Discussing :: Euthanasia - how do you feel about it?

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It's legal in the Netherlands and Oregon, and various other places. There are all sorts of laws in place to protect people from exploitation. You have to be terminally ill and expected to die within a year. You have to express your desire several times. You have to see two Doctors/therapists and have them agree, etc, etc.

Huh?

Well I suspect that after euthanasia, one might feel somewhat better than before...

...I think religion merits a definite mention...I'm not religious but I suspect some people who are in this circumstance and are religious would have concerns....and I am talking from the perspective of the person who will assist...in easing the suffering....why shouldn't someone who is religious not consider it and I wouldn't think that someone in that type of position would use it as and excuse for not wanting to do it, I don't believe that alone would be the determining factor....

...Yes I know that morals and ethics are similar....but am sure they too are also considered...no one jumps in and says okay let's do it...lets get the show on the road....without all these things going through their head....yes the person once their suffering eased...but once they have passed away the person who assisted...has to live with it...and guilt even if they have agreed to do it...it will eat at them...perhaps they have happiness in knowing that they have helped their loved one but total peace of mind?.....

....Euthanasia will always be a subject of strong debate with advocates for and against....of course It is unfair that a terminally ill person who is suffering and in constant pain wants to die, and the legislature stops them from doing so, it definitely needs sorting....but from my point of view and views will most definitely vary.....mine is with the person who assisted.....and how they cope after the act

Well, no one would be forced to perform assisted suicide. There are certain medical professionals who would, and others who would choose not to. This is something some people could do, and be happy to do, and some people just could not. Just like there are doctors who perform abortions. That's something I definitely couldn't do, though I'm not at all against a woman's right to choose.

And people who oppose euthanasia based on religious grounds don't have to choose assisted suicide as an option for themselves, just like people who are against same sex marriage don't have to get one.

...definitely...but when you are asked....to do so that can play on a person, how does one answer such a request....

...It does need to be made legal and that medical professionals who choose to perform Euthanasia are able to do so without repercussion so in my opinion people particularly family do not have to do so if they do not want to do it....and I agree some can and some can't and I can't see myself being able to do that....but ask me again if it is one of my own who is suffering and it is not legal my answer may be different under the circumstance.

....I don't think religious grounds would be the only basis to oppose Euthanasia but it will be an aspect of a number of factors and I am talking from the point of view of the person assisting not the person who wants Euthanasia...how their religious beliefs among other things effective their decision to assist.....

....there would definitely be conflict in my family....and in my extended family also....and I don't know how I would handle or be able to cope with it myself if I was asked...it would be a total internal conflict with me doing it to ease their pain and suffering...but I know how I would feel after the fact and I know how the majority of my family and friends would feel toward me.....there would definitely be division

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in my family who could do it. I only know of one other person who I think might have been able to help someone die, and he died of cancer a few months ago. And I had NOTHING to do with that, honest!

But I could also only do it if I was 100% sure that's what they wanted. And probably only if immediate family members understood and supported the person's decision.

.....Yeah...I know my family well enough to know that it would be on if something like Euthanasia was to happen in our family....it makes me wonder though because 3 of my aunties all sisters from the same family died in the last 15 months all from cancer....I wonder what they would do and if they considered the option of Euthanasia......and how my cousins would have reacted to it.....

I hate that 5 minutes to edit post Frank Grrrr

Oh DeeDee, I'm so sorry to hear about your aunties. That must have been impossibly difficult for your family. Cancer is such a cruel disease.

....it's okay...it was a cruel series of events considering the last Aunty who passed away hers happened very rapidly.....they were mums first cousins...and she took it pretty bad, as they all grew up together...and yes cancer is cruel without a doubt, but am happy somewhat that my mum and her sisters have all been for check ups and do so regularly and are all fine.....

I'm looking forward to when they have a blood test to work out whether you have any type of cancer, or even if you have a predisposition towards something. There are so many people in my family who've had cancer it's a little terrifying. I cling to the fact that my Gran lived into her 90s and hope I take after her. Although she was single for the last 54 years of her life, so I'm kind of hoping I don't take after her in that respect...

Yes I hope someone comes up with cures for these hideous illnesses.....There have been a number of cancer scares in my extended family on my mums side...but luckily her and all her sisters now get checked regularly and they all seem to be fine...but it is still a concern to us all, that my cousins and sisters that are over the age of 40 are pushing for regular checks too......it so so sad....and I feel the same way...both of my grandmothers lived very long and healthy lives...so am hoping that, that remains with us all too.....it is such a terrifying condition

And I guess there are times when you have that power in your hands. When it come time to make decisions about when to turn life support off, which could of course have family members divided also.

Yeah, that's actually viewed as a different issue though. That's stopping life extending treatment, as opposed to giving a medicine that will actually end life. One is passive (and legal), the other is active (and illegal).

Yeah, I was just thinking about it in terms of people managing to get through in those situations, even when there could be major conflict, during what could also be one of the most stressful situations.