Doctor assisted suicide. Are you for it or against it?

[DeepShadow]

Euthanasia for the terminally ill, sure. I wish my mom had that option. I don't think anyone is really suggesting helping suicidal people kill themselves.

Of course that's not the intent, but that's what is already happening in the name of euthanasia. Someone who needs a respirator to breathe petitions for the right to turn it off and die, because they see themselves as terminally ill. They see themselves this way in part because they are depressed, and in that depression they fail to see anything hopeful in the rest of their lives.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

You mean, the way you assume that Hoosier law will be written to prevent catastrophe? Like religious freedom of Christian people balanced with that of queers?
Tom

And there is that ***-backwards state we live in...Ok, granted, if we did have such a law the Supreme Court would have to step in because some dumb *** politician here would think it's a great idea to have homosexuals kill themselves before they can commit an "abomination before the Lord."

Quality of life issues are the consideration for euthanasia,

There is a difference between learning how to adjust and having nothing left but a few months of suffering and misery.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Out of curiosity what about non-terminal but untreatable illnesses which drastically reduce quality of life? If you can write a dnr to prevent a vegetative state, why not doctor assisted suicide? There are also non-terminal illnesses, disorders and injuries which cause debilitating pain which are sometimes untreatable.

Asperger's syndrome is known for causing a decrease in quality of life due to social difficulties. I have that, and a bad knee which also causes a decrease in quality of life (especially considering my age). But there is learning how to cope, and the reality that all you have left is a few months, maybe a year or so, of misery and pain and then you die.

 

[David1967]

Euthanasia for the terminally ill, sure. I wish my mom had that option. I don't think anyone is really suggesting helping suicidal people kill themselves.

I agree SF. In this situation where someone is terminally ill and suffering, that option should be there for them. I find it ironic that in our society we think it merciful to end the suffering of pets yet require our loved ones to drag on in misery.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Asperger's syndrome is known for causing a decrease in quality of life due to social difficulties. I have that, and a bad knee which also causes a decrease in quality of life (especially considering my age). But there is learning how to cope, and the reality that all you have left is a few months, maybe a year or so, of misery and pain and then you die.

Hence why I said a drastic quality of life decrease. Like living with severe daily pain due to an injury or illness. Suffering equal to someone with a terminal cancer, except their problem isn't terminal. Just pain.

 

[McBell]

Recently, I had to write a paper on a controversial topic. I searched abortion, GLBT relationships/marraiges, drugs, etc and I ended up reverting to doctor assisted suicide. I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on this.

For it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Ballot_Measure_16_(1994)

 

[Oculus]

. . . There is a difference between learning how to adjust and having nothing left but a few months of suffering and misery.

As I have a great deal of experience with major depression I can say that you don't understand the suffering involved. There is NO "learning to adjust".

Even for depressives, there should be a "right to die". We experience constant "suffering and misery".

 

[McBell]

As I have a great deal of experience with major depression I can say that you don't understand the suffering involved. There is NO "learning to adjust".

Even for depressives, there should be a "right to die". We experience constant "suffering and misery".

define "learning to adjust"

 

[Oculus]

define "learning to adjust"

Ask Shadow Wolf. She's the one who used the term. I replied that there is no such thing with major depression.

The only thing that blunts mine is all the medication I take and I take it because I cannot "learn to adjust".

I'm fighting bad chemistry, not deliberate misery.

 

[McBell]

Ask Shadow Wolf. She's the one who used the term. I replied that there is no such thing with major depression.

The only thing that blunts mine is all the medication I take and I take it because I cannot "learn to adjust".

I'm fighting bad chemistry, not deliberate misery.

Interesting.
You do not know what "learning to adjust" even means, but you know it is not possible?

Do you expect to be taken seriously?

 

[Oculus]

Interesting.
You do not know what "learning to adjust" even means, but you know it is not possible?

Do you expect to be taken seriously?

I don't care how you take me.

 

[McBell]

I don't care how you take me.

Fair enough.

Thank you for your honesty in at least that.

 

[Demonslayer]

I find it ironic that in our society we think it merciful to end the suffering of pets yet require our loved ones to drag on in misery.

Absolutely. I watched my grandfather, a once proud Marine, die slowly and painfully. Towards the end he would beg my father to die, he just wanted to go out with some dignity. That fact that he did not have that choice...there is something wrong with that. It's his life, he chose how to live it and should be able to choose how to end it.

 

[Silent Screams]

For it, because I think it's better for people to kill themselves in a planned and orderly manner than, say, pulling a trigger without having talked to anyone about it.

I did not think of this in such a way, but I would agree with you. In the end, if someone wants to die, then they will do as they wish, however, allowing it to be in a more "dignified" way such as doctor assisted I believe would be better all around in the midst of the negative thoughts that surround this topic.

 

[Silent Screams]

If someone is suffering, and there suffering is terminal, I see no reason to deny it. We euthanize our pets who are suffering, and it seems obvious that we should have the option for ourselves.

Euthanizing pets was one of my main points in my presentation. Why do we have more respect for our pets than we do for each other? I feel that it is because we are selfish in wanting to hold on. We know the other is in pain and suffering, but due to our own selfish feelings, a lot of times we tend to do anything and everything we can to extend the life - although never improve the quality of life.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

As I have a great deal of experience with major depression I can say that you don't understand the suffering involved. There is NO "learning to adjust".

Even for depressives, there should be a "right to die". We experience constant "suffering and misery".

I, like I think a lot of other people who haven't ever had constant pain, think, "Oh, you can learn to deal with it, make adjustments, work around it, etc." I've long suffered back pain, and have learned to deal with it, make adjustments, work around it, etc.

For the past six months, I have had a continuous headache. It gets better and it gets worse, but it's always there. I've tried many of the CBT, relaxation and other methods that are supposed to help you deal with problems--the things that have worked for years on the back pain. I've tried all the over-the-counter headache meds, and a few prescriptions. Nothing works. And, it makes it that much more difficult to deal with the back pain, too.

I have a new appreciation for people who have continuous severe pain, regardless of the cause. There ARE some things that you can't make adjustments to, can't work around, can't "deal with" because there is no relief...sometimes not even with drugs that are supposed to deal with pain. Always before, there was relief at some point from the pain; I'm hoping that something we're about to try will work...but there are no guarantees that it will end my headache.

People aren't being wusses, and people who don't experience pain like that really don't understand...as I didn't understand.

But I think that anyone who is considering an early death, actively (e.g., suicide) or passively (e.g., self-imposed starvation), needs to talk about the choice with professionals and family and friends and consider/try options before taking that step. In that regard, it's like any other big life choice--a new job, getting married, getting divorced, having a child...

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

As I have a great deal of experience with major depression I can say that you don't understand the suffering involved. There is NO "learning to adjust".

Even for depressives, there should be a "right to die". We experience constant "suffering and misery".

Except that there's a possibility for treatment when it comes to mental disorders. If your medication isn't working for you, you need to discuss that with your doctor. Might need different medication. You might have a personality disorder and those require specialized forms of therapy and medication alone can't treat those.

This is another promising option: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/home/ovc-20163795

 

[Revoltingest]

As I have a great deal of experience with major depression I can say that you don't understand the suffering involved. There is NO "learning to adjust".

Even for depressives, there should be a "right to die". We experience constant "suffering and misery".

Aye, it's your life to do with as you please.
No one should force you to continue if you want to end it.
Let them advise & assist, but not control.

 

[Oculus]

Except that there's a possibility for treatment when it comes to mental disorders. If your medication isn't working for you, you need to discuss that with your doctor. Might need different medication. You might have a personality disorder and those require specialized forms of therapy and medication alone can't treat those.

This is another promising option: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/home/ovc-20163795

I've been dealing with psych issues for 60 years. Thanks for the input though.

TMS and Ketamine have been on the table for a while, but insurance won't cover them.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I've been dealing with psych issues for 60 years. Thanks for the input though.

TMS and Ketamine have been on the table for a while, but insurance won't cover them.

No problem. I'm been dealing with psych issues for most of my life at this point. I'm 26, so not as long as you, but they are severe. My depression is pretty crushing and I've been in the ER and psych facilities multiple times for being suicidal. It's left me functionally disabled and very socially isolated. Plus, it's common in my family. I really can understand where you're coming from, as I've mulled over the issue of whether people like us should have the right to assisted suicide, too. *hugs*