to continue to seek for medication so that their lives may be prolonged, more so with our medical advances we mankind are making daily.

But the issue isn't so much the physical pain, but rather the prohibitive costs charged by big pharma to keep a person alive. It is absolutely unconscionable of what they are doing.

Thus, even if we humans were to administer an injection on our own to die, it would not be suicide, but a murder committed by big pharma for denying life by jacking up the costs that are beyond the means of the poor and often middle classes.

Money can always be earned back, but when the poor have no opportunities that the rich has, there is no way they can earn enough to pay back medical costs, and eventually even if they survive living on a bed, they and their family will only starve to death.

Big Pharma, as you get ready for your golf games and a tipper at the luxurious clubhouse, your hands are stained with the blood and murder of the poor and middle classes.

I agree with the high price of meds many don't have the opportunities to pay for the medical costs of there illness and the families do end up broke trying to cover the cost to keep them alive.. and it does have alot to do with Big Pharma..But i don't agree with the option to commit suicide being murder to me enough is enough i want the choice to die..

Originally posted by 43LEO729
Why prolong the suffering when the outcome is obvious.
It serves no purpose to keep one alive if the diagnosis is terminal.
We make choices throughout our lifetime, we should be able to
make choices about our passing.

Thank you Leo,we should be able to make choices about our passing!

Originally posted by lcbjr1979
reply to post by sugarcookie1

 

Im sorry you are suffering, if i am understanding correctly....you have a terminal illness.

Im not suffering that bad yet but it will happen..and yes i do have a terminal illness

reply to post by sugarcookie1


I am truely sorry to hear that. I will respect your privacy and not ask you any questions about it. In the meantime, enjoy life as much as you can.

Originally posted by Golithion
This is something that goes through my mind a lot and it is troubling. I have watched people suffer in hospitals with terminal illness, and have seen some who were absolutely independent people be butchered down into pooping in diapers, and peeing in bottles plugged into their side. Not able to go where they want and sometimes having accidents on themselves because someone wasn't their to help them to the bathroom. Seen them go from free thinkers to being bound by invisible illusions of holes in the floor and monsters coming to get them from the wall. It made me think what I would want in a situation similar. I made up my mind one day when my grandmother was dying that I wouldn't make my family suffer by watching me become a vegetable from a strong willed and able minded independent man that I am. It goes against everything I am to allow myself to become like that, if I go in the words of an older lady who came walking by when I visiting my grand one day, "I just go my own way." That's how I live and that's how I will die. No doctor, and no pencil pushing fool in DC is going to tell me otherwise. That's just my personal feelings on the subject.

Ive seen people suffering in hospitals with terminal illness also and its horrible and heart breaking and to the person its also humiliating no one should have to live like that let them go in peace with they way they want..thank for the reply..

Originally posted by sugarcookie1

Originally posted by lcbjr1979
reply to post by sugarcookie1

 

Im sorry you are suffering, if i am understanding correctly....you have a terminal illness.

Im not suffering that bad yet but it will happen..and yes i do have a terminal illness

.

I'm definitely on the side of ending one's own life in cases like terminal illness or unbearable suffering.
Life is precious and dear to us all, but it has no point when the only thing gained is a little more time. Kept alive by machines, wired to them beyond recognition or drugged to oblivion in order to lower the pain, who wants to live like that? What's the point of preserving that kind of life?
We should have the full right to say NO to such an option.
I believe there is an official form that can be filled,( at least in my country there is), where the person can instruct the caretakers or the medical authorities that in case of a fatal event, not to prolong one's life in an artificial manner. That's half of the way.

Beside that, suicidal attempts are not punished by law, no matter the circumstances. So our body should remain ours until the very end, and as we have the right to choose the way we live, we should have the right to chose how and when we die.

Originally posted by lcbjr1979
reply to post by sugarcookie1

 

I am truely sorry to hear that. I will respect your privacy and not ask you any questions about it. In the meantime, enjoy life as much as you can.

I enjoy life to the fullest everyday is an adventure for me!

Originally posted by WhiteHat
I'm definitely on the side of ending one's own life in cases like terminal illness or unbearable suffering.
Life is precious and dear to us all, but it has no point when the only thing gained is a little more time. Kept alive by machines, wired to them beyond recognition or drugged to oblivion in order to lower the pain, who wants to live like that? What's the point of preserving that kind of life?
We should have the full right to say NO to such an option.
I believe there is an official form that can be filled,( at least in my country there is), where the person can instruct the caretakers or the medical authorities that in case of a fatal event, not to prolong one's life in an artificial manner. That's half of the way.

Beside that, suicidal attempts are not punished by law, no matter the circumstances. So our body should remain ours until the very end, and as we have the right to choose the way we live, we should have the right to chose how and when we die.

Life is precious i agree its a wonderful thing! and to me what is to be gained with a little more time nothing!whats a week or a month going to do just prolong it all..and our bodies should remain ours until the very end and we should have the right to chose how and when we die.thank you so much for the reply

Originally posted by SeekerofTruth101
Every human life is precious and means something special to another.

Thus no human must be allowed the option to commit suicide.

The problem with illness is such thing when one finds pain unbearable, they would rather end their life, than to continue to seek for medication so that their lives may be prolonged, more so with our medical advances we mankind are making daily.

I digress. Are you assuming liberty over my right to life; and by extension, my right to death? While I respect your beliefs in regards to the situation, projecting that opinion upon others is exacting control over their freedom to live life in the way they see fit. By ending my life at the point in which living in pain and monetary cost are just too much for benefit, I am not effecting your freedoms or right to life in any manner. So why are you adamant on imposing your view of life and death upon others?

But the issue isn't so much the physical pain, but rather the prohibitive costs charged by big pharma to keep a person alive. It is absolutely unconscionable of what they are doing.

Thus, even if we humans were to administer an injection on our own to die, it would not be suicide, but a murder committed by big pharma for denying life by jacking up the costs that are beyond the means of the poor and often middle classes.

They are not denying life. While many practices within the pharmaceutical industry can be questioned, they are not forcing you to take pills that extend your life. That is a personal choice. There is no [ethical] doctor that would EVER force you to take a pill or accept treatment under your own free will.

Money can always be earned back, but when the poor have no opportunities that the rich has, there is no way they can earn enough to pay back medical costs, and eventually even if they survive living on a bed, they and their family will only starve to death.

Big Pharma, as you get ready for your golf games and a tipper at the luxurious clubhouse, your hands are stained with the blood and murder of the poor and middle classes.

So your real argument is actually against the pharmaceutical industry. Are you stating they should work to extend all life, regardless of costs and everyone should be taking the pills to extend it?

Originally posted by Kangaruex4Ewe
Absolutely.

I have the right to scar my body, to tattoo my body beyond recognition, to have EE implants to the point of ridiculousness, to pierce every inch of flesh I can get a needle in, smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, drink a liter of quervo daily, stay up all night, etc.

All of these things are legal and can be done so because it is OUR body.We have control over what we do and do not do to it until the government steps in because they imagine they know best... just like father.

What's more is the fact that I can say when my dog can die by injection because it is too costly to save (whole other issue) him/her. So apparantly we have supreme control over that. Even more so with less government interference. Why is that?

I think anyone over the age of consent has the right to die whether they are terminally ill or not. We either OWN our OWN bodies entirely or we do not OWN them at all. People with a true "death wish" will accomplish it one way or another. Why not make it less painful than it usually is?

The government allows you to believe you are the sole owner of yourself. This is just furher evidence that big government owns us all... lock, stock, and barrel.

Probably not the most popular opinion to be sure. But I do own that much.

edit on 4/2/2011 by Kangaruex4Ewe because: (no reason given)

I agree government steps and they seem to know best for the people but they are not in persons shoes its happening to..I can tell you this we don't own our bodies they even tell you we cant hire you for a job because of tattoo's! I don't have a "death wish" but id like to live to a ripe old age and that isn't in the books..I do value your opinion and i thought it was a good one ..thank you

People exercise their "right to die" all the time. It's not really something we need to confer on anybody. Even though death is hard for most people to go through, if someone wants to die, they'll find a way.

The consequences for the people they leave behind is often more to the point.

A well-off guy could decide to check out without making any responsible provisions for what he leaves behind. His lawyers could end up with the estate and leave the family paupers. Did that guy have the right to do that?

Most of us are thinking in terms of a context where things like this matter. I can imagine a society where people could come and go from the physical realm as they please because the mechanism of death had become fully understood and no longer was a problem for anyone. But in our current context death is usually messy, inconvenient, and expensive. So there is a certain irresponsibility involved in just shoving off without making proper preparations.

To the extent that we're only talking about euthanasia, I guess people should have that choice. I'd hate to be the doctor or nurse that had to pull the plug or administer the injection, but I guess I could see how it would be okay. It's a little more dicey when the person is in a coma and can't tell you what they want to do. There are ways to pull a being out of a coma, but most medical people don't know how. This is something that people who deal with coma cases should learn to do.

You don’t give life; you don’t take one (even if you think that it is your own).

IMHO life is a school of process where the spirit matured and get ready for the next process, pain is the part of the experience.

Originally posted by l_e_cox
People exercise their "right to die" all the time. It's not really something we need to confer on anybody. Even though death is hard for most people to go through, if someone wants to die, they'll find a way.

The consequences for the people they leave behind is often more to the point.

A well-off guy could decide to check out without making any responsible provisions for what he leaves behind. His lawyers could end up with the estate and leave the family paupers. Did that guy have the right to do that?

Most of us are thinking in terms of a context where things like this matter. I can imagine a society where people could come and go from the physical realm as they please because the mechanism of death had become fully understood and no longer was a problem for anyone. But in our current context death is usually messy, inconvenient, and expensive. So there is a certain irresponsibility involved in just shoving off without making proper preparations.

To the extent that we're only talking about euthanasia, I guess people should have that choice. I'd hate to be the doctor or nurse that had to pull the plug or administer the injection, but I guess I could see how it would be okay. It's a little more dicey when the person is in a coma and can't tell you what they want to do. There are ways to pull a being out of a coma, but most medical people don't know how. This is something that people who deal with coma cases should learn to do.

I understand what your saying i would never have this done and leave my family in a mess everything would be taken care of ahead of time..I agree it would get dicey if the person is in a coma and had to leave it all up to family members to decide what to do..thanks for the reply

Originally posted by amkia
You don’t give life; you don’t take one (even if you think that it is your own).

IMHO life is a school of process where the spirit matured and get ready for the next process, pain is the part of the experience.

Thank you for your opinion i value it..But i don't think pain and suffering should be part of the experience of life..