If the medical community made a pain free and "safe" way to assist someone in committing suicide, should the

Question

Government be able to interfere with the application of the procedure?

Answer 1

Do some research into Oregon's Death with Dignity Act -for people with terminal illnesses.  I support it.   Wish other states would do likewise.  

Edit:  If anyone cares to look over some info I can lead you to it.  One the 'safeguards' put in place was that records have to be kept.   The agency overseeing this law has done an excellent job in data analysis.   Most of the people choosing the option are older and are suffering from cancer.   Makes me want to move to Oregon!   I make my medical ethics classes and health law classes cover this topic in detail.

Answer 2

Although I do not believe the government should interfere with personal matters, one must also understand that most suicides are caused by chemical imbalances or emotional instability.  A person who is healthy and happy generally doesn't just decide to die early.

Answer 3

My Grandmother spent the last year of her life in pain and feeling as if her dignity had been stripped away. I wish there had been a way for someone to legally assist her in ending her life with respect and as painlessly as possible.

I support assisted suicide when regulated properly.

Answer 4

If that person is dying of a terminal illness and needs to go with dignity - then yes, that should be allowed. I've seen painkillers denied to people with terminal cancer - if they're not going to be alive in 6 mos, why does it matter if they're addicted to morphine?

In general, I think depression-related assisted suicides should be an option after a minimum of 5 years of therapy and a minimum age of 40.  

Answer 5

No. All medical decisions should be between the patient and the practitioner.

Answer 6

The medical community has the ability to humanely assist with suicide. I think the government should stay out of anyone's business regarding their suicide, no matter the reason. I don't think people should be looked down upon or be thought mentally unstable just because they don't want to live. No one asked to be born, and some people simply don't like living. They are not crazy and they shouldn't be forced to continue if it is too painful, mentally or physically.

I think what Checker means is that people over 40 will have the maturity to decide whether or not they really want to live - kind of along the lines of why doctors won't allow women to get hystorectemies before they're old enough to know whether or not they really want a family. I disagree, but I think that's what she was getting at.

Answer 7

Perhaps regulate it to ensure people aren't being murdered under the auspices of assisted suicide.  Otherwise I think it should be a right.

Answer 8

Only if regulated so that it applied only to the terminally ill.

Tomorrow my son will have been dead six months.

I think you never saw your 36 year old son after he has shot himself in the head or listened to the animal like screams of pain when his 9 year old daughter found out about her daddy. Have you had a phone call from your Master Sgt. son who has done two tours in Iraq who starts sobbing before he can even get the news out.

Do you know that my pain never goes away, his grandparents, his father, friends, siblings, children? None of us judge him, we love him, but our pain is for a lifetime.

He was in severe pain from a botched back surgery and on strong pain medication.  There were other choices but he could no longer afford the treatments.  We would have all sold our homes, given all our savings, anything, to save him.

So tell my nine year old granddaughter it should be okay that her daddy killed himself.  (He was a caretaking father, the mom is in drug rehab).

Answer 9

Clearly the government would have a role in anyone killing themselves. There has to be a way to investigate and make sure it was really voluntary, for one thing.

But i suport the idea of suicide as an option for people with terminal illnesses...

Answer 10

Of course, we're obsessed with keeping everyone alive to drain all the resources and reject Social Darwinism.  My boyfriend is allowed to use deadly force at his job to prevent a suicide.

Answer 11

Only to make sure enough people take it to weed out the riff-raff from society.

Answer 12

The medical community has had this ability for many years.  Beyond that, it would be unethical for me to offer my opinion on the matter.

Answer 13

The only concern I have is that humans will be running the program. Those that are in power to make the decision will subvert the original intent to create more power for themselves.

Morally, I am against it, it is the logical aspects that creates conflict in me.